New Communist Symbol [Archive]

lonebullet

5th January 2007, 07:46

When I think of the more common communist imagery (and by common, i mean the kind that an everyday person will actually recognize), they often come with totalitarian connotations. Does anybody have any symbols or simple imagery that not be misconstrued as totalitarian/Stalinist/etc.?

Tekun

5th January 2007, 09:36

How does the sickle and hammer, as a symbol, insinuate totalitarianism or Stalinism?
The sickle represents the peasant and the hammer personifies the worker
Neither "tool" connotes any form of ideology, but rather, it signifies the union of the rural and urban laborer

The injection of imagery into our minds, by the bourgeoisie via books and the news is the reason why so many ppl associate the sickle and hammer with Stalin and repression
It has nothing to do with the symbol in itself, but rather with propaganda that the enemies of communism use to scare those who would otherwise embrace the working man's struggle

Other symbols that might interest u are the red star or the red/black flags which are on this website's skin

Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg

5th January 2007, 10:23

The star?

Qwerty Dvorak

5th January 2007, 13:42

See my avatar.

razboz

5th January 2007, 15:34

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2007 09:36 am
How does the sickle and hammer, as a symbol, insinuate totalitarianism or Stalinism?
The sickle represents the peasant and the hammer personifies the worker
Neither "tool" connotes any form of ideology, but rather, it signifies the union of the rural and urban laborer

The injection of imagery into our minds, by the bourgeoisie via books and the news is the reason why so many ppl associate the sickle and hammer with Stalin and repression
It has nothing to do with the symbol in itself, but rather with propaganda that the enemies of communism use to scare those who would otherwise embrace the working man's struggle

Other symbols that might interest u are the red star or the red/black flags which are on this website's skin
Evenb though the Hammer and sickle dont directly show totalitarianism, it has become associated with it, which in the collective psyche can be pretty much the same thing. The smae way the Swastika has nothing to do wiht Nazism, intrinsically. But if enoough people asay it stands for nazism eventually everyone accepts it stands for Nazism. The same thing goes for the hammer and sickle. If enough people say it means Stalinism, eventually thats what it means. This happens all the time, with words symbols and actions whose original meaning can get changed over time.

Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg

5th January 2007, 15:42

It would be hard too "invent" a symbol as such for communism, but i see what u mean, people relating the H and S with the soviet Union. The star is not usually as asociated with communism or the USSR,but doesnt strike people as being leftist. These are a bit more Anarchist but.....What about a Star A? Or a star with a super imposed hammer (A) thing .

http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=58071

Theres a few on there.

Sugar Hill Kevis

5th January 2007, 17:08

rather than changing ourselves, shouldn't we work on changing peoples opinions?

If you don't want to use the H&S (I don't that often really), like RS1916 said the red star is always a good one... or the clenched fist

to put more of a graphical spin on this thread:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2536/fistonedq0.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fistonedq0.jpg)

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6899/fistxg8.th.gif (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fistxg8.gif)

Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg

5th January 2007, 17:10

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2007 05:08 pm
rather than changing ourselves, shouldn't we work on changing peoples opinions?

If you don't want to use the H&S (I don't that often really), like RS1916 said the red star is always a good one... or the clenched fist
Clenched fist...i like that

Nothing Human Is Alien

5th January 2007, 20:24

"We often react to party labels rather than to the actual proposals which are put before us. This was demonstrated very clearly in a study in which farmers and workers in the United States were interviewed with respect to their voting intentions, their party preferences, and their approval or disapproval of various lines of action. They were found to disapprove of Socialist and Communist parties and candidates, and yet approve of the measures proposed by these parties rather more than those proposed by their more conservative opponents. When it is a question of election, therefore, these people would have voted against the measures which they actually favoured because of their stereotyped view of Socialism."
-H.J. Eysenck, Uses and Abuses of Psychology, page 249

lonebullet

6th January 2007, 10:27

You all make very good points, and in retrospect, my OP sound somewhat ignorant. We need to change peoples views of what real communism is, and not associate it with Stalinist totalitarianism.But, in the meantime, I would probably use the star or the fist, so that communists can make people aware of their mature political beliefs without crossing over into shock value and immaturity in the minds of the public. I guess its a mix of playing the system (refraining from symbols directly associated with totalitarianism in the publics eye) and fighting against it (using provacative imagery and making people aware of the real issues and ideas)

Comrade Phil

18th January 2007, 20:46

The grain/gear symbol could be a good substitute. In the West at least, hammers and sickles are rarely used in modern industry. Therefore I would say that the grain/gear is a better symbol for the modern proletariat.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9577/untitledax2.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledax2.jpg)

Red October

18th January 2007, 22:38

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 18, 2007 03:46 pm
The grain/gear symbol could be a good substitute. In the West at least, hammers and sickles are rarely used in modern industry. Therefore I would say that the grain/gear is a better symbol for the modern proletariat.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9577/untitledax2.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledax2.jpg)
i like the grain/gear logo. i use the RAAN logo sometimes because it removes all totalitarian connotations.

Political_Chucky

26th January 2007, 05:22

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2007 09:08 am
rather than changing ourselves, shouldn't we work on changing peoples opinions?

If you don't want to use the H&S (I don't that often really), like RS1916 said the red star is always a good one... or the clenched fist

to put more of a graphical spin on this thread:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2536/fistonedq0.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fistonedq0.jpg)

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6899/fistxg8.th.gif (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fistxg8.gif)
I love the fist symbol. To me, a fist (in symbolic terms) always represented power, strength, but at the same time struggle within minorities. Thats just the automatic ideas I think of when I see a fist. Plus, it looks so stylish! :D

R_P_A_S

26th January 2007, 06:16

you just cant top the hammer and sickle homie.. is too strong! fuck the haters you know? rock it! lol

encephalon

26th January 2007, 07:11

In the West at least, hammers and sickles are rarely used in modern industry.

Sickles, maybe.. but at nearly every factory in which I've worked, I've had to use a hammer at least once an hour for something or other. The type of hammer differs, but the essential nature of the tool remains the same.

Honggweilo

26th January 2007, 10:22

Originally posted by [email protected] 26, 2007 06:16 am
you just cant top the hammer and sickle homie.. is too strong! fuck the haters you know? rock it! lol
Word. :D

Anyway, the hammer&sickle are a representation of the basic means of production and the working class. Its a strong representative symbol. Olive branches, Torches, dragons and lions are also symbols who are way more outdated and still have a significant impact.

The "authorian" slander will be used by bourgeois media, no matter what symbol you use. Also you will only be kidding yourself and the people you represent. Also alot of communist/progressive movements use variations and alternatives, like the PCC of cuba, the AKEL of cyprus, sandinista's, the CWI and the ISC parties, 5th republic movement of chavez, DKP of germany and alot of others.

ahab

27th January 2007, 09:30

Originally posted by [email protected] 26, 2007 06:16 am
you just cant top the hammer and sickle homie.. is too strong! fuck the haters you know? rock it! lol
I agree! whats so wrong with the hammer and sickle that it needs to be changed?

lonebullet

27th January 2007, 09:48

I understand, and I don't want to sound like the ignorant loser who collapses under what other people think, and i agree with all your points. The reason i started this thread is just that people tend to take communists (me, at least) less seriously because of the totalitarian connotations. I live in upper-classland, and being a minor doesn't help. I always get the "shock value" responce, or just the "its just a phase" thing. I also wrote as a kind of test of Revlefts creativity, to see if it could rise to the challenge. But whatever.

An archist

27th January 2007, 10:45

This one looks cool too.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/brakke123/michiganantifa.gif

Knight of Cydonia

27th January 2007, 11:18

Originally posted by An [email protected] 27, 2007 05:45 pm
This one looks cool too.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/brakke123/michiganantifa.gif
that's cool..totally. but where is the hammer & sickle symbol?

An archist

27th January 2007, 18:04

it's been replaced by the gear and the grain

Fawkes

27th January 2007, 18:09

I personally think the gear and grain is cooler than the H&S. I like a G&G with an :AO: in the center to represent class struggle anarchism.

razboz

31st January 2007, 12:58

Originally posted by [email protected] 27, 2007 06:09 pm
I personally think the gear and grain is cooler than the H&S. I like a G&G with an :AO: in the center to represent class struggle anarchism.
like this?

An archist

31st January 2007, 14:25

or this?
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/brakke123/gg-A.gif

razboz

31st January 2007, 16:34

Or even this?

An archist

31st January 2007, 17:19

oooh, better

Question everything

31st January 2007, 19:33

try this (I was inspired by one of the T-shirts)

Question everything

31st January 2007, 19:36

or this one I took by re-adjusting what someone post under the communist wallpaper thread... it could go with the motto: commies just wanna have fun :lol:

razboz

31st January 2007, 20:15

QE how are those new communist symbols? I dont see the fidel one going on any flags soon.... :huh:

Though admitedly the communist party one could look good.

Fawkes

1st February 2007, 03:15

Originally posted by [email protected] 31, 2007 11:34 am
Or even this?
That's kickass. I would make that my avatar but Chef is to awesome.

Black Dagger

1st February 2007, 05:21

Originally posted by An [email protected] 01, 2007 12:25 am
or this?
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/brakke123/gg-A.gif
I like this one the most so far, but the A still looks a little lobsided/off-centre, dont ya think? The left stem of the A is shorter than the right stem :P

An archist

1st February 2007, 08:51

shut up, don't mock my paint skills :(

Honggweilo

1st February 2007, 09:14

Originally posted by An [email protected] 01, 2007 08:51 am
shut up, don't mock my paint skills :(
using paint instead of photoshop/gimp is definitely an anarchist trademark :lol:

An archist

1st February 2007, 11:49

Originally posted by ddxt301+February 01, 2007 09:14 am--> (ddxt301 @ February 01, 2007 09:14 am)
An [email protected] 01, 2007 08:51 am
shut up, don't mock my paint skills :(
using paint instead of photoshop/gimp is definitely an anarchist trademark :lol: [/b]
shut up :P I'm just to lazy to install openoffice

Black Dagger

1st February 2007, 15:39

Originally posted by ddxt301+February 01, 2007 07:14 pm--> (ddxt301 @ February 01, 2007 07:14 pm)
An [email protected] 01, 2007 08:51 am
shut up, don't mock my paint skills :(
using paint instead of photoshop/gimp is definitely an anarchist trademark :lol: [/b]
Quiet techno-chauvinist!

Thaer

1st February 2007, 20:53

If you were the artist who is supposted to design the symbols of communism
and anarchism what would you design instead of these :hammer: & :AO:

It's just that i wish from the comrades to share their ideas about this issue !
I hope you don't mind about that ! :)

Thae'r

Bright Banana Beard

1st February 2007, 20:58

Red Star With each finger represent the unity of all human race against the hatred.

Question everything

1st February 2007, 23:16

QE how are those new communist symbols?

I was just joking :lol: ... good to see you have a sense of humour :P

Gobythebear

2nd February 2007, 02:49

More ghetto paint symbol-ness!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/Gobythebear/newcomsymb2.gif

OneBrickOneVoice

2nd February 2007, 04:51

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 18, 2007 08:46 pm
The grain/gear symbol could be a good substitute. In the West at least, hammers and sickles are rarely used in modern industry. Therefore I would say that the grain/gear is a better symbol for the modern proletariat.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9577/untitledax2.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledax2.jpg)
Noooo you have my avatar! damnit, now I have to get a new one.