Who/What: The Guy Fawkes Mask as a universal symbol of protest but more significantly as the face of the vigilante hacking organization known as Anonymous. The man after whom the mask is named was involved in a plot to assassinate the Protestant King James of Spain and replace him with his daughter. The movie, V for Vendetta, popularized the mask as a potential symbol for protest and since then, it has become the leading symbol for Anonymous. People often wear it at large protests, seen very commonly in the "Occupy" movement and many others around the world.
Where: Considering that Anonymous is a global organization which attacks corrupt businesses and governments, all over the world. Anonymous has been known to attack large global organizations such as Visa and the Guy Fawkes mask is now an almost universal symbol of the organization and protest movements in general.
Where: Considering that Anonymous is a global organization which attacks corrupt businesses and governments, all over the world. Anonymous has been known to attack large global organizations such as Visa and the Guy Fawkes mask is now an almost universal symbol of the organization and protest movements in general.
When: Since the popularization of the movie, V for Vendetta, in 2006, the mask has gained massive popularity as a symbol of protest among protesters all over the world. The mask started being used by the Anonymous as early as 2008. (Ough).
Why: The reason that the mask has become such a prominent symbol of protest is that behind it could be anyone. The theme that sits behind the Guy Fawkes is that anyone could be wearing it and that those who do wear it are speaking for everyone. The mask is supposed to show the strength that the average person has.
The identities that are collectively represented by the Guy Fawkes Mask are all of those that feel the need for protest. Protest can often be scary and violent, and there often can be fear that protest will not always be met with rational discourse. The Guy Fawkes Mask is a symbol of protection for all people who feel a need for protest. It can represent the identities of any protester and protest that chooses to use it because it really represents the ideals behind protest as a whole.
It can be more specifically seen as the collective identities of the protests that Anonymous has chosen to lead and take part in. Most recently Anonymous has claimed war on ISIS. They have condemned the terrorist organization and have aimed their current protests towards them. However, I feel that through this, the symbol takes on more than just the identities of everyone actually in Anonymous, but anyone who supports their cause because of the way the Mask is made to show that anyone could be behind it.
Works Cited:
Ough, Tom. The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016
It can be more specifically seen as the collective identities of the protests that Anonymous has chosen to lead and take part in. Most recently Anonymous has claimed war on ISIS. They have condemned the terrorist organization and have aimed their current protests towards them. However, I feel that through this, the symbol takes on more than just the identities of everyone actually in Anonymous, but anyone who supports their cause because of the way the Mask is made to show that anyone could be behind it.
Works Cited:
Ough, Tom. The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016
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