How does appearance affect protest?

Appearance can be an effective way to convey a message during protest. This week we examine the effects of appearance in the film The Yes Men and in the punk rock culture. Both groups are rebels, in a way, as they are protesting established norms. For Mike and Any of The Yes Men, this norm is the generally accepted practices of the World Trade Organization. It's amazing to see the outlandish claims these guys make at various presentations, and people just go along with them without even raising an eyebrow or appearing suspicious. The punk rock culture, on the other hand, uses its deviant look to send the message that it is protesting authority. Indeed, punk is many times only a stage in one's life that occurs during the rapidly changing times of adolescence.

Andy and Mike begin many of their pranks by dressing normally, only to quickly change into a comical figure such as one with the leisure suit. They use their respectable appearance at first to gain ethos with the media or conference organizers, and then once on stage their true motives come through as they try ridiculous and brave acts like talking about the Re-Burger or describing the invention of the Employee Visualization Appendage. Their presentation in Australia was the most sincere, and it was interesting to see how they did not have as much fun with this sincerity as with using satire and sarcasm.

The punk rock culture's style and appearance is a natural fit with their anti-authority attitude. By wearing violent-looking clothes and extreme make-up and hairstyles, they send a clear message that they do not want to conform with society. The culture has developed many violent and deviant stereotypes, which have been propagated by the media (nearly all negative portrayals), so that parents often become worried when their children adopt this lifestyle.