Banners and signs are a standard part of modern demonstrations and central to social protest. Each slogan is designed to convent both an expression of anger and a political message. Research from the  University of Montreal explores banners used across the world to try and see if any patterns exist in the words used.

The study explores the so-called “grammar of anger” that is used in slogans and signs across seven social movements that were widespread between 2011 and 2019, including the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong and the Maple Spring student protests in Montreal.

Humanistic principles

The analysis revealed that slogans typically strived to appeal to core, fundamental values rather than adhere to strict condemnation. Indeed, the protest messaging was often more “pro” something than it was “anti” something, and would often advocate big ideas, such as inter-generational justice or democracy.

“Over the years, I’ve noticed a rise in generational discourse, in which young people directly accuse previous generations of unfairly leaving them a grim social, economic, political and environmental legacy,” the researcher explains. “The young demonstrators are worried about their future: will they be able to study without sinking into debt, make their voices heard, make choices about their lives, have a say in collective decisions?”

Indeed, among the evident messages of anger were also various signs of hope, with young protestors often speaking with a distinct air of optimism. The slogans also regularly featured emotions such as sadness and despair mixed in with a sense of joy, particularly from the sense of togetherness with fellow protestors.

“Social movements can give voice to those who are normally silent, to young people who are rarely represented in the media, who don’t vote,” the author concludes. “Protest texts aren’t just words, they are political performances.”