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To understand the graphic novel and the film,
you need to have an understanding of:
 What was happening in society when the novel
was written AND when the film was made
 Dominant political ideas and ideologies and
examples from history
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What is context and why is it important?

V for Vendetta Graphic Novel – first published in
1982. What was the world like in the 1980s?
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V for Vendetta film released in 2005 – what was
the world like in the 2000s and how was this
different from the 1980s?

September 11 Attacks and subsequent Patriot
Act in America, invasion of Iraq
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The Patriot Act
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V for Vendetta deals with issues of race,
sexuality, religion, totalitarianism, and
terrorism. Its controversial story line and
themes have, inevitably, made it the target of
both criticism and praise from sociopolitical
groups.
It shows us a dystopian world where political
power is above individual freedoms and
people are oppressed in the name of unity.
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Dystopia
Post-apocalyptic
Totalitarian
Authoritarian
White supremacy
Dictatorship
Fascism
Nazism
Censorship
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Oppression
Fawkes
Anonymous

Dystopia - an imagined world or society in which
people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives, often
under government control

Post-apocalyptic - relating to the time following a
nuclear war or other catastrophic event.

Totalitarian - a form of government and a political
system that prohibits all opposition parties, and
exercises an extremely high degree of control and
regulation over public and private life.

Authoritarian - favouring or enforcing strict obedience
to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

White supremacy - the belief that the white race is inherently
superior to other races and that white people should have
control over people of other races

Dictatorship - a form of government characterized by a
single leader or group of leaders that hold government power

Fascism – a system of government led by a dictator having
complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and
criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and
emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

Nazism - the ideology and practices associated with Adolf
Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany.
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Censorship - Censorship is the suppression of speech,
public communication, or other information. This may be
done on the basis that such material is considered
objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient".

Oppression - prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or
exercise of authority.

Guy Fawkes - a member of a group of English Catholics
who was involved in the failed Gunpowder Plot to
assassinate King James 1 of England in 1605. His image
and name is an enduring symbol of the assassination
attempt on the king, remembered in England each year on
November 5.

What is our current political system is
Australia?

Can you recognise any elements of the
ideologies we have just discussed in
Australia? Give some examples
"Beneath this
mask there is
more than
flesh... Beneath
this mask there
is an idea, Mr.
Creedy, and
ideas are
bulletproof."
V is a man who wears a
mask, he is an enigma.
His mission is to
overthrow an unjust
society, by any means
possible.
 Evey is a young girl
who is frightened – she
should be…..
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Evey is a young girl
whose parents were
imprisoned
She fears standing out
She is ambitious
She wants to be an
actress
She has few friends
She works for BTN
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V is the man in the
mask
He alliterates
everything with V
He is passionate about
art, literature and
music
Pop culture and high
culture
He believes in freedom
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High Chancellor of
England
Gained power in a coup
Dirty politics behind his
rise
Linked to Three Waters
and St Mary’s deaths
Has large secret service
and control of
everything
Head of secret police
called ‘fingermen’
 Ambitious and ruthless
 Known for his black
bags
 “ a man seemingly
without a conscience,
for whom the end
always justifies the
means” - V
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Chief Inspector of Norsefire – the party that
rules England
Asked by chancellor Sutler to track down V
Fair but pragmatic
Lonely
Begins to uncover unpalatable truths
Believes in justice
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Evey’s boss
Older man
Clever, but lonely
Invites young girls to his house regularly – not
because he wants to because he has to
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Power and control
Political freedom
Free speech vs censorship
Art and literature’s power to lift the human
spirit
Totalitarianism
Justice and revenge