Traditional protests

A couple of years ago, I had to write an essay about agrarian protest in the UK in the early 19th century, specifically the Swing Riots that swept through southern England in 1830. One article, by folklorist Graham Seal, looked at the use of traditional folk elements by the protestors, as a means of legitimising their actions and resist change. I found it interesting to think about these elements in relation to modern protest actions. I've been intending to write a bit about this, and I pencilled it in for April. So...

( Background )

( The elements, illustrated )