{"id":2210398,"date":"2026-10-20T08:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T05:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2210398"},"modified":"2026-10-20T08:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T05:00:22","slug":"pop-culture-iconography-as-protest-why-has-the-one-piece-skull-been-adopted-by-french-protesters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2210398","title":{"rendered":"Pop culture iconography as protest: Why has the One Piece skull been adopted by French protesters?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/1200x675_cmsv2_3c052132-1bf0-5c44-8cb7-098f7029ecea-9503398.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2935458-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935458\" data-cid=\"9961868\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935458-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/84\/55\/189x106_cmsv2_1618db7a-6788-57a4-8bf5-ba7812f8e491-9938455.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Argentina&apos;s President Javier Milei in Paris, Thursday 1 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Lefty and proud&#8217;: Spain&#8217;s S\u00e1nchez hits back at Argentina&#8217;s Milei\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935584-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935584\" data-cid=\"9962058\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935584-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/20\/58\/189x106_cmsv2_be4245aa-154e-5bbb-8661-ad3320d05bee-9962058.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A healthcare worker speaks to a colleague at the Ebola treatment center in Beni, North Kivu province, Congo.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    African health ministers to hold Ebola crisis talks as outbreak grows\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935579-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935579\" data-cid=\"9961993\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935579-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/15\/61\/189x106_cmsv2_77d833d6-8c36-57a2-b13b-7da1e59ce25b-9941561.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"EU lawmakers are traveling to China between 27 and 29 October.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU should revive talks on broader China trade deal, top MEP says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935588-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935588\" data-cid=\"9962098\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935588-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/20\/98\/189x106_cmsv2_f5db5498-808c-5a3b-8690-b3f75cd20385-9962098.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People protest Poland&apos;s restrictive abortion law in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday June 14, 2023.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Poland\u2019s abortion reforms would leave it an EU outlier, even if passed\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Culture<\/p>\n<p>                          Culture news<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Pop culture iconography as protest: Why has the One Piece skull been adopted by French protesters?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/1536x864_cmsv2_3c052132-1bf0-5c44-8cb7-098f7029ecea-9503398.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Popular Japanese anime One Piece is a refrequent reference seen during the French protests\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Popular Japanese anime One Piece is a refrequent reference seen during the French protests<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Instagram screenshot &#8211; AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Instagram screenshot &#8211; AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspDavid Mouriquand\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1760004082\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2025-10-09 12:01:22 +02:00\">09\/10\/2025 &#8211; 12:01 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"2026-10-20 10:00:41 +02:00\">20\/10\/2026 &#8211; 10:00 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div 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height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Pop culture as expression of revolt: Gen Z have adopted a symbol from a popular manga for their protest movements. Here\u2019s why the One Piece flag has become a recognised symbol of revolt during French protests &#8211; and beyond.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--culture js-article-content\">\n<p>When young people challenge the establishment, they often adopt fictional works or popular culture iconography in their protests, with some images and symbols becoming unlikely rallying cries.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Amid the banners, placards and slogans seen on the streets of France, a black flag with a smiling skull wearing a straw hat frequently pops up. <\/p>\n<p>The pirate emblem immediately speaks to fans of the manga series One Piece: it\u2019s the &#8220;Jolly Roger&#8221;, one of the most recognizable logos in pop culture. <\/p>\n<p>The iconography was already present during last year\u2019s September protests in France, and it has re-emerged during the ongoing student protests and street demonstrations across France \u2013 as well as in Belgium, Italy and Greece.<\/p>\n<p>But how has the One Piece pirate flag become a country and continent-spanning symbol against repression and government corruption?<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-1\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Singing truth to power: The best protest songs of the past 10 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>A bit of background first. For those of you who aren\u2019t familiar with One Piece, it\u2019s a popular Japanese manga created by Eiichiro Oda. In a nutshell, it follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates, who stand up for those oppressed by repressive rulers and authoritarian corruption \u2013 a fight against tyranny under their flag, the \u201cJolly Roger\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>First published in 1997 \u2013 the year which coincidentally marks the first year of Gen Z births \u2013 the <strong>manga<\/strong> has become a worldwide phenomenon, selling more than 500 million copies and being translated into 40 languages. It holds the <strong>Guinness World Record<\/strong> for the most copies published in the same comic book series by a single author, and has spawned an animated TV series, a live-action Netflix show, as well as several films.<\/p>\n<p>In France, the show is extremely popular and its volumes are bestsellers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/808x539_cmsv2_341a2511-7da7-5616-b98c-8e2016dbbb1f-9503398.jpg\" alt=\"A protester outside the U.N. headquarters wears a One Piece flag as Benjamin Netanyahu speaks inside -26 September 2025\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">A protester outside the U.N. headquarters wears a One Piece flag as Benjamin Netanyahu speaks inside -26 September 2025<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-2\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Best and funniest signs from mass No Kings protests against Trump<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">B(ard)ella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao: The story of a global resistance anthem<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Over the years, the flag of the grinning skull has been seen at protests in Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco, Italy, the UK, and has been omnipresent during the protests rocking France in the past few weeks. <\/p>\n<p>Whether the One Piece image is seen at student protests, rallies against police brutality, protests on government social media bans, or at pro-Palestine demonstrations, the common visual denominator reflects how the manga symbol has resonated with Gen Z, who have adopted it as their symbol for defiance and ultimately, hope. <\/p>\n<p>It is hardly an unexpected symbol, as it stands for freedom and resistance against oppression for the source material\u2019s ragtag rebels. And now IRL, speaking to disaffected youth and Gen Z aching to be heard.<\/p>\n<p>The fictional world making its way into the real one represents a useful transfer as narratives and their values are not limited to borders or causes, thereby creating a global sense of unification and a shared language of solidarity. It\u2019s also an advantageous transferral, as transforming fictional touchstones into real-world emblems of defiance means these symbols are harder to suppress by governments who still seek to maintain an anti-authoritarian appearance.<\/p>\n<p>The use of the Jolly Roger once again reveals that culture and politics are inextricably intertwined &#8211; especially for young activists and a digitally-savvy generation who use social media to communicate their thoughts and fears through cultural references.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s plenty of precedence, as the Jolly Roger flag isn&#8217;t the only pop culture symbol to have been used in protests over the years. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s a look five instances of cultural touchstones used as political expression in the last 15 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>V for Vendetta<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/808x454_cmsv2_8aae2793-ba8e-5780-a042-86ffccdb8d25-9503398.jpg\" alt=\"V in V for Vendetta\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">V in V for Vendetta<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Warner Bros. Pictures<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Inspired by 2005\u2019s <em>V for Vendetta<\/em>, the international hacktivist group Anonymous started using the movie\u2019s iconic Guy Fawkes mask to conceal their identities during protests. The mask became widespread in 2011 during the \u201cOccupy\u201d movement, and has lasted as a face-of-dissent symbol, taking aim at corrupt systems and governments. As V states: &#8220;People should not be afraid of their governments \u2013 governments should be afraid of their people.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Hunger Games<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/808x454_cmsv2_8ee1eca4-9eeb-5e92-a814-a29748954838-9503398.jpg\" alt=\"The Hunger Games\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">The Hunger Games<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Lionsgate<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The series of YA books by Suzanne Collins and the subsequent films starring Jennifer Lawrence contain several symbols of resistance, from the Mockingjay pin to the three-finger salute. This silent gesture of defiance was used by the character Katniss Everdeen as a way to show her solidarity with the oppressed, and it has since been seen in protests from 2014 onwards, from anti-military coup demonstrations in Thailand to Hong Kong\u2019s protest for universal suffrage. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/808x454_cmsv2_35105d5f-4619-50a1-93c7-138a0d50bdce-9503398.jpg\" alt=\"The Handmaid&apos;s Tale\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">The Handmaid&#8217;s Tale<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Hulu<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 2017 and 2018, women across the US wore scarlet cloaks and white bonnets from <strong>Margaret Atwood\u2019s \u201cThe Handmaid\u2019s Tale&#8221;<\/strong>, as a response to anti-abortion legislation and policies threatening female reproductive rights. In the dystopian book and TV series, the handmaids are made to wear the uniform under the law of Gilead, the dystopian country in which fertile women are forced into childbearing servitude. The costume frequently reappears in women\u2019s rights demonstrations worldwide &#8211; from Argentina\u2019s 2018 demonstrations for abortion rights, to the 2019 protests against US President Trump\u2019s visits to the UK. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Joker<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/808x454_cmsv2_bbd7ef7d-780a-541c-accc-579d60e69005-9503398.jpg\" alt=\"Joker\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Joker<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Warner Bros. Pictures<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the aftermath of civil war, Lebanese protestors demonstrating against the government\u2019s new austerity measures in 2019 adopted the likeness of the Clown Prince of Crime, with many taking inspiration from Joaquin Phoenix\u2019s face paint in <strong><em>Joker<\/em><\/strong>. It\u2019s a get-up that is recognised worldwide, one which grants anonymity to demonstrators and in the case of Lebanese protestors, allowed their strife to gain heightened visibility. The Joker also stands as a symbol of rebellion, embodying a disregard for societal norms and conventions. As such, the use of the clown face signifies a reminder to embrace irreverence towards the established order, making it a popular emblem in protests worldwide. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Pepe the Frog<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/808x454_cmsv2_7cc9b6f6-519d-5b42-b9e3-10ea336c96aa-9503398.jpg\" alt=\"Pro-democracy protesters wear Pepe the Frog masks during a march in Hong Kong\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Pro-democracy protesters wear Pepe the Frog masks during a march in Hong Kong<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The alt-right, <strong>MAGA<\/strong> and Trump himself, who tweeted a meme of Pepe during the 2016 US presidential election, adopted the green frog as a way to appeal to the youth. American cartoonist Matt Furie created the image in 2005 and was furious at how his creation had been co-opted in such a hateful way. Before killing off the character in a 2017 comic, he wrote an essay for <strong>TIME<\/strong> in 2016 in which he said: \u201cIt\u2019s completely insane that Pepe has been labelled a symbol of hate, and that racists and anti-Semites are using a once peaceful frog-dude from my comic book as an icon of hate.\u201d Despite Pepe being used by the alt-right in the West, it was re-appropriated and reclaimed by Hong Kong protestors in pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2887565-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2887565\" data-cid=\"9728429\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2887565-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/84\/29\/480x270_cmsv2_faa4970f-2da8-59cd-a4be-66f55749241f-9728429.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Singing truth to power: The best protest songs of the past 10 years\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Singing truth to power: The best protest songs of the past 10 years<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2772454-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2772454\" data-cid=\"9125572\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2772454-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/12\/55\/72\/480x270_cmsv2_ffa8cdab-f1ec-55e4-9ca2-f7ead9e9b52d-9125572.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Behind the poster causing an antisemitism scandal in French politics - Pictured: Jean-Luc M\u00e9lenchon (left) with the offending image\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Behind the political poster causing an antisemitism row in France<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2574234-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2574234\" data-cid=\"8537956\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2574234-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/53\/79\/56\/480x270_cmsv2_c0f72c83-e72d-574c-bff6-f8d7c341191a-8537956.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"B(ard)ella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao: The story of a global resistance anthem  \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    B(ard)ella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao: The story of a global resistance anthem<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Manga<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Protest<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  France<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Gen Z<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Protests in France<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Cinema<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2935509-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935509\" data-cid=\"9961637\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935509-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/16\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_5227be76-3eb1-5d79-8859-54497bc36c35-9961637.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"&quot;Up Yours! 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/53\/79\/56\/480x270_cmsv2_c0f72c83-e72d-574c-bff6-f8d7c341191a-8537956.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"B(ard)ella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao: The story of a global resistance anthem  \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    B(ard)ella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao: The story of a global resistance anthem<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935509-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935509\" data-cid=\"9961637\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935509-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/16\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_5227be76-3eb1-5d79-8859-54497bc36c35-9961637.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"&quot;Up Yours! God Save The Queens&quot;\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    God Save The Queens: New exhibition celebrates the women of punk and 50 years of She Punk history<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2932473-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2932473\" data-cid=\"9946789\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2932473-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/94\/67\/89\/320x180_cmsv2_3c7ceb31-fe1a-52d1-afcc-0d19e76a70d1-9946789.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Nina Simone and David Bowie\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Steve McQueen brings together David Bowie and Nina Simone in Bilbao<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935547-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935547\" data-cid=\"9961882\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935547-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/18\/82\/320x180_cmsv2_9a239773-1879-5550-9aa4-4c7ace732800-9961882.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Singer IAMDDB accuses Israel of stealing her identity in AI propaganda video - Pictured: IAMDDB at the Brit Awards 2018 in London\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Angolan-Portuguese singer IAMDDB accuses Israel of stealing her identity in AI video<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935466-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935466\" data-cid=\"9961423\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935466-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/14\/23\/320x180_cmsv2_6ec6d407-7486-5154-8901-9487b2ab21e0-9961423.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Restorers work to preserve frescoes in Pompeii\u2019s ancient Roman houses\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Restorers work to preserve frescoes in one of Pompeii\u2019s grandest homes<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935452-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935452\" data-cid=\"9961267\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935452-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/12\/67\/320x180_cmsv2_2e50d834-285a-53b1-b4ad-bf024f335f4b-9961267.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE - The Beatles - 1964 - the new 2028 Beatles attraction will \u2018rival Graceland&apos;\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    New Beatles attraction \u2018to rival Graceland&#8217; coming to Liverpool in 2028<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2933895-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2933895\" data-cid=\"9953427\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ramses II statue fragments found on Egyptian farmer\u2019s land<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2837361-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2837361\" data-cid=\"9503398\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Pop culture iconography as protest: Why has the One Piece skull been adopted by French protesters?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2323972-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2323972\" data-cid=\"7756890\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Taylor Swift breaks record for most No. 1 albums by a woman<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935267-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935267\" data-cid=\"9960337\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Reaching for the Starmus: Science and music festival back in Tenerife<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935114-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935114\" data-cid=\"9959864\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Neanderthal remains dating back 46,000 years identified in Abauntz cave, Navarra<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">When young people challenge the establishment, they often adopt fictional works or popular culture iconography in their protests, with some images and symbols becoming unlikely rallying cries.Amid the banners, placards and slogans seen on the streets of France, a black flag with a smiling skull wearing a straw hat frequently pops up. \u00a0The pirate emblem immediately speaks to fans of the manga series One Piece: it\u2019s the &#8220;Jolly Roger&#8221;, one of the most recognizable logos in pop culture. \u00a0The iconography was already present during last year\u2019s September protests in France, and it has re-emerged during the ongoing student protests and street demonstrations across France \u2013 as well as in Belgium, Italy and Greece.But how has the One Piece pirate flag become a country and continent-spanning symbol against repression and government corruption?A bit of background first. For those of you who aren\u2019t familiar with One Piece, it\u2019s a popular Japanese manga created by Eiichiro Oda. In a nutshell, it follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates, who stand up for those oppressed by repressive rulers and authoritarian corruption \u2013 a fight against tyranny under their flag, the \u201cJolly Roger\u201d.\u00a0First published in 1997 \u2013 the year which coincidentally marks the first year of Gen Z births \u2013 the manga\u00a0has become a worldwide phenomenon, selling more than 500 million copies and being translated into 40 languages. It\u00a0holds the Guinness World Record for the most copies published in the same comic book series by a single author, and has spawned an animated TV series, a live-action Netflix show, as well as several films.In France, the show is extremely popular and its volumes are bestsellers.Over the years, the flag of the grinning skull\u00a0has been seen at protests in Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco, Italy, the UK, and has been omnipresent during the protests rocking France in the past few weeks.Whether the One Piece image is seen at student protests, rallies against police brutality, protests on government social media bans, or at pro-Palestine demonstrations, the common visual denominator reflects how the manga symbol has resonated with Gen Z, who have adopted it as their symbol for defiance and ultimately, hope. \u00a0It is hardly an unexpected symbol, as it stands for freedom and resistance against oppression for the source material\u2019s ragtag rebels. And now IRL, speaking to disaffected youth and Gen Z aching to be heard.The fictional world making its way into the real one represents a useful transfer as narratives and their values are not limited to borders or causes, thereby creating a global sense of unification and a shared language of solidarity. It\u2019s also an advantageous transferral, as transforming fictional touchstones\u00a0into real-world emblems of defiance means these symbols are harder to suppress by governments who still seek to maintain an anti-authoritarian appearance.The use of the Jolly Roger once again reveals that culture and politics are inextricably intertwined &#8211; especially for young activists and a digitally-savvy generation who use social media to communicate their thoughts and fears through cultural references.There\u2019s plenty of precedence, as the Jolly Roger flag isn&#8217;t the only pop culture symbol to have been used in protests over the years.\u00a0Here\u2019s a look five instances of\u00a0cultural touchstones\u00a0used as political expression in the last 15 years. \u00a0V for Vendetta\u00a0Inspired by 2005\u2019s V for Vendetta, the international hacktivist group Anonymous started using the movie\u2019s iconic Guy Fawkes mask to conceal their identities during protests. The mask became widespread in 2011 during the \u201cOccupy\u201d movement, and has lasted as a face-of-dissent symbol, taking aim at corrupt systems and governments. As V states: &#8220;People should not\u00a0be\u00a0afraid\u00a0of their governments \u2013 governments should be afraid of their people.\u201d\u00a0The Hunger Games \u00a0The series of YA books by Suzanne Collins and the subsequent films starring Jennifer Lawrence contain several symbols of resistance, from the Mockingjay pin to the three-finger salute. This silent gesture of defiance was used by the character Katniss Everdeen as a way to show her solidarity with the oppressed, and it has since been seen in protests from 2014 onwards, from anti-military coup demonstrations in Thailand to Hong Kong\u2019s protest for universal suffrage.\u00a0The Handmaid\u2019s Tale\u00a0In 2017 and 2018, women across the US wore scarlet cloaks and white bonnets from Margaret Atwood\u2019s \u201cThe Handmaid\u2019s Tale&#8221;, as a response to anti-abortion legislation and policies threatening female reproductive rights. In the dystopian book and TV series, the handmaids\u00a0are made to wear the uniform under the law of Gilead, the dystopian country in which fertile women are forced into childbearing servitude. The costume frequently reappears in women\u2019s rights demonstrations worldwide &#8211; from Argentina\u2019s 2018 demonstrations for abortion rights, to the 2019 protests against US President Trump\u2019s visits to the UK.\u00a0The JokerIn the aftermath of civil war, Lebanese protestors demonstrating against the government\u2019s new austerity measures in 2019 adopted the likeness of the Clown Prince of Crime, with many taking inspiration from Joaquin Phoenix\u2019s face paint in Joker. It\u2019s a get-up that is recognised worldwide, one which grants anonymity to demonstrators and in the case of Lebanese protestors, allowed their strife to gain heightened visibility. The Joker also stands as a symbol of rebellion, embodying a disregard for societal norms and conventions. As such, the use of the clown face signifies a reminder to embrace irreverence towards the established order, making it a popular emblem in protests worldwide. \u00a0Pepe the FrogThe alt-right, MAGA and\u00a0Trump himself, who tweeted a meme of Pepe during the 2016 US presidential election, adopted the green frog as a way to appeal to the youth. American cartoonist Matt Furie created the image in 2005 and was furious at how his creation had been co-opted in such a hateful way. Before killing off the character in a 2017 comic, he wrote an essay for\u00a0TIME\u00a0in 2016 in which he said: \u201cIt\u2019s completely insane that Pepe has been labelled a symbol of hate, and that racists and anti-Semites are using a once peaceful frog-dude from my comic book as an icon of hate.\u201d Despite Pepe being used by the alt-right in the West, it was re-appropriated and reclaimed by Hong Kong protestors in pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019. \u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/10\/20\/from-one-piece-to-the-hunger-games-when-pop-culture-iconography-turns-political&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/50\/33\/98\/1200x675_cmsv2_3c052132-1bf0-5c44-8cb7-098f7029ecea-9503398.jpg&#8221;] Europe News &#8216;Lefty and proud&#8217;: Spain&#8217;s S\u00e1nchez hits back at Argentina&#8217;s Milei Health news African health ministers to hold Ebola crisis talks as outbreak grows Europe News EU should revive talks on broader China trade deal, top MEP says Health news Poland\u2019s abortion reforms would leave it an EU outlier, even if [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2210398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2210398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210398\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2210398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2210398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2210398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}