Post by nicholasangelone on Feb 20, 2011 10:37:54 GMT -5
In this picture, there are three arms holding a Facebook logo, a Twitter logo, and an image of a phone sending text messages. The hands of the people who are grabbing the logos make it seem as if what they are holding are guns. The images all have something that sticks out, like the antenna or the tip of the t, and are all being held with the index finger standing out a bit, like it's on a trigger. The text in the upper left hand corner says, "Rebels In Arms!", and is usually referred to people rebelling using guns, the 'arms' representing the machinery. In this case though, the 'arms' are represented through the use of logos. The author's message here is that the rebels are fighting the government with social networks. The use of the communication are the rebels guns and their way of fighting back, like hosting rallies and spreading information. You can tell this by the way the hands are holding the logos.
Through the use of imagery, metaphors, and conceit, the artist of this image reflects the use of social networks being used as a new form of weaponry. I agree fully with the artist's message here. Through use of social networking, people can organize rallies and transfer information amongst themselves, orchestrating a rebellion with a strong foothold that can get their message across. These are essentially a form of weaponry, and although you can't fire a bullet from them, you can get thousands of people in one spot to rebel. On the news, anchorman were telling us how many people would post plans to hold rallies on twitter, and through the use of the networks, information about it spread fast. Although it's not made with lead or chemicals, it's definitely a new form of weaponry that people can, and will, use to their advantage.