Paper short abstract:

This paper aims to explore the ways in which the protestors of the Gezi movement in Turkey vizibilize their dissent through the creation and dissemination of pictures concerning not only their struggle but also their ideas about resistance, capitalism and socialism

Paper long abstract:

According to many scholars one of the main characteristics of social movements is not only that they provide momentum for political change but also a sense of meaning in life. The sense of belonging in a group of people who have common beliefs, aims and aspirations is undoubtedly a source of identity and thus a way of existing in this world. This sense, is very eloquently expressed through images which constitute alternative ways of expression as opposed to verbal ones in the context of traditional repertoirs of action such as demonstrations, petitions, strikes etc. In this framework, this paper aims to explore the ways in which the protestors of the Gezi movement in Turkey vizibilize their dissent through the creation and dissemination of pictures concerning not only their struggle but also their ideas about life, participation in public life, resistance as well as their ideas about political and economic systems such as capitalism and socialism. In short, their perceptions about what life is or should be about. To this end, a semiotic analysis of the pictures used and disseminated by the Gezi activists and protestors, during the Gezi park demonstrations in the summer of 2013 along with their 'anchorage' as well as their contextualization is going to be attempted.