Framing the Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protests: A Photo Array Analysis

Framing the Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protests: A Photo Array Analysis.

[Audio] The Hong Kong protests started in June of 2019 as a response to an extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China to be tried. Some citizens were afraid that this bill would subvert Hong Kong's judicial autonomy and negate one country, two systems. Such peaceful marches soon turned into one of the largest protest movements in the history of the city, as millions of people of all occupations got involved. Though the government later pulled back the bill in September 2019, the protests had turned into a more general pro-democracy movement, which demanded more freedoms, police accountability, and universal suffrage. The movement persisted into the beginning of 2020, when it began attracting international attention. The news followed very diverse reporting, with the protesters depicted as brave defenders of democracy in some media and as turmoil and violence in others..

[Audio] My photo sequence of the six photos shows how the angles and the framing of a picture can set the visual tone of the protest and the symbols used can add to or change the attitude of the spectators. Another such treatment is the use of aerial shots where thousands filled the streets of Hong Kong as a tool to signal the size of the movement whose strengths appear strong and the movement legitimate. A more contrasting image is a close shot of protesters holding hands in a human chain, which makes it easy to empathize with their peaceful reasoning. Another photograph depicts journalists walking in protests against press freedom, also in a medium shot, to associate the message with democracy. In contrast, the protester with a mask in a mid-range photo will suggest a sense of anonymity and acting out, whereas riot policemen in confrontation with the crowd will stress instability and aggression. Lastly, the photo of the umbrellas being held up to the police can symbolize perseverance and connect with the formerly described Umbrella Movement..

[Audio] In most of the major movements involving protests, there seems to be a certain formula that is employed for how media establishments select and display their images. The majority of the support coverage tends to point towards solidarity and legitimacy through wide shots of the sheer mass of crowds to show the magnitude of participation, thereby the gravity of the cause. The scene of peaceful symbolism, which includes candles, chained hands, and umbrellas, is also emphasized to bring to the fore the idea of an innocent, intellectual, and consistent protester. Critical coverage often focuses on conflict or disruption. Close shots of masked people, confrontations with police officers, or burnt or broken property are employed to denote some sort of danger, madness, or disorder. These decisions in framing and camera angle do not derive out of chance; they are used to make the audience view the protesters as human or as a threat. Framing can ultimately be utilized as an effective means of skewing the general opinion regarding social movements..

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