五月天视频

On June 8th, 2021,Vicki-Marie Petrick, Adjunct Professor of European History and Art History from 五月天视频鈥檚 Paris campus, walked us through a unique example of art history applied to modern times. She presented the historical evolution of the popular Guy Fawkes Mask used in many popular demonstrations, highlighting the paradox of its use in past and present times.

At SIU, we are intricately interwoven in the international landscape and are continuously involved in day-to-day occurrences both in terms of business news and the socioeconomic reality that surrounds us and how it affects our lives. We have therefore decided to launch聽SIU Talks.聽Led by聽renowned professionals聽in various sectors and by聽蝉辫别肠颈补濒颈蝉迟蝉听颈苍听international geopolitics, these talks explore in-depth topics and provide further insight into different areas.

During this SIU Talk, Petrick explores the history of the iconic聽Guy Fawkes Mask, highlighting the power of memory in history and revealing how visual motifs travel through time. She shares various photographs of the mask throughout history and quotes several artists and historians.

The mask,聽used for protests聽since the early teens of this century, served聽别补谤濒颈别谤听as a grass roots聽蝉测尘产辞濒听of the聽downtrodden. The mask鈥檚 short-term history stems from a graphic novel about two self-identifying聽补苍补谤肠丑颈蝉迟蝉听which later served as inspiration for 2005聽V for Vendetta聽movie. The original mask originated around 1605 in London, emerging from the turmoil of Catholic and Protestant clashes.

When exploring the power of memory and image in history, she introduces the term聽鈥淪ite of Memory鈥澛�or 鈥淟ieu de M茅moire.鈥� She states that the Guy Fawkes Mask finds itself on the threshold between remembering and forgetting and shares that the mask has long been associated with a rhyme that begins 鈥淩emember, remember.鈥�

Petrick also explores the role of the mask during聽Carnival times, investigating to what extent the act of masking in public may lead to the inversion of political order. She explains that, during Carnival times when all individuals wear masks, everyone is allowed to be a participant, creating inversions between kings and peasants for instance who are all donning the same mask. She mentions that this allows common individuals to 鈥渨atch the government鈥� instead of the other way around since all citizens are wearing masks that disguise them equally.

In modern times, the mask has been used for protests since the early teens of this century.

After interviewing several protestors, Petrick reveals聽two beneficial things聽it does for those who do not live in a liberal democracy. She states that it 鈥�thwarts facial recognition聽software so they needn鈥檛 worry about reprisals鈥� and creates a聽feeling of equality聽among protestors. However, she also states that it can create irresponsible protesting through acting out in ways that create attention from authorities and may incite authorities to use force.

The role of masks in history and in current times varies but yet also retains many underlying significances. Throughout this SIU Talk, Petrick allows us to see why the iconic Guy Fawkes Mask continues to emerge as a powerful symbol.

Watch the full SIU Guy Fawkes Mask Talk video聽