Seminar 5 - Borders, Liminality, Transgressions (click to comment)
Gabriela Elgenius - National Flags, the Politicization and Sanctification of Nations
This essay by Gabriela Elgenius centers around the idea of flags carrying narratives, significance, and histories all their own which relate to the identity of those whom that flag represents. On the whole, the article was more academic in documenting how the flags of countries such as Spain, Croatia, Serbia, and Russia developed new looks over time and how these alterations were most often due to the political or social situations of those countries. When the political situation changed or borders which encapsulated that country were moved, the flag similarly went through a transformation. Consequently, identity can be tied to flags.
Flags are often political symbols as they contain a sense of distinction and, in some cases, stand for respect and pride. Elgenius mentioned that at times they even hold a sacred aspect. Vexillology, or the study of flags, is much more important than some people may think. While it may seem only necessary at Olympics ceremonies, businesses, such as hotels, depend on a knowledgeable and well informed person to ensure correct flags are being flown as needed. When I worked at a hotel in Manhattan, there was someone in charge of deciding which flags were to be flown on which sides of the buildings everyday. This was dictated by who was staying at the hotel at that time or if there were any important event happening in any countries in the world. For example, on Australia Day she chose to fly the Australian flag, which she took particular pride in doing since she was from Australia.
Waldorf Astoria New York - Australia Day - via Pinterest
Tying into Elgenius’s essay and the sense of territory that can be portrayed in a flag, the Australian flag, and many other southern hemisphere flags, contain the Southern Cross Constellation to represent their global location. This fact is something I happened across in my research (https://brightside.me/wonder-curiosities/32-world-flags-that-are-so-creative-they-mustve-been-made-by-geniuses-592260/). Previously I had not realized that’s what the collection of stars represented, but this constellation can be found on other flags such as Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and New Zealand. There is a sense of pride that seems to come across in these countries’ desire to illustrate their location, their territory, to the world on their flags.
Southern Cross Constellation © Wikimedia
Elgenius brings up the fact that flags at their root are simply cloth, but humans bestow meaning and significance onto the cloths which is how they become national symbols. Flags are a vehicle through which people are able to convey loyalty and, in some cases, ownership. The Union Jack, for example, is joining of St. Andrew's Cross (Scotland), St. George's Cross (England), and St. Patrick's Cross (Ireland). One flag is used to represent the joining of three countries. How each of those individual countries react to their joint flag may not always be the same. Scotland is quite proud of their own heritage and this translates through their abundance use of their Scottish flag. A flag becomes a sense of identity, which is the case with Ireland, Iceland, and Finland as well as Scotland. Some states in the US are very proud of their state flags, such as Texas. In fact, you often see more Texan flags being flown in Texas than USA ones. Meanwhile the residents of other States probably couldn't recognise their own flag.
Texas Flag
Colour and image convey great significance in relation to political, territorial, and social histories of a place. Adding and removing of symbols can show a change in political situations. Elgenius highlights the changes to the Spanish flag, but even in today’s society the flag of The Philippines changes regularly on whether or not they are at war.
The Philippines © Wikimedia
The colors and images on flags can also convey revolt, such as Ukraine with the Orange Revolution against the Ukrainian Presidential Election in 2004-2005. This actually reminded me of The Gates installation in 2005 that was done in Central Park by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. They were simply orange cloths waving in the winds sweeping through Manhattan, but seeing them erected suddenly gave a sense of importance to them. Again, this is what happens when the human mind interacts with an inanimate object: suddenly that object has meaning. We as humans cannot help it, and that’s why flags hold so much power.
The Gates - Central Park - © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude
When we look at flags as important symbols, how they are treated becomes incredibly important. Burning of flags is surrounded by much debate and controversy. It’s a way to show displeasure or disagreement with government or country, BUT many feel it is an unforgivably offensive. Wearing of flags can show solidarity or togetherness. Protocol related to the flying, storing, and presenting of flags, at least in the US, is quite detailed. Certain laws exist outlining how and when flags can be flown, often flags are flown at half mast to show honor or respect for a person or event. They are given out to families who have lost loved ones in war, and often this gesture can have a remarkable reaction. One photo even was able to capture the weight of one such situation after 9/11 and the US flag is central to the image.
8 year old Christian Golczynski accepting the flag for his father
While I tend to gravitate towards a flag representing togetherness, Elgenius focuses more on how a flag can convey division. "National flags authenticate boundaries that are often contested in newly reconfigured states and, far from unifying, they enforce divisions" (Elgenius, 2011). She has a point. What I found interesting about her research was it made me realize the great importance in correctly dating flags when used in time period films or tv shows. Authenticity is crucial to convey the political and social issues of the time.
But it’s not just in flags that pride or discontent for a country can be shown. Both language and currency are similarly significant. For example, Catalan is spoken more in Barcelona than Spanish which shows the division between the two cultures. Accents in the UK and US also make clear distinctions and divisions, though the subtle differences between a Long Islander and a Bostonian or a Liverpudlian and a Londoner are often only noticed by people in those countries or areas. In regards to currency, many countries use their currency design as a way to show off parts of their history for which they are proud. Neil deGrasse Tyson does a talk about how many European countries feature brilliant and inspirational thinkers, philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists with their work on their currency while the US falls short in this regard.
Neil deGrasse Tyson - YouTube
The essay did spark a few questions, such as can flag convey a sense of shame? As the UK is making efforts to leave the EU, will the EU flag change? Or will it’s impact and reputation change in the minds of those in this country? There is quite a lot of art in designing a flag, drawing on history, symbols, images, colours, coat of arms, or even alphabets such as the Cyrillic alphabet with the Serbian flag. If two flags are too similar, are there feeling of plagiarism? Monaco and Indonesia, for example, are almost impossible to tell apart. Similar to in the art world, where is the line between mimicry, inspiration, and forgery? And furthermore, if two countries, such as Indonesia and Monaco or Chad and Bolivia, have flags that are almost identical, doesn’t that negate the power of flags to symbolise a territory or a people?
It was challenging to read about some of the other traditions surrounding flags in other countries. The US pledge of allegiance is directed towards the flag and people where red, white, and blue to show their patriotism. In Sweden, the flag has become a "party -symbol" (Elgenius 2011) and the Danish flag is used to encourage consumption by standing for the "good life" (Elgenius 2011). I understand that every country differs in its feelings of their own flag because of associations which have been connected to it, but still it is very odd for me, an American, to hear that another country's flag could be innocuous or even represent eating. In the US, there is such respect and pride held in the flag, although admittedly we still print it on on teacups and pillows. In some regards, our flags and our relationships with them make we wonder, what do we teach with our nationalism?
References
Elgenius, G. (2011), National Flags, the Politicization and Sanctification of Nations', pp. 57-93.
Links
https://eu.dnj.com/story/news/2015/05/23/christian-golczynski-american-hero/27855927/
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150714-what-do-our-flags-say-about-us
https://www.usflags.com/thin-blue-line-usa-flag.html