The Jokers and the Ecosexuals
From Flux Trends’ 6 Trends for 2020 Trend Release.
As civil protest spreads across the globe, pop culture is being incorporated into the narrative in the most unusual way. After the release of the movie The Joker last year, protesters in Beirut, Lebanon, Santiago, Chile, Catalonia and Hong Kong have been spotted wearing a Joker mask or painting their faces like the Joker.
The story of The Joker delves into the failures of neoliberal capitalism, and its unintended consequences: it mirrors what is happening in parts of the world.
Aidan McGarry, a lecturer in international politics at the University of Loughborough in the UK explains the symbolism: “He is a symbol of the oppressed, the downtrodden, the ignored, the abused. But the mask also carries a warning – basically, ignore me at your peril. I will strike back.”
The middle ground? Ecosexuality is now a thing. Sustainability now has a “sexual identity” and the ecosexual community wants to show the Earth some love. Their manifesto? “We shamelessly hug trees, massage the earth with our feet, and talk erotically to plants. We make love with the Earth through our senses. We celebrate our E-spots. We are very dirty.”
The ecosexuals have clearly calmed down and found some middle ground.
By: Dion Chang
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Image credit: Daniel Lincoln
