Flag Research

Alexander Grelier
9/7/18

Flag Research

This image shows almost all of the changes the US flag has undergone from 1777-1990!

1. ORIGIN:  When and where does the US flag originate?

- I found that the flag of the United States originated on June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress passed an act naming the flag the official symbol of the country. While the origin of the flag is relatively unknown, some historians assume it was designed by a Congressman from New Jersey, Francis Hopkinson. The first US flag was sewn Betsy Ross.

2. EVOLUTION: When and why has it evolved?  Note eras of significant and permanent change.  Note the lack of any big change, if you find that’s the case.

- I found that the flag has been changed around 26 times between 1777, when the original 13 star flag was designed, and today's US flag. The red and white stripes have stayed the same throughout all of the US flags, but the changing amount of stars is what is most prominent throughout all of the alterations. The first change was from the red and white stripes with the Union Jack in the top left, to the classic blue background with thirteen white stars sewn by Betsy Ross. This change was due to the US gaining it's independence from Britain. After that, almost all changes were amount of stars in the top left, each change signifying a change in amount of states in the Union.

3. DESIGN ELEMENTS / CHOICES: What factors have shaped the look of the flag, including the shapes, colors, and arrangements of stars, stripes, red, white blue, etc.?  Is there a history and purpose to these graphic design choices?

- I found that the color choices, red, white, & blue, all signify something. White being purity, red being valor, and blue being justice. The thirteen stripes signify the thirteen original colonies and each star represents a state in the union. I think there definitely is a purpose and intentionality of each color and shape.

4. MEANING:

a. For what is the flag a symbol? Does consensus about the meaning of the flag appear to be fairly widespread?  How can you tell? Does it seem to be widely understood as a positive symbol of national unity?

- I think the flag is a symbol of unity and freedom granted by our diligent predecessors. I don't think there is a general consensus about the meaning of the flag. I can tell because it can be very easily skewed in many directions, and it really all comes down to the individual and their opinion on the true meaning of the flag. Some believe that the flag is just for honoring the military, and some from opposing nations might believe it is a symbol of evil. So in that case, no, I don't think that everyone sees the flag as a positive symbol of national unity. I believe it really depends on how you interpret it.

b. What are the flag’s nicknames?  What can you learn about where those nicknames originate in our culture?

- I found some nicknames of the flag, including Old Glory, The Red, White, & Blue, & The Star-Spangled Banner. I learned that the name Old Glory comes from a sailor from Massachusetts named William Driver. As he was departing for a voyage, he released the flag into the ocean breeze, exclaiming "Old Glory"! This is a great example of a patriotic and prideful story that resonates in our culture today.

c. What can you learn about the flag in popular music?  Consider songs, genres, album covers, and lyrics.

- I found that there is lots of controversy surrounding the flag in popular music. I feel sometimes that certain genres convey certain opinions on what the flag means, or what their feelings are on the conditions in the country. One example from an artist in the rap genre comes from a song called "Around My Way" (Freedom Ain't Free) by Lupe Fiasco. Throughout the song, the artist speaks on issues such as white privilege and power, struggles of the poor in the US, protests, and black lives matter movements. In the song he speaks on what he believes the country is doing wrong in the way they address the problems in poor areas. On the other hand, there are songs like "Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny Cash that portray symbolism and pride in the United States and the flag after the Vietnamese War. 

5/6. HABITS/USE & CONTROVERSY:  What evidence suggests that the flag is generally understood, within our culture, as something that is worthy of respect and more careful treatment than you might otherwise provide to a piece of fabric? Can you find any evidence to suggest that the flag itself is controversial? Or do there just seem to be ways of using it that are controversial?

- I believe in our culture, the flag is generally understood as a positive symbol worthy of respect. The flag should be treated this way, and I think that the burning of the flag not only shows toxicity, but it portrays that the thousands of soldiers dying overseas to keep us at home safe are as worthless as a pile of ashes. I think most would agree that damaging the flag is wrong, but it is obviously not understood by everyone that the flag symbolizes much more than the decisions made by the government. I believe the flag is a symbol of our freedom, and I don't think there is much evidence to show how the flag itself is controversial.

Sources

PBS, A Capitol Fourth, History of the Flag This website is where I found my basic information on the origin of the design of the first US flag, and the color and design choices made for the symbolism of it.

Gettysburg Flag, The Evolution of the American Flag This website is where I found how many changes there were made to the flag and why the changes were made

The Facts Behind the Flag This is where I found other nicknames for the US flag.

Odyssey, Why Burning The American Flag Should Be Illegal This article is where I found lots of modern-day controversy surrounding the US flag, and helped me create my own opinion on these controversies.