Iconography
The symbols people choose to display — and the beliefs, affiliations, and intentions they signal.
Iconography is the study of the symbols people use to communicate who they are and what they believe: clothing, colors, tattoos, patches, flags, bumper stickers, gear. People advertise affiliation, often deliberately.
Symbols give you a read on group membership and ideology before any interaction. They can also reveal intent — someone signaling allegiance to a violent ideology, or gear that doesn't match the claimed role.
Iconographic anomalies are mismatches: symbols that don't fit the person, the place, or each other — the 'tourist' in full tactical kit, or insignia worn incorrectly.
Key indicators
- Symbols that signal belief, affiliation, and identity
- Clothing, colors, tattoos, patches, flags, gear
- Watch for mismatches between symbol, person, and context
The cohort turns these concepts into a trained skill — drills, a community, and coaching.
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