| Summary/Abstract |
This writing analyzes the use of symbols, art, and aesthetics in the first phase of Hong Kong’s “Occupy Central” movement. Protestors, demonstrators, and strikers appropriate symbols to put their political messages across, sometimes essentializing or reducing complicated and complex ideologies or reform initiatives to pictorial symbols and performative sessions to parsimoniously put their points across. Between the start of Hong Kong’s “Occupy Central” movement on 27 September 2014 and its temporary pause on 6 October 2014, many symbols and art forms were used to symbolize the protests including the yellow umbrella. This writing is based on the observations in Hong Kong (more than 4 years) as well as formal and informal discussions with individuals representing positions from all sides of the political divides (pro-government, pro-democracy, and pro-Beijing forces) within and outside Hong Kong. Textually, I collected media reports, downloaded digital images, and scanned and analyzed media commentaries for this writing.
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