Guy Fawkes Rough Draft

The Occupy Movement: Behind The Mask

In the later part 2011 the Occupy Movement began as a protest against Wall Street and similar staple establishments representing extreme collections of wealth. This worldwide protest movement against the economic system believed the system worked against the citizens it was supposed to aid. In the Occupy Wall Street chapter of the protest, along with many other protests persisting till today, an iconic symbol is adopted and worn, a mask that has been created in the Image of Guy Fawkes. The mask holds a historical past as well as one in popular culture, both playing a part in understanding how a mask can be a symbol for revolution in protest. Historically we can trace the man behind the mask’s name, Guy Fawkes, as a real person who on November 5, 1605 was arrested for attempting to set off gunpowder kegs underneath parliament with an intent to assassinate King James I (“History-Guy Fawkes). His attempt was a failure and he was soon executed for treason along with all his conspirators. Later in 1980 a graphic novel was created by David Lloyd and Alan Moore with the title, “V for Vendetta”, which later in 2006 became a full motion picture (Lovett). The graphic novel and movie both centered around a dystopian future where a rebel known only as “V” fights against a British totalitarian government. The creator Lloyd suggested, “having the rebel wear a Guy Fawkes costume” (Lovett). It is at this point that the Guy Fawkes of the past is revived into an iconic rebel who takes on the same task to bomb parliament, but succeeds in his efforts. The mask worn by the character in the graphic novel and movie becomes synonymous with the rebel identity and many others which leads it to be a perfect protest object in the case of Occupy.

When looking closely into how the Guy Fawkes mask influenced the Occupy Movement a starting point would be who the masks intended audience is throughout the protest. Most of the protesters who participated in the movement did so because they were in agreement that the current economic system favors greedy corporations and social inequality. Overall the intent for the mask is to send out a message. The extent of the mask’s influence allows most anyone who is familiar with its origins to be its audience. The Occupy Wall Street protest attracted so much news coverage and broadcasted their own social media campaigns, with one of their facebook pages using an image of the “V” the character in the movie adaptation wearing the Guy Fawkes mask with the message reading, “all OCCUPY Protesters to come together on November 5th, 2011, to rally again our efforts to end corruption and social injustice” (Lovett). The organizers of this particular event for the protest made it clear through the image given and the message sent out that audience should wear the mask in order to unify to their cause.

After the intended audience receives the object in either form, visual or physical, it can perform its purpose. The mask has various purposes that its users are very aware while using it. One of the most important purposes this mask serves is to allow its user the benefit of anonymity during protest. The Occupy protesters felt it would be beneficial to wear the mask not only because it sent a clear cut message to the contemporary audience familiar with its connotation but also because it hid their identity. As one protester stated, “The point of wearing the mask is to be able to go to a protest without fear of retribution or aggression from the establishment,” and with the included identity the mask provides the anonymity doesn’t go without a unifying message (Thompson). Unity towards one objective is the masks second purpose. It wearers use it and identify with the movement, manifesto, and just generally a relatively close ideology with other members of the movement who wear it.  Its ability to unify is shown first in the 2006 movie in the final scene where a march of those against the system descended upon parliament to watch it burn (Lovett). Just as the movement in the film was shown forming together in solidarity wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, so too do the protesters in Occupy. The identity of the anarchist or those against the current political system can now use this tool to express themselves to a cause peacefully while always keeping the violent implications the mask originated with intact.  Although  it pertained to protesters and sympathizers alike, the mask was still subject to interpretation of the user, “Some people wear it to make a fashion statement, other because they know what it’s about,” so the unification is not always universal and sometimes falls victim to its own popularization (Thompson). The purpose however still remains the unification of those who empathize with the anarchist movement through the Guy Fawkes mask.

The success of this object purposes was highly dependent on Ethos and the authorities behind it making it an obvious choice for those who identify with anti-establishment rhetoric. First and foremost although the history behind the Guy Fawkes mask is not well known among usual people there is still an authority Guy Fawkes has as a figure of violent anarchy in society. The more well known authority, however fictional it may be, is the character “V” in both the “V for Vendetta” graphic novel and movie. The rebellious vigilante serves as a perfect source for ethos and his expertise in bringing down totalitarian governments. At that moment the mask became linked to his identity as an anarchist and those who wear the mask will be aware of this in most cases. Lastly the final way ethos is relevant to how this object of protest is adopted by the Occupy Movement is through its affiliation with hacker group “Anonymous”.  The group has gained fame through their constant dedication to activism through the internet and their obsession to remain anonymous to the public eye which is exactly the two goals the Occupy protesters took on themselves.

Along with ethos as a way to persuade protesters to the importance of the mask, pathos is used well to give the mask more influence. The mere idea of anarchy is so emotionally charged by itself filled with anger and discontent with something as important as a way of life. The mask encompasses the anger and discontent into a wearable object. The more people begin to wear the mask or advertise it during the protest on the street, the more it begins to spread to other protesters. It plays on their emotions of anger but of also belonging. One individual stated, “I thought I would show my support for the book and for Anonymous by picking up a mask and being part of the movement,” by the book the protester means the “V for Vendetta” graphic novel (Thompson). Another way pathos is used for the object is the way in which it is presented alongside powerful anarchist slogans such as, “The people shouldn’t be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of its people,” and with a slogan so broad but so provocative shown next to protesters wearing a Guy Fawkes mask the pathos in the argument seems heavily existent.

In terms of the success this object had on the progress of the actual movement, there is not much evidence that it aided very much in the streets to get much done. However the success with how fast it spread throughout the movement and how prevalent it was can’t be denied. The identities that aliened themselves with the Occupy Movement also found a crossover with the Guy Fawkes mask and its connotations through its influence in popular culture.

Work Cited

“History-Guy Fawkes.” BBC. n.d Web. 22 Feb 2016

Lovett, Edward. “How Did Guy Fawkes Become A Symbol of Occupy Wall Street?” ABC News

         Network, 5th Nov 2011. Web. 22 Feb 2016

Sauter, Molly. “Guy Fawkes Mask-ology”. HiLo Brow, 30th April 2012. Web. 23 Feb 2016.

Thompson, Nick. “Guy Fawkes Mask Inspires Occupy Protests Around The World.” CNN. 5th Nov

2011. Web. 23rd Feb 2016.

Walker, Rob. “Recognizably Anonymous How did Hacker Group that rejects definition develop such a

strong visual brand?” Slate, 8th Dec 2011. Web 23 Feb 2016.