In recent years, and especially during the past 9 months, the world has watched as a myriad of youth movements have shaken up established governments across nations. At thecenter of a few of these movements is an unexpected symbol which has made headlines as a rallying call for gen z. This symbol is the iconic straw hat flag from the hit anime and manga One Piece. While youths across-protests utilize the flag, the why and how of its utilization remain variable. My thesis explores the relationship between popular culture and political movements by asking how, why, and to what effect do political movements utilize The Straw Hat flag? Moreover, what is it about One Piece that makes it relevant politically? Italian political theorist Antonio Gramsci argues that the supremacy of a social group manifests itself in two distinct ways, the domination of force and the consent generation of moral and intellectual leadership. These two aspects work in tandem to generate the consensual domination of state forces. What I focus on in this thesis is the consensus aspect of this domination. One Piece and its use as a political symbol can help us to understand the intricacies of fantasy in relation to hegemony. Ultimately, I propose that One Piece provides a critique of authoritarian justifications of domination. The series I argue offers a fantasy of resistance along the lines of liberation from oppressive and imperialistic forces. Finally I put forth that the fantasy provided by One Piece has the potential to be a powerful articulating tool putting into question the moral and intellectual leadership of a given hegemon. I will be presenting examples of this along with my analysis of its significance
Acknowledgements: Guillermina Seri, Robert Samet