"Você não pode cortar aquilo que não existe"- Uma máscara, mil faces: o uso discursivo do anonimato

Abstract

In this work, we study the discursive use of anonymity by Anonymous, an online collective of hacktivists a combination of hacker and activist , which operates anonymously and without leaders. We aim to think about how and why the collectives anonymity was forged, the way it works, and how it is explored. We believe that the anonymity in Anonymous is a discursive strategy and that it is the result of the need created by the situation of communication. To conduct our analysis, we fundamentally used the Semiolinguistics of Patrick Charaudeau, but we also counted on concepts from Foucault, Bakhtin e Parret. We attempt to explain what Anonymous is, and describe some of its endeavors especially the fight against the church of Scientology and the episode with the computer security company HBGary Federal , as well as present some observations on anonymity in the world today. We also propose a brief discussion on the study of strategies, as well as analyze the impacts and consequences of the choice of using anonymity, and its strategic effects, which contribute to the construction and strengthening of Anonymous discourse. We believe to have shown that anonymity can be a versatile discursive strategy, which can function in many discursive levels. Through Anonymous, weve established some advantages and disadvantages of the strategic use of anonymity. As a downside, we find a subject who gives up the claim for legitimacy and has to invest, thus, in the other types of strategies (credibility and seduction). Moreover, a bit of control over ones own image is lost. However, anonymity enables the creation of a horizontal and decentralized structure, at least apparently. Therefore, there are no leaders and an effect of equality is created. Anonymity also contributes to the effects of neutrality, opacity and empowerment forged by us in our analysis. Because it does not associate to any specific communicative-subject (JEc), the subject tends to the symbolic and creates a kind of strategic omnipresence. In shorts, anonymity is, at the same time, an offensive and defensive strategy. With this investigation, we hope to show the importance of strategies to the discourse, and that anonymity makes its presence by being silent, a silence that often speaks louder than any name screamed in the wind.