Anarchy Signs

[Vicious_Vegan]

Is there a difference between these two symbols? Someone told me way back one that the first one was social anarchy, i guess implying the other is anti-social, chaotic or something? Doesn't really match up...

Yeah, i've just been wondering that for a while.

http://www.mostlyposters.com/images/posters/fullsize/ST1970-Anarchy-Logo.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40792000/jpg/_40792828_anarchy.jpg

[edit] hope this pic will work better, but you know what i mean anyway.

[which doctor]

We can't see the second one :(

[skooma]

well, they look very very alike to me..other than the colours

[Black Dagger]

Generally (though not in all cases) the difference is between anarchism and 'chaos' anarchy.

I.E. that the circle-A is used by anarchists (social/class war anarchists) and the punk-style A is used by some punks and other people who are not actually anarchists in the communist sense, butin the popular 'anarchy is chaos' sense- as a means of rebellion or to appear 'edgey', not because they want a stateless classless society.

Though of course there are revolutionary anarchists who use the punk-style A too, so its never a definite indication of someones politics or lackthereof, more that those are the origins of the two and the contexts in which they are generally used.

[rioters bloc]

i cant see the second one?

[Fawkes]

Me either. I prefer the Anarcho-Syndicalist Red and Black flag to the Anarchist A with a cricle symbol cause that carries so much shit with it.

[apathy maybe]

I assume that the second one has the A extending outside the O.

In my use they are equivalent. Depends on what I feel like. The first is easier to draw however.

The second one was originally "punk" as Black Dagger suggests, though I doubt that it ever had anything to do with "chaos" anarchy　such.

[Fawkes]

The one where the A extends outside the O is so much more badass, except everyone automatically thinks SEX PISTOLS, FIGHTING, BASEBALL BATS, FRENCH POODLES!!!!!!!!!

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 04:12 AM
Is there a difference between these two symbols? Someone told me way back one that the first one was social anarchy, i guess implying the other is anti-social, chaotic or something? Doesn't really match up...

maybe they mean social anarchism as opposed to individual anarchism?

i don't know though.

my signature is an anarchist symbol since those are my initials ;)

[An archist]

I allways thought the first one was the original (A) and the second one is the one the punk movement adopted.

[rioters bloc]

i don't get it.. isn't one just 'messier' than the other? is that meant to be really significant or something :huh:

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by An archist+Jul 29 2006, 09:10 PM--> (An archist @ Jul 29 2006, 09:10 PM) I allways thought the first one was the original (A) and the second one is the one the punk movement adopted. [/b]
This is basically true yeah.


RB
is that meant to be really significant or something

Like i said, it can be sometimes, but its not a perfect guide. Generally, if i see someone using the circle A, on their clothes, on a badge, a flag, sticker, whatever - i assume that they're a social anarchist/anarchist-communist etc. because that's the dominant use of the circle A. Where as if i see someone with an 'anarchy' A in the same situation, i'll probably assume that they're not actually anarchists, but rather listen to punk, or are just trendy fucks. Most of the time, the actual A is irrelevant, and you can tell these things by looking at/talking to the person :P

[sav]

The second one, IMO, tends to be more of a commercial logo, much like the legendary image of Che. It's the type of Anarchy logo you see in Hot Topic, not in demonstrations.

[ahab]

most anarchists dont even know there is a difference unless they are old enough to have seen its changes. Maybe a while back it was significant, but isnt really anymore. I too prefer the anarcho-syndicalist flag and dont really rep the traditional 'a' anymore

[Black Dagger]

Fuck the anarcho-syndicalist flag, rep the fucking black flag! For anarchism! :D

[rebelworker]

Red and Black all the way!!!

I mostly use the A, just cause of the neganitve implications/punk subculturism of the other one that Ive never really identified with.

I think its cool that punks have made their own "edgy" style, its just not me, and my "anarchism" tends to be alot different than the one most punks Identify with.

[Delirium]

I always use the 'anarchy is order' symbol because the 'A' with the extended limbs has been ruined by pop culture.

[An archist]

meh, I've got the punk A on my trousers, the 'decent' A around my neck, the A in a star on my vest and sweater and the red and black flag on my room.

[Donnie]

The "A" with the "O" around it first came around because of Proudhon's comment "Anarchy is Order". I think Proudhon was the creater of that symbol I do believe. The real Social Anarchist symbol of the "A" is just an "A" with it being in the circle and non of the "A" crossing over the circle because it implied the Idea that Anarchy was Order. Hence the term "Anarchy is Order, Goverment is Chaos."

Our Anarchist Communist International uses this on it's website.

http://www.iaf-ifa.org/img/ifa%20logos/iaf-ifa.gif

The Anarchist Federation uses this symbol.

http://www.libcom.org/hosted/af/images/aflogo_main.gif

Now, what's intresting about this symbol is the hiden meaning behind it. Most people when seeing this symbol would indicate that the hand shake is just a symbol for solidarity, it is a symbol for worker solidarity but it also has an even deeper meaning. That hand shake was originally used in the Spanish Civil War and it was the hand shake of the Libertarian Communists.

The International Workers Association (Anarcho-Syndicalist) uses this as it's symbol on it's website.

http://libcom.org/hosted/sf/images/iwa.gif

I don't really use the "A" alot but I do proudly identify myself with it as an Anarchist worker but normally I just use the red and black.