On June 8th, 2021,Vicki-Marie Petrick, Adjunct Professor of European History and Art History from Schiller International University’s 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 SIU Talks˳ Led by renowned professionals in various sectors and by specialists in 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 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, used for protests since the early teens of this century, served earlier as a grass roots symbol of the downtrodden˳ The mask’s short-term history stems from a graphic novel about two self-identifying anarchists which later served as inspiration for 2005 V for Vendetta 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 “Site of Memory” or “Lieu de Mémoire˳” 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 “Remember, remember˳”
Petrick also explores the role of the mask during 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 “watch the government” 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 two beneficial things it does for those who do not live in a liberal democracy˳ She states that it “thwarts facial recognition software so they needn’t worry about reprisals” and creates a feeling of equality 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 here
