members to mobilize, act and to rally other individuals who are less concerned
about the cause.
The anti-nuclear movement contains many examples that illustrate this function
of the object. The online shop belonging to the French Nuclear Exit Network
(Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire, RSN)
9 is full of merchandise: the Nuclear Exit
journal, books, DVDs, games, leaflets, posters, stickers, flags, T-shirts, banners, etc.
A first category of objects concerns products that are sold commercially, and in the
Network’s webshop, such as the novel Silence, we’re irradiating. The second
category consists of articles specially designed by the RSN, such as the DVD
entitled Short Films (Films courts). This DVD contains twenty short films screened
at a festival organized by the Network on April 26, 2008, for the 22nd commemoration of Chernobyl. The liner note points out that “cinema is an important
tool for raising awareness, it is often more widely accessible than the written
word”. The group invites its militant members to organize public screenings of the
DVD, in the context of an information campaign about nuclear power. A further
example is the poster Gaul under nuclear occupation (La Gaule sous occupation
nucléaire) [35], which uses humor to denounce the sector. The poster is a parody of
the map found in the comic book Asterix,
10 which shows the occupation of Gaul by
the Romans following Caesar’s conquest. In this case, it is nuclear power plants that
occupy France, 70 years after the bombing of Hiroshima. Facing the nucleocrats
entrenched in their garrisons stand the indomitable Gauls, who lead the resistance.
The illustration Latinizes the names of nuclear sites, which become Marculus or
Golfechus. The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) at Flamanville becomes the
Extra Problemus Reactus and the plant at Fessenheim is renamed Fissurnhum.
Corsica is renamed Postum Tchernobylum in reference to the (controversial) radiological consequences of the Soviet accident. The eagles and standards of Rome are
replaced by the names of industrial actors in the sector. The poster is a prophecy of
a nuclear disaster in France. A place called Tsunamus appears on the Atlantic coast,
while the Chinon plant is renamed Fukushinum. The image therefore makes reference to an object that is very representative of French popular culture to synthesize the main arguments of the public debate and denounce the country’s
widespread nuclearization. Cultural objects sold on the RSN website allow the
Network to disseminate its ideas, encourage the user to take direct action, and
strengthen its militant identity, by creating content that can be easily used by
individuals. Objects therefore help to build a shared culture and create a permanent
construction for the collective.
9
The aim of the Network, founded in 1997, is to secure the exit of France from nuclear energy and
promote alternative energies. It currently brings together 931 associations, while 60,290 individuals have signed its charter. Its actions take many forms: information campaigns, raising awareness
with elected officials or unions, petitions, lawsuits, etc.
10
Asterix is a series of French comic books, created in 1959 by Goscinny and Uderzo. It narrates
the adventures of a group of French Gauls who resist the Roman invasion thanks to the power of a
magic potion.
146
A. Portelli
about the cause.
The anti-nuclear movement contains many examples that illustrate this function
of the object. The online shop belonging to the French Nuclear Exit Network
(Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire, RSN)
9 is full of merchandise: the Nuclear Exit
journal, books, DVDs, games, leaflets, posters, stickers, flags, T-shirts, banners, etc.
A first category of objects concerns products that are sold commercially, and in the
Network’s webshop, such as the novel Silence, we’re irradiating. The second
category consists of articles specially designed by the RSN, such as the DVD
entitled Short Films (Films courts). This DVD contains twenty short films screened
at a festival organized by the Network on April 26, 2008, for the 22nd commemoration of Chernobyl. The liner note points out that “cinema is an important
tool for raising awareness, it is often more widely accessible than the written
word”. The group invites its militant members to organize public screenings of the
DVD, in the context of an information campaign about nuclear power. A further
example is the poster Gaul under nuclear occupation (La Gaule sous occupation
nucléaire) [35], which uses humor to denounce the sector. The poster is a parody of
the map found in the comic book Asterix,
10 which shows the occupation of Gaul by
the Romans following Caesar’s conquest. In this case, it is nuclear power plants that
occupy France, 70 years after the bombing of Hiroshima. Facing the nucleocrats
entrenched in their garrisons stand the indomitable Gauls, who lead the resistance.
The illustration Latinizes the names of nuclear sites, which become Marculus or
Golfechus. The European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) at Flamanville becomes the
Extra Problemus Reactus and the plant at Fessenheim is renamed Fissurnhum.
Corsica is renamed Postum Tchernobylum in reference to the (controversial) radiological consequences of the Soviet accident. The eagles and standards of Rome are
replaced by the names of industrial actors in the sector. The poster is a prophecy of
a nuclear disaster in France. A place called Tsunamus appears on the Atlantic coast,
while the Chinon plant is renamed Fukushinum. The image therefore makes reference to an object that is very representative of French popular culture to synthesize the main arguments of the public debate and denounce the country’s
widespread nuclearization. Cultural objects sold on the RSN website allow the
Network to disseminate its ideas, encourage the user to take direct action, and
strengthen its militant identity, by creating content that can be easily used by
individuals. Objects therefore help to build a shared culture and create a permanent
construction for the collective.
9
The aim of the Network, founded in 1997, is to secure the exit of France from nuclear energy and
promote alternative energies. It currently brings together 931 associations, while 60,290 individuals have signed its charter. Its actions take many forms: information campaigns, raising awareness
with elected officials or unions, petitions, lawsuits, etc.
10
Asterix is a series of French comic books, created in 1959 by Goscinny and Uderzo. It narrates
the adventures of a group of French Gauls who resist the Roman invasion thanks to the power of a
magic potion.
146
A. Portelli