Forum Post: Occupy Imagery - A New Non-Violent Look For Anarchy!
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 14, 2011, 2:59 p.m. EST by Thrasymaque
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This content is user submitted and not an official statement
The new poster is beautiful there is no doubt about that.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/poster-n17-mass-direct-action-print-and-post-freel/#comment-353013
However, I wish Occupy created a look of their own and used absolutely non-violent imagery. Something truly modern with a feel of hope, serenity, happiness, and overall feel of unity. I think this would go better with their message of being a non-violent protest.
I understand the want to associate itself with traditional anarchic and communist imagery, but I think times are different now and we could certainly use a new imagery for anarchy. The punks had their own thing, and so should we. What's up with the tanks? I know we want to show we are oppressed, but this just seems too over dramatic. Occupy claims it wants cops to join the movement, but then portrays them as tanks lined up like a military operation. I just seems weird and inappropriate.
I'm imagine an imagery that would redefine anarchism to what we dream it could be today. An imagery that would not pull its inspiration from the past, but look towards the future. I would drop the communist red, and use green. The color of today, of ecology, of nature. I would rebrand anarchy, not as the fight against power, but as a natural progression of mankind. Something pure and non-violent. Something pacific and tied with mother Earth. Definitely Green, no red. No tanks. Just a look that screams: This is the obvious natural future for all of us and we won't have to fight for it because it's so natural and obvious that it will all fall into place. We just have to occupy peacefully and grow naturally.
I hear your major complaint. Green is the color of money! No! Hmmm. True, perhaps it could be a color scheme of grass green, ocean blue, and earthy brown. We don't have to use the money green color.
What a great time it would be in history to give anarchy a brand new look, just for Occupy.
I don't know, I think what Thrasymaque had in mind was something along the lines of the famous Coke commercial that played, "I'd Like to teach the world to sing....." Anyone remember that add? People together singing. Totally different imagery but it sold a lot of cola.
Not exactly what I had in mind, but better than an old anarchic-communist look that has nothing to do with today's America. I wasn't thinking so go lucky happy cheesy like the Coke commercial.
In a nutshell, I think the look should be focused on positive change, instead of the confrontation between the movement and the cops. Let's not show the struggle of anarchy (raised fist, tanks, red communist colors, etc...), but instead the results we want to achieve with anarchy. Let's show all the beauty of the new world, not the fight that leads there.
To tell you a secret, to tell you the truth, Occupy is preparing violence not too far in the future. These are civil war images meant to prepare our minds for that. A true non-violent protest DOES NOT bring out the tanks before the government does. Do you see a government with tanks? No. The only tanks are on the poster. That's a big hint.
Occupy will keep talking non-violence, but they will slowly make their imagery more and more violent. If Occupy gets big, the cops will start getting more serious, and the protesters will have been pumped with all these images of war. That's when the true Occupy begins. What we are seeing now is just a setup.
That's totally going in the wrong direction. Violence is a recipe for a lot of death and no change. I believe even peaceful protesters need to be aware that death is possible even when you are being peaceful. It sounds as if OWS doesn't believe they can ever gain enough support threw peaceful means. I am very disappointed. You fight corporate American with moving your money, learning who is behind the products you buy etc. If you gain popular support, boycotts work. Voting can work with enough people. OWS wouldn't know who they were fighting for at this point. OWS hasn't been clear about what type of government and leaders they would put in place. You don't plan violence, or commit acts of violence without knowing these things. Am I making any sense?
I see women with long hair and peasant blouses, fresh faced children and a message of hope for the house and backyard and everyone was taught was American to aspire to. How far off am I? Picture a simple backyard BBQ time lapsing into a vacant house with busted windows and a boarded up front door. All you'd need to shoot was a cute family, a home and some plywood.
The vacant house with broken children's toys abandon in the overgrown grass. Hows that for an image?
Gawd I fuckin hate you. You are a total psyops troll and everybody is clueless. You know the weakness, you exploit it, and nobody's the wiser - but the seeds are planted. You proud?
Please, be sure to use "anarchy" at least three times in your reply.
anarchy anarchy anarchy
I thought the tanks represented the violent oppression of the state. I was reminded of the protestor in Tianamen square when I saw it.
Yea, really what's with the tanks?
Although I think the tanks represent the opposition, still, I agree with much of what you wrote.
I too was surprised when I first saw the tanks... But then I noticed the little guy FACING the tanks and I remembered the incredibly courageous young man BLOCKING the column of tanks from entering Tien an men Square. This man has become a universal symbol for resistance to oppression, so I would say the poster is not violent at all, y contrario...
Yes, the poster is a depiction of Tiananmen Square where a lone protestor stood in front of tanks moving in on the protestors. It was an amazing scene of the power of non-violent disobedience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq8zFLIftGk&feature=related
The difference in the new poster is the thousands of people lined up behind the tank guy.
It is not weird at all, it is real. Violence directed towards protestors is likely if the movement begins to have any real impact.
Yes, is likely, but no tanks have yet to be seen except on your posters. For a non-violent group, I thought you would have left the government the chance to be the first to bring out the tanks. Instead, you are.
I get that it represents Tiananmen Square. However, I don't like these types of comparisons. China of then is not US of today. I don't think we should forget the past, but we also have to remain realistic and understand the particular problems of today. I haven't seen any military tanks attacking the protesters so I don't think we should use provocative imagery that shows that.
It also diminishes the important of Tiananmen Square to compare it to Occupy. It's the same problem with people comparing NATO with the NAZI. When you do that, you diminish the evil of the NAZI, and exaggerate the demonization of NATO. These types of comparisons confuse matters more than they explain them.
Occupy keeps talking about peaceful protests and of wanting to bring the cops into their movement. They should start by using positive imagery. Why not create a whole new type of imagery just for themselves. What a great time it would be to give anarchy a new look.
that makes no sense at all. There's nothing new under the sun.
Anarchy has never been spread so far and wide by one movement. It's the first time we have an international protest of this type. It's the first time in world history that so many Republics have become Ogliarches. This is a very special time in history.
Another point is that anarchy is not viewed really well in the eyes of the US public. That's why Occupy barely ever mentions it. Occupy should embrace what they are, an anarchy, but create a new look for it so that it is more acceptable in today's US society.
Oh, you're a Greenie. lol
I wondered what your agenda was. Thanks for making it so clear in this post.
I don't know. I don't think that 'Anarchy' and violence go together, since violence against another is oppression and coercion. Historically, the only violence that Anarchists have advocated was damage to property. Of course, anyone can claim to be an anarchist, or have that label attached to them.
When I see the poster, I really see the tanks as representing the repression of the state. The only means they have to coerce and repress you is through violence. When you use violence back, they know how to handle that. They don't know how to handle passive resistance and civil disobedience. If they respond to peaceful protest with violence, public opinion turns against them.
Would you like something more like Occupy Kitty?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=227515807312919&set=pu.222921891105644&type=1&theater
Nah, it's uncreative and ugly. I'm talking about a whole new look for anarchy. Think big.
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