The Guy Fawkes Mask
- ellenlouise
- Jan 4, 2021
- 5 min read
In a previous post named 'What is Subversion?' I mentioned Guy Fawkes and whether his activities were subversive. This is what made me think of the two sides of subversion discussed in my creative writing piece 'Subversion is a Paradox'. Whether you agree or disagree, for a government, depends on whether something is subversive. For the rest of us, an act can be something we agree or disagree with, depending on how we see something subversive as something we can support as well as oppose.
The story of Guy Fawkes has inspired many. In an article posted by The Guardian, they discuss how Guy Fawkes has inspired create works. What interested me specifically was the reference to 'V for Vendetta'.
I have not read 'V for Vendetta' personally (it will be on my reading list now I have been reminded of it) however I have read one of Alan Moore's other graphic novels 'Watchmen'. From what I can gather 'V for Vendetta' draws on historical references such as the Cold War, the conservative nature of the Thatcher and Reagan era, the AIDs epidemic and the Gunpowder Plot. I'm not surprised there is a reference to Guy Fawkes within the novel as this cover art contains the Guy Fawkes mask itself. This is as well as the main character wearing the mask throughout.
V for Vendetta. Cover Art. (1982).
Note. From Atomic Junk Shop. (n.d.).
It is even argued in this Mental Floss article that the popularity of the mask was due to V for Vendetta. The plotline for the graphic novel is that a vigilante is trying to overthrow an authoritarian government which guess is a reference to Guy Fawkes' plot to overthrow the British Government in 1605. Before V for Vendetta, these type of masks were only popular around bonfire night.
It could be argued that Guy Fawkes subversive acts developed creative ideas in many. Whether that be writers such as Alan Moore in the way the public uses the mask within protest, art and popular culture. Specific to creative practice, however, writers and artists are the ones that are relevant to discuss when answering my question.
In a paper called 'V for Vendetta, the Guy Fawkes Mask and the Serialization of Subversion, subversion is defined as 'to turn on its head' or 'to upend something'. I like this definition as it is much broader. I think this will help when considering what aspects of the changes in my practice are subversive. As a result, I will be able to answer whether these subversive practices have developed my creativity.
It suggests that the subversion can be pursued with social practice. This means, for me, I would assume that I can pursue subversion within creative practice. V for Vendetta, however, is very obviously politically subversive. This would be more like one of the earlier definitions I came across in my initial, more in-depth, research on subversion.
In this paper, it discusses it is not the Guy Fawkes story but V for Vendetta that has resulted in the masks uses in protest political activism. This backs up the earlier argument that it is V for Vendetta that has made the mask popular. In the paper, Brinker argues that V for Vendetta re-signified the mask to mean much more than it did before. It now signifies a political revolt in a more general sense, hence the variety of uses within protest. It is argued, however, by a youtuber known as Dorkly that it was a meme that made the mask as famous as it is today.
'Who was Guy Fawkes, the Man Behind the Mask?'
Note. From Sharpe, J. (2020).
The image above was retrieved from the national geographic site, linked in bibliography. I have seen this image in much of my visual research on subversion. I have collected some images I found within my visual research on Pinterest which I thought were quite interesting.
(Left) Obama Hope Poster. Shepard Fairey. (2008)
Note. From Scott, M. (2017).
(Right) 'Freedom'. Christopher Sanabria. (n.d.).
Note. From Displate. (n.d.).
The first image I picked out is a pastiche of Shepard Fairey's "Hope" poster for Obama's campaign. This poster has become a key aspect of popular culture and is regularly redesigned in the same way as the "Freedom" image. You could say pastiche is a form of subversion as you are imitating someone else's works with a new message. You are subverting the original work in a way.
(Left) Sad Truth. (n.d.).
Note. From Funny. (2018).
(Right) 'We were all humans'. (n.d.).
Note. From Solowolf. (2017).
The next 2 images place the mask in juxtaposition to the creator's beliefs. This is clever due to this placement we will associate the mask with these thoughts and as a result, the mask begins to represent that to us. This is much like the re-signification of the masks meaning in V for Vendetta but on a much smaller scale. Seeing the mask alongside these messages for equality and views of anger towards the government gives the mask power. It means something more now. The mask means subversion of the negative aspects of society, much like the hidden figure in my creative writing piece.
(Left) Obey. Shepard Fairey. (1996).
Note. From Bertschmann, M. (2014).
(Right) Disobey. (n.d.).
Note. From Heinpold. (2011).
The last image I collected is another pastiche piece. This one is an imitation of another of Fairy's work, but instead, work for brand OBEY.
This has more of an anarchist nature to it, giving the mask a different meaning. To me, this is subversion in a negative sense, subversion for the sake of subverting.
You could argue that Guy Fawkes' subversive act in 1605 has resulted in creative bursts resulting in modern-day works. You could also argue, however, that pastiche pieces are not as created as they are using imitation rather than their own creative practise to portray their messages.
Bibliography.
Arn, J. (2015) V for Vendetta Study Guide. LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/v-for-vendetta
Atomic Junk Shop. (n.d.). 783full-v-for-vendetta-cover. Atomic Junk Shop. Retrieved January 5, 2021, from http://atomicjunkshop.com/toxic-fandom-the-saga-continues/783full-v-for-vendetta-cover/
Bertschmann, M. (2014, November 26). Obey: The Art of Phenomenology. Stakeholders: Uncensored. https://stakeholderdoce.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/obey-the-art-of-phenomenology/
Brinker, F. (2014, October 17-18). V for Vendetta, the Guy Fawkes-Mask, and the Serialization of Subversion [Paper Presentation]. Quiet Revolutions: Politically Subversive Cinema, San Francisco.
Displate. (n.d.). Freedom. Displate. https://displate.com/displate/287387
Dorkly. (2014, November 5). Today in Nerd History: History of the Guy Fawkes Mask!. [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARuDdBVGP6w&ab_channel=Dorkly
Dugdale, J. (2017, November 3). Gunpowder Plots: How Guy Fawkes Ignited an Explosive Literary Legacy. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2017/nov/03/gunpowder-plots-how-guy-fawkes-ignited-an-explosive-literary-tradition
Funny. (2018, October 16). Sad Truth. [Image]. 9 Gag. https://9gag.com/gag/aZLP1mQ?ref=pn
Heinpold. (2011, April 14). Famous obey with Vendetta touch. [Image]. Deviant Art. https://www.deviantart.com/heinpold/art/Disobey-204896521
Nickelsburg, M. (2015, November 5). A Brief History of the Guy Fawkes Mask. Mental Floss.
Scott, M. (2017, October 15). Obama Hope Poster - Shepard Fairey (2008). Medium. https://medium.com/fgd1-the-archive/obama-hope-poster-by-shepard-fairey-1307a8b6c7be
Solowolf. (2017, August 22). We were all Humans until Race disconnected us, Religion separated us, Politics divided us and Wealth classified us. [Image]. iFunny. https://ifunny.co/picture/we-were-all-humans-until-race-disconnected-us-religion-separated-806Hs2v45
Sharpe, J. (2020, November 5). Who was Guy Fawkes, the Man Behind the Mask?. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/2018/11/who-was-guy-fawkes-man-behind-mask
Comments