CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 6/2/2018

Doves and fists, creativity and subversion in 'Protest: The Aesthetics of Resistance'

In her essay, "Fist and Dove, Means and Ends: The Iconography of Two Protest Symbols," Bettina Richter asks, "How exactly can images such as the raised fist or the peace dove, which are used globally and have been monopolized by the media, still be tapped for their creative and subversive potential?" Acknowledging that stereotypes and cliches are often the most powerful instruments, she writes, "It remains to be added that this special effort of reimagination of conventional signs and symbols can and must be accomplished both on the side of the image producer and on the side of the audience in order for the creative and subversive potential of those images to be tapped."