Also, notably, Guy Fawkes was in no way anti-establishment or anti-monarchy, and was certainly not an anarchist. Fawkes (and his group) wanted to replace a Protestant monarch with a Catholic one.
Very true, but as the movie says it’s a symbol. “Symbols are given power by people” and Guy Fawkes as a symbol is no longer tied to his historical actions. It symbolizes the character V, revolution, and the power of people to make change.
In much the same way a swastika means Nazi. Theres always that one guy that will tell you its an ancient symbol that means peace, but show anyone on the planet and they’ll say its a nazi thing.
Yeah in V for Vandetta he’s used as a symbol of British rebellion against the government, because the comic is extremely British. That said, the book is extremely anarchist and V is explicitly an anarchist, and the mask in popular culture at least in America is far more closely tied to that than to the actual gunpowder plot
Movie and the graphic novel are drastically different in many ways. V is definitely an anarchist in the comic; not quite the same vibe in the movie.
He’s representative of a revolutionary, an anti-establishment force, in the movie with no discernable political philosophy other than antifascist in a very English way.
Alan Moore, the original author, was quite critical of the film itself. I like the film a lot, but I totally understand that it’s a farcry from Alan’s vision in the graphic novel.
V speaks of anarchy as having two roles: destroyer and creator, as he teaches Evey to create and he destroys. Additionally he describes anarchy as the order to be contrasted to the chaos immediately after his destruction of norsefire’s control.
As for that quote, I’m struggling to find evidence it was in the comic (I never actually watched the movie). The wikiquote for the comic doesn’t have that line, but the one for the movie does, and the comic one instead has a lot of V explaining anarchy to anyone whether or not they’re interested in listening.
The comic is very explicitly about British anarchism against British fascism, whereas the movie is a lot more about George W Bush, the patriot act, and the left wing opposition to these things in the America of the early and mid 00s
The movie was well produced and I think it delivers the intended message within its self-contained universe, but… considering that the entire story is framed in the context of the Gunpowder Plot, from beginning to end, I think that message is muddled when you understand the actual history behind it.
But the movie is about the fact that a man can become an idea, and once an idea, can no longer be a man. V cannot have love, because he has made himself into an idea and that idea is not compatible with the desires he feels in his heart. Just the same, the idea of Guy Fawkes does not require the consent or approval of the man.
Also, notably, Guy Fawkes was in no way anti-establishment or anti-monarchy, and was certainly not an anarchist. Fawkes (and his group) wanted to replace a Protestant monarch with a Catholic one.
Very true, but as the movie says it’s a symbol. “Symbols are given power by people” and Guy Fawkes as a symbol is no longer tied to his historical actions. It symbolizes the character V, revolution, and the power of people to make change.
In much the same way a swastika means Nazi. Theres always that one guy that will tell you its an ancient symbol that means peace, but show anyone on the planet and they’ll say its a nazi thing.
FTFY
The guy with the ancient symbol evidently can’t mirror or rotate objects in their head…
There may be less confusion over the whole thing if there weren’t horribly misdrawn ones all over basically every city
This symbol says “I want to blow people up for God!”
Symbols should be chosen with more care, and not adopted from movies or comic books.
Yeah in V for Vandetta he’s used as a symbol of British rebellion against the government, because the comic is extremely British. That said, the book is extremely anarchist and V is explicitly an anarchist, and the mask in popular culture at least in America is far more closely tied to that than to the actual gunpowder plot
Ah, interesting, is V an anarchist?
I’ve seen the movie more recently than read the book, so I don’t remember the exact presentation, but… don’t you think the phrase:
Imply that V expects governments to exist?
V has both personal and ideological problems with the current establishment, but I’m not sure that he’s completely against any establishment.
Movie and the graphic novel are drastically different in many ways. V is definitely an anarchist in the comic; not quite the same vibe in the movie.
He’s representative of a revolutionary, an anti-establishment force, in the movie with no discernable political philosophy other than antifascist in a very English way.
Alan Moore, the original author, was quite critical of the film itself. I like the film a lot, but I totally understand that it’s a farcry from Alan’s vision in the graphic novel.
V speaks of anarchy as having two roles: destroyer and creator, as he teaches Evey to create and he destroys. Additionally he describes anarchy as the order to be contrasted to the chaos immediately after his destruction of norsefire’s control.
As for that quote, I’m struggling to find evidence it was in the comic (I never actually watched the movie). The wikiquote for the comic doesn’t have that line, but the one for the movie does, and the comic one instead has a lot of V explaining anarchy to anyone whether or not they’re interested in listening.
The comic is very explicitly about British anarchism against British fascism, whereas the movie is a lot more about George W Bush, the patriot act, and the left wing opposition to these things in the America of the early and mid 00s
Good movie though
The movie was well produced and I think it delivers the intended message within its self-contained universe, but… considering that the entire story is framed in the context of the Gunpowder Plot, from beginning to end, I think that message is muddled when you understand the actual history behind it.
But the movie is about the fact that a man can become an idea, and once an idea, can no longer be a man. V cannot have love, because he has made himself into an idea and that idea is not compatible with the desires he feels in his heart. Just the same, the idea of Guy Fawkes does not require the consent or approval of the man.
That idea being “I want a Catholic monarch on the throne”.