<
https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/how-japanese-anime-became-a-global-protest-language/>
"On Aug. 29, hundreds of protesters marched to the Jakarta headquarters of the
Mobile Brigade Corps, a paramilitary arm of the Indonesian National Police.
They were gathered to demand justice for Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old
delivery driver who was run over by a tactical vehicle the day before while
participating in another demonstration. An image by a
Reuters photojournalist
shows the protesters in front of the government building after dusk, the flames
of burning barricades reflected on their motorcycle helmets. As far as protests
go, it’s a familiar and fairly conventional scene — except, perhaps, for one
inconspicuous detail. In the top left corner of the photograph, barely in
frame, a protester can be seen holding a flag with a crudely drawn skull and a
straw hat.
This is not a state emblem or party sigil. It’s the Jolly Roger of Monkey D.
Luffy, the protagonist of the pirate-themed anime and manga series “One Piece.”
Strange as it may sound, this flag has become a popular symbol of
anti-government sentiment throughout Indonesia. Reportedly, it was first used
by truckers protesting transportation reforms, only to be picked up by other
parts of the population when news broke that parliament had proposed to
increase housing subsidies for its already well-compensated members — a tough
sell in a country where an estimated 40% of the annual national budget is lost
to corruption. As photos and videos of people waving the “One Piece” flag went
viral on social media, government officials warned of “criminal consequences”
for anyone who replaced the national banner with cartoon skulls and straw hats.
This is not the first time Japanese media has become embedded in the political
culture of another country. In recent years, anime and manga have played a
prominent role in protest movements across the world, from East Asia to South
America. By and large, protesters draw inspiration from them for the same
reasons they reference film, TV, video games and music: to mobilize and
legitimize the causes they fight for. Compared to other types of media, it
could be argued that anime and manga are particularly effective forms of
protest due to their unique story tropes, close connection to online discourse
and cross-cultural, decentralized fandoms. Moreover, in an age when
authoritarianism is on the rise and civil liberties are retreating, global
franchises like “One Piece” represent spaces of resistance beyond government
control."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
