#HashtagInfo: Anonymous : The new wave

Initially, I intended to write an article about the hacktivist group Anonymous. In the course of my research, I realized that they are establishing a new culture.

According to Wikipedia “Anonymous is a meme (an idea, behavior or style that spreads from person to person within a culture) spread through the Internet whose goals, like its organization, is decentralized. Anonymous seeks mass awareness and revolution against corrupt entities”. The group activities began back in 2006-07 with the Habbo, Hal Turner raids and the Chris Forcand’s arrest but the mark year was 2008 with the protests against the Church of Scientology in order to protect the freedom of speech and end the financial exploitation of church members. Many protesters wore masks based on the character V from the graphic novel and movie ‘V for Vendetta’ who, in turn, was based on Guy Fawkes, the name of the person who planned to assassinate King James I on the 5th of November, 1605 in England. The common theme was the dismantling of something larger; and it starts with the domino effect – one small thing after another, until the whole thing comes crashing down.

In support of the Arab spring and due to censorship and corruption, Anonymous launched attacks such as “#Operation Tunisia”, “ #Operation Egypt” and “ #Operation Reasonable Reaction “. The hacktivist group has more global vision fighting against the “system“ especially after the financial debacle of 2008. They believe the only one answer to that mystery is “Corruption“. Out of control greed by fat-cat bankers on Wall Street had a negative impact on families as far away as Somalia. We now realize we are all linked, due to the octopus policy. This is globalization; and Anonymous believes global corruption needs global resistance.

Last September, this global corruption also gave birth to Occupy Wall Street. As a result of the mass awareness against corrupt corporate entities, Anonymous has given support to the movement. With the “Occupy mentality” spreading over the past six months, people have been protesting locally, nationally and globally; and have even occupied social media adding another dimension to the movement. This has been a revolution full of creativity attracting many inspired artists of all genres. “Since art is considered a noble field, art should be used to promote all that is good and noble, and in a noble fashion” - E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly. This is what Dan Bellini, an artist from Chicago, believes. “I want to help spread the world about OWS” he said. This is a sample of one of the artists who became involved in designing the new concept of Occupy Wall Street through painting- like adding the Guy Fawkes mask to the ‘Mona Lisa’, Picasso’s ‘Old Guitarist’ or just a cartoon character. Our artist does that on demand for profile pictures on Facebook to people who support the Occupy Wall Street movement.