Resistance imagery
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Seen over the course of Half-Life 2 and Episode One, the Resistance has sprayed graffiti and placed posters throughout City 17 as protest of the Combine regime. This imagery is often used to relay information such as cache points. The images reveal oppression and despair in the Combine-controlled society as well as voice appeals for resistance, either through existing dystopian themes or ironic messages. Like the imagery used by the Combine, Resistance imagery can be quite abstract with its intended message subtly concealed.
Notable imagery[edit]
Lambda logo[edit]
The Lambda logo is arguably the most prominent Resistance logo, being the symbol for the entire Resistance movement itself. It is often used to signify Resistance supply caches or bases and in combination with other imagery in pieces of graffiti. Rebel fighters also wear armbands with yellow Lambdas painted on them.
Rebel with a Lambda armband.
An example of a Resistance weapons cache location signified by the logo.
Ditto.
Lambda in a graffiti, with the Cyrillic letters "ДђЯФ".
"Evolution" graffiti[edit]
The "Evolution"[1] graffiti is a common example of Resistance imagery. It depicts three stages of human evolution, with the first being a "Homonidae-", the second being a "Homo Sapiens Sapiens", and the third being a transhuman Combine Soldier classified as "Homo Sapiens Combinus" with an evolution cycle of merely seven hours, alluding to the Seven Hour War. This artwork was illustrated by Valve artist Eric Kirchmer.[2]
Graffiti demonstrating human evolution affected by the Combine occupation of Earth.
Ditto, in-game.
The same graffiti with captions, from an official T-shirt sold on The Valve Store.[1]
"Caste" graffiti[edit]
The "Caste" graffiti is found sprayed near Black Mesa East and other places such as Matt's home, depicting a soldier (not identified as belonging to either the Combine or Resistance) clutching a baby next to the word "Caste". This artwork was illustrated by Eric Kirchmer.[2]
An example of the "Caste" graffiti near Black Mesa East.
Oranges and Lemons graffiti[edit]
A piece of Resistance graffiti that actually serves as an inside joke made by Valve level designer Matt Wood. The text "ДЕЙ", which actually says "DEY" in Russian, is actually meant to visually represent the English word "Ren", the nickname of Wood's then-girlfriend who was said to be a vegetarian at the time. Therefore, the bombs dropping on the fruit jokingly suggests a hatred for them.[3]
An example of the "Oranges and Lemons" graffiti.
Man with Umbrella graffiti[edit]
A piece of Resistance graffiti depicting a man standing in the rain holding an umbrella. Fans have often likened the figure to the G-Man due to bearing some visual similarities, but this has never been explicitly stated.
Man with umbrella.
"Born" graffiti[edit]
A piece of Resistance graffiti depicting a human hand reaching up with a lambda logo in its palm. The punctuated word "born." is written directly underneath. It is similar in appearance to the poster for Fritz Lang's 1931 film M. This artwork was illustrated by Eric Kirchmer.[4]
"Born" poster, with the Lambda logo in hand.
Original illustration.
"Resist" graffiti[edit]
The "Resist" graffiti depicts Breen's likeness with the stenciled word "resist" written underneath. In some cases, Breen's image is painted by itself without the word.
An example of the "Resist" graffiti.
Ditto.
Electrical resistance graffiti[edit]
Electrical resistance is referenced in some graffiti: one depicts its equation R=ρL/A with the letter "A" (the symbol for the cross-sectional area of the conductor) circumscribed, giving it a resemblance to the symbol used by the anarchist movement. Another shows a circuit diagram that includes a resistor and the symbol for electrical resistance.
An example of the equation graffiti.
An example of the circuit diagram graffiti.
Gallery[edit]
The following catalogs additional graffiti found throughout City 17, the Wasteland, and the Outlands, be they pre- or post-Seven Hour War.
Graffiti.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto, depicting three cars with the word "USE" on their license plates.
Ditto.
Ditto, depicting a human heart with the text "cuore", the Italian word for "heart".
Ditto.
Ditto, depicting the Citadel towering among ruined buildings, with the word "DAWN".
Ditto.
Ditto, depicting the Wankel engine.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto, showing the word "solve" with the letter "o" stylized into a bomb.
Ditto, depicting several gears.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto. "24724" is the ZIP Code for Freeman, Mercer County, West Virginia.
Ditto.
Ditto, illustrating a typical skull-and-crossbones insignia.
Ditto, depicting two Civil Protection officers.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Half-Life 2 "Evolution" Shirt on The Valve Store (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Tweet: "Not me! Those are from the talented Eric Kirchmer!" @dhabiheng (Dhabih Eng) on Twitter (December 2, 2022)
- ↑ Post: "Saw this in Reddit. This graffiti art is in reference to my wife (girlfriend at the time). Her nickname is Ren and she was a vegetarian at the time. Hence, she hates fruits and veggies. 😂 Was just a little inside joke." Matt Wood on Mastodon (December 2, 2022)
- ↑ Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar, page 238
