Riot For Vendetta

The riots, as predicted by Alan Moore (Via)

As the riots broke out in my country (The London Riots), many disturbing pictures have appeared and been featured, all as haunting, devastating and iconic as the next. But for me, none of these photos had as much of an impact as this photo.

Featuring a rioter in a Guy Fawkes mask, this photo hasn't made the rounds as much as I thought it would. Though most people now associate it with the hacking group Anonymous, the mask was actually a creation of Alan Moore from the classic comic, 'V For Vendetta' and it originally represented a sign of freedom and revolution. Here it's being used as a face cover, another example classic icons being warped from their original use by the user. How do movements that originate in justified anger and non-violent resistance evolve and hurt not only innocent people but also the symbols and causes they would represent?

I can only hope that tonight will be a little more peaceful.