Hooked on the fish: the Christian sign of the fish (and co-option thereof) as symbolic capital

Enjoying a recent resurgence in popularity, the fish symbol that emblematized the first century Christian community has recently been co-opted by various other movements for differing purposes. A number of groups have used the sign of the fish as symbolic capital in recent years.

Symbols are often used as a way of marking identity, and the public display of those symbols as a way of expressing that identity. This paper traces the evolution of the use of the sign of the fish from its early Christian origins to its modern uses (and close association with specific groups), focusing on the symbolic capital associated with it and its use as a quazi-religious symbol.