CountryHumans

Countryhumans (sometimes abbreviated as CH) is a fandom based around countries being portrayed as humans. The Countryhumans fandom is closely related to the Polandball, SatW, and Hetalia fandoms.

Since their origins in April of 2017, the Countryhuman fandom has faced scrutiny due to its portrayal of countries as humans. Controversial polities (such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and ISIS) are frequently depicted in a friendly manner, despite their controversial political backgrounds. Users of sister communities, especially Polandball, typically repudiate Countryhumans for these controversial portrayals.

There are many sub branches of the Countryhumans fandom, such as Planethumans (planets), Apphumans (apps), State Humans (US States/sometimes cities) and Pridehumans (LGBTQ+).

Background
The origin of the Countryhumans fandom is difficult to pinpoint. Despite its obscure upbringing, the Countryhumans fandom was likely based upon the Polandball (also Countryball) fandom. The Polandball fandom is conceptually similar to the Countryhumans fandom, but whereas the Countryhumans fandom depicts polities as Humanoid, the Polandball community manifests their polities as balls (or acceptably shaped spheroids). Another theory postulates that the Countryhuman fandom is based off of the Japanese “Hetalia” manga series, which, similarly to Countryhumans, personifies countries as humans.

The Countryhumans fandom is believed to have Russian origins, and began on the Russian social media website VK in 2017. Some claim that the oldest surviving Countryhuman art was created by Russian and Ukrainian artists, lending credence towards Russian origins. However, there is insufficient evidence to back up this Countryhuman origin claim.

Meanwhile, video evidence of Countryhumans fandom can be traced back to April of 2017. A video uploaded to YouTube in the same month features dancers with flags—of countries which participated in the Second World War—covering their faces, resembling the concept of the Countryhumans fandom. In November, a YouTube creator uploaded a video featuring countries of East Asia in an animated meme. This video itself is accepted by many as the first ever appearance of any Countryhuman character.

Meanwhile, the origin of the term “Countryhumans” itself is also a topic of debate. There are many theories on when the term was first coined. One theory suggests that the term comes from a Facebook user named “Country Humans” (Spaced) in July 2014. Based in Argentina, the account posted characters of Latin American countries (mainly Argentina and Chile) drawn in a human and anime form. The problem with this theory is that the Country Humans user did not draw or portray faces covered with the flag of countries. However, this is one of the earliest instances of the term being used on the Internet.

In November of 2014, a user on DeviantArt used the term “Countryhumans” pejoratively in their journal, using the word to describe people they targeted. Despite these early examples of the word Countryhumans, the origin of the word is still unknown.

Ech0chamber, a Newsground artist who used to be active on DeviantArt, posted a drawing of the Axis countries on the 25th of September, 2016, the first time any of the Countryhumans characters first appeared. However, as Ech0’s DeviantArt was permanently banned in 2019, it’s impossible to know if she altered the image since users of DeviantArt are allowed to change the image of a post.

On the 4th of April, 2021, the Reddit user PhotographOk7968 discovered an image of what could be considered the first ever appearance of Countryhumans. Created on May 3, 2011, the image depicts the United States shooting Iran. Also included on the picture is the date and signature “Incent 2800”. PhotographOk7968 explained that he had downloaded the image on his computer in 2014 from a 4chan post. He further states that the image was removed from the site sometime in 2015. The difference between the image and bona fide Countryhumans is that while the heads are covered by the country’s flag; the arms, hands, and necks aren’t colored with the flag’s color.

After its discovery, Countryhumans rose drastically in popularity in Russia during November and December of 2017. As such, Russia has remained one of the most popular and integral characters of the Countryhumans fandom. Starting from the end of 2020, Countryhumans as a fandom has gained significant attention and popularity in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Russia
Russia is very popular in the fandom partly due to the original fandom being Russian. The character is represented by Artists as an alcoholic, mainly because Russia consumes Vodka the most, making Russia the 4th country to consume alcohol.

Some represent Russia as a homophobic, because of how strict LGBT rights are in  Russia. As a character, Russia can be portrayed as a suicidal or depressed due to its suicide rate appearing as a larger social issue in the country.

America (USA)
America is represented by the fandom as their most popular character, partly due to the English version of the fan-base. In most recent years, the character is seen as an uneducated person, a racist, or/and a person into politics.

Other Countries
Similar to Polandball, Country Humans is known for its portrayal of other countries. In most cases, most of the characters can be seen as someone in their everyday lives.


 * For example, South Korea is seen as the character who's a fan of K-Pop, due to the genre being popular and was first founded in  South Korea.


 * Japan is seen as a schoolgirl and a furry (to the dismay of many) who enjoys Anime and modern-day activities.


 * China could be seen as a person who enjoys culture, mainly with the Chinese culture, but the character is nostalgically used to be seen as a person who eats dogs, cats, or any animal that can be cooked.


 * Germany is seen as a hard-worker, always overworking themselves.


 * Canada is seen as a welcoming person who enjoys being liberal and a lumberjack, but in most cases, could be seen as the character who kills seals for fur. (Also known as Seal Hunting)


 * Australia is seen as a zookeeper, while appearing on artworks, Australia is hatred towards an emu, notably, the Emu War.

Controversy
During its growth in 2017 and early 2018, controversy struck when its users began establishing relationships (termed “ships” in the community) between certain countries. Many of these ships were viewed in a negative light, especially for the people who were native to the countries attempting to be “shipped”. Of these relationships, those including controversial states such as the USSR, Nazi Germany, and the Japanese empire often receive particular disdain for their taste.

Aside from the fandom’s ships, NSFW (Not safe for work) artwork has gained popularity from 2019. These posts are met with the same and often exacerbated responses due to their inappropriate portrayals.

On March 27th, 2019, the Youtuber “Pkrussl” uploaded a video titled “Countryhumans: These People Need Help”, where he explains how the fandom is getting worse due to ships between historical countries such as Nazi Germany, the USSR, and the Japanese Empire. This video brought attention to the community, dissuading many from interacting with the fandom.

LGBTQ+
The fandom is known for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. Countries such as the USA and Russia are seen as and often portrayed as being gay. Despite this assertion, homosexuality in many countries (Brunei, Iran, Malaysia, parts of Russia, etc.) is a punishable crime. Countries in Latin America, Arabia, and Eastern Europe which are sometimes portrayed as being on the non binary spectrum are especially criticized in the community.

Criminalization
There are severe criticisms by users of certain countries against fandom, particularly due to the criminalization of current countries by past actions. This has been highlighted in countries such as Germany, Poland, the UK, Türkiye, Japan, South Korea, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Serbia, Ukraine, Canada, the USA, Russia or Israel, where fans of these countries have rejected the Country Humans fandom classifying it as highly offensive and even racist (cultural appropriation). There were cases of incitement to hatred and inequality.

Generally, criminalization is granted to developed countries while underdeveloped countries are portrayed as "saints". Users often criticize the Countryhumans fandom as a decadent, especially since it focuses only on the negative facts of the history, many times inaccurate, and not on the positive facts of it. As well to "sympathize" with totalitarian political ideologies of the 20th century, such as imperialism, fascism and Nazism. And even inciting sexual relations between "relatives" such as pedophilia and incest. Which also may lead into the sexualization of the such.

Summary
Countryhumans is currently regarded as a toxic and rejected fandom on the internet, with some attempting to denounce the fandom with labels such as immoral and sadistic. Some also claim that the Countryhumans fandom casts a negative light on the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. A large proportion of criticism comes from the Polandball community, but critics are also prevalent within the Countryhumans fandom itself.

While there is a lot to discuss regarding the Countryhumans community, it exerts its positive sides in its non-NSFW art. Creators on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter have demonstrated the impact of Countryhumans on their art style. Countryhumans, alongside Polandball, may be a good source of history for those uninterested elsewise. Further, the community surrounding the Countryhumans fandom has created long-lasting bonds for many, and strives to be a wholesome and accepting community, despite its various shortcomings.