Hong Kong Protests Go Geek With Nerdy Political Art

[StewShearerOld]

Hong Kong Protests Go Geek With Nerdy Political Art

Hong Kong's umbrella movement used imagery from The Hunger Games, Batman and more to express themselves over the course of recent protests.

If there's a single theme that can perhaps sum up the mish-mash collective that is nerd culture, it'd probably be empowerment. For countless people around the world, the characters in movies, literature, comic books and video games serve as agents of confidence for people who, otherwise, might have a hard time finding the will to resist. If you want proof, you need look no further than the city of <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/hong%20kong?os=hong+kong>Hong Kong.

As detailed in <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/criticalintel/12701-Pikachu-and-Other-Geek-Icons-Join-Hong-Kong-Umbrella-Movement>a recent column by Escapist-contributor <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/articles/Robert%20Rath>Rob Rath, the members of the "umbrella movement" have been at the center recent protests aimed at furthering the cause of universal suffrage in Hong Kong. Comprised primarily of young students, the group has produced an impressive collection of political art, much of which has been tinged by nerdy iconography. While covering the protests, Rath saw art pieces based on properties like Pokemon, The Hunger Games, The Avengers and a variety of other popular comic books, manga and anime series.

The art, according to Rath, reflects not just the tastes of the protesters but also some of the philosophies driving their movement. He described Batman, in particular, as being a popular figure due to his practices of anonymous heroism. Many of the protesters strived to emulate that ideal and displayed the Bat symbol prominently throughout their camps. The protests and their lead-up produced countless examples of similar repurposing. And while you could perhaps argue that this is just young people expressing themselves through the things they enjoy, we think it's emblematic of the power fictional characters can possess even in the face of real world crisis. To learn more about the umbrella protests and their art, check out Rob Rath's <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/criticalintel/12701-Pikachu-and-Other-Geek-Icons-Join-Hong-Kong-Umbrella-Movement>original feature piece.

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Source: <a href=To learn more about the umbrella protests and their art, check out Rob Rath's <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/criticalintel/12701-Pikachu-and-Other-Geek-Icons-Join-Hong-Kong-Umbrella-Movement>Critical Intel






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[Godhead]

I am sorely disappointed that there isn't any Arthur.

On the other hand though, this is a really neat and creative way to protest.

Edit: Forgot that anime is seperate from other types of animation. Please disregard.

Spoiler

 

[Fox12]

Oh, this is so cool. I really like this, it's pretty creative.

I am curious, though, how widespread this attitude is. I get that the umbrella group itself is probably just a handful of student protesters, but I wonder how widespread the desire for greater suffrage is? It would be nice to see a new liberty movement erupt there, and I could see it happening if a greater middle class develops.

Also, no Les Mis? What kind of geeks are you :O

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I am sorely disappointed that there isn't any Arthur.

On the other hand though, this is a really neat and creative way to protest.

curious as I don't know..what time of anime/geeky thing is known by "arthur"?

OT: This is creative, and I enjoy the idea of it being non-violent protesting, so good on them.

 

[Istilldontcare]

Oh, this is so cool. I really like this, it's pretty creative.

I am curious, though, how widespread this attitude is. I get that the umbrella group itself is probably just a handful of student protesters, but I wonder how widespread the desire for greater suffrage is? It would be nice to see a new liberty movement erupt there, and I could see it happening if a greater middle class develops.

Also, no Les Mis? What kind of geeks are you :O

YEEEEEAAAAH about that.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4mgmFAeesA
Do you hear the people sing is not only been associated with the Umbrella movement, it is one of their most prolific icons amongst protesters, with Chinese song writers even making a version with Lyrics specific to the movement.

I'm guessing that you don't really follow this on the news much do you.

 

[Fox12]

Oh, this is so cool. I really like this, it's pretty creative.

I am curious, though, how widespread this attitude is. I get that the umbrella group itself is probably just a handful of student protesters, but I wonder how widespread the desire for greater suffrage is? It would be nice to see a new liberty movement erupt there, and I could see it happening if a greater middle class develops.

Also, no Les Mis? What kind of geeks are you :O

YEEEEEAAAAH about that.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4mgmFAeesA
Do you hear the people sing is not only been associated with the Umbrella movement, it is one of their most prolific icons amongst protesters, with Chinese song writers even making a version with Lyrics specific to the movement.

I'm guessing that you don't really follow this on the news much do you.

Nooooope. But this brings joy to my heart all the same, it's good to see people standing up for their human rights. I hear people complain about China's growing role in globalism all the time, as if they're going to be a bad influence on the rest of global culture. But people forget that it goes both ways, and that China can be impacted for the better by opening itself up to foreign ideas and philosophies.

 

[Godhead]

I am sorely disappointed that there isn't any Arthur.

On the other hand though, this is a really neat and creative way to protest.

curious as I don't know..what time of anime/geeky thing is known by "arthur"?

OT: This is creative, and I enjoy the idea of it being non-violent protesting, so good on them.

Whenever I see anime, I automatically think of anything that is animated. My mistake.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I am sorely disappointed that there isn't any Arthur.

On the other hand though, this is a really neat and creative way to protest.

curious as I don't know..what time of anime/geeky thing is known by "arthur"?

OT: This is creative, and I enjoy the idea of it being non-violent protesting, so good on them.

Whenever I see anime, I automatically think of anything that is animated. My mistake.

ohhhhhh you mean the literal arthur from PBS. woops lol, I assumed there was some form of japanese anime that had a popular arthur character that I didn't know.

Spoiler: didnt know until just now there are alot of arthur posts online