Visualizing Struggle: The Use of Imagery in the Continuing Story of the Black Lives Matter Movement

Black Lives Matter began as a hashtag in 2013 to protest the death of Trayvon Martin and the lack of accountability by his murderer, George Zimmerman. However, it was with the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, both murdered by police officers who were, in turn, not held accountable for their actions, that the movement truly took off, becoming the international movement it has become today. While the movement’s rise was depended on several variables, one of the most important aspects was its use of imagery. Whether images of the deceased who led to the birth of the movement, the images of protest that fueled it or the reactionary images that combated it, this protest movement was viewed by its audience through the pictorial turn. This dissertation follows the Black Lives Matter movement from its birth to the modern day, looking at its use of imagery to grow into what it is today, using visual and semiotic analyses to discuss the many different image-based aspects of the movement. Through this analysis, what becomes evident is that images are a powerful weapon in 21st century struggles. It does not matter if they are being used by protestors or by their opponents; images, whether photographs, videos or even low-effort internet memes, have a real ability to convince people of facts and change opinions. While this can be a positive—the topic of police brutality against Black people became a central topic of discussion because of the release of several videos of such incidents in a short span of time—many reactionary forces have learned of this power and have begun to use it to their own advantage. This is ultimately the more concerning matter here. While this dissertation is specifically about the use of imagery in the Black Lives Matter movement, the points made herein are just as applicable to not just many other contemporary protest movements, but also to the reactionary political strategies that control the western right-wing.