FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 1
FLAG RESEARCH REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE QUARTERLY RECHERCHE EN VEXILLOLOGIE
MARCH / MARS 2013 No. 1 ESSAY / ESSAI
A research publication of the North American Vexillological Association/ Une publication de recherche de Flagging Enthusiasm l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie By ANTHONY (TONY) BURTON Vexillologists recognise that their study and engaging passion entails more than mere “flag-spotting” or rummaging in the arcana of particular flags. More than a decade since Peter Orenski asked whither vexillology (Quo Vadimus), perhaps it is time to acknowledge how widely both the symbolism of flags and flag-like symbolism has permeated contemporary culture, not only in the West, but in an emerging world techno-culture. This essay considers the civic function of flags while challenging both the necessary link between flags and patriotism and the myth that flags are sacred. It alludes to the role of design in traditional flags, but postu - lates for them a role in civic pageantry as opposed to political polemics, a joyful aesthetic that transcends the aggression often associated with flags. Interwoven themes will emerge, including that of changing percep - tions and uses of symbols. Considering the return of vexilloids of various forms that perform the signal functions of flags, this essay asks a ques - tion, possibly uncomfortable for traditional vexillology, that justifies the triple meaning of the title: do traditional flags really matter? The philoso - phy—or vexillosophy perhaps—invites discussion, and thinking outside the usual rectangle.
Who’s a patriot now? Do flags matter? Does the flag matter? Countries and nations, like indi - viduals, with all their symbolic projecting and acting-out, come of age on independence and hopefully mature with it. North Korea comes immedi - ately to mind. For individuals, the challenge is for a life well-lived, in a civic and social context, unfurled with confidence based on a healthy self- esteem. For countries, the challenge is to make it possible for citizens to live that good life as their sovereign right. Again, North Korea? INSIDE / SOMMAIRE Page Linked with this individual and collective challenge, the symbol of na - tional self-esteem is the flag. The question can arise, as it did last century Introduction 2 for South Africa and the Balkans, and might one day in Australia and New Traditional Chinese Flags Across 18 Centuries 7 Zealand, as to which, or even what sort of flag, best reflects and builds Essay: Bold Beginnings 11 national self-esteem. Such questions reach beyond individual nations, states and countries. Don’t Wave the White Flag Too Soon 13 Each generation is obliged by the new challenges of their age to examine Selected Abstracts 15 entrenched world views, values and, not least, religious and other dogma. continued on page 3 FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 2
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 Page 2
Introduction FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE EN VEXILLOLOGIE IT IS MY TREMENDOUS PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE INAUGURAL ISSUE OF Flag Research Quarterly. This new publication of the North American Vexillo - EDITOR / RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF logical Association promotes the interdisciplinary study of flags by pro - Kenneth Hartvigsen M.A. viding a forum for a widespectrum of short-form vexillological writing. [email protected] Our writers and our readers come from many different backgrounds and bring a wealth of unique experiences to flag studies. We celebrate EDITORIAL BOARD / COMITÉ DE RÉDACTION this multiplicity by providing a place for expressing different points of Steven A. Knowlton, M.L.I.S. view and describing experiences both individual and universal, for exam - John A. Lowe, M.D., FF ining flags from all angles as historical, social, political, material, artistic, David B. Martucci symbolic, and semiotic artifacts. As this is a quarterly publication, the Charles A. Spain, J.D. FRQ editorial board continually accepts submissions and pledges to work Hugh L. Brady, J.D., FF (ex officio) with authors to support the writing of meaningful and engaging scholarly articles, personal essays, and book reviews. North American Vexillological Association / Association nord-américaine de vexillologie As editor, I offer a sincere thanks to the writers who contributed to this HUGH L. BRADY, J.D., FF first issue, whose individual works not only stand on their own, but taken PRESIDENT / PRÉSIDENT together embody the Quarterly ’s vision of big-tent vexillology. In his GUSTAVO TRACCHIA , FF provocative think piece, “Flagging Enthusiasm,” Tony Burton muses on FIRST VICE PRESIDENT / 1 IER VICE -PRÉSIDENT the eternal questions of vexillology: what is a flag and what does it do? CHRISTOPHER P. BEDWELL While not avoiding the simple answers, he unfurls the flag as a symbolic SECOND VICE PRESIDENT / 2 IÈME VICE -PRÉSIDENT and material object, allowing it to reveal itself as a complicated, challeng - JOHN M. HARTVIGSEN SECRETARY / SECRÉTAIRE ing, and controversial creature. Todd Sentell’s personal essay, “Don’t Wave MARY ANN DOCKTOR-SMITH the White Flag Too Soon,” describes his successes with bringing vexillol - TREASURER / TRÉSORIÈRE ogy into the classroom. For his students, flags become tools for expressing WHITNEY SMITH, PH.D., LF, FF a sense of self and understanding the wider world. Xing Fei’s concise yet PRESIDENT EMERITUS / PRÉSIDENT ÉMÉRITE illuminating look at eighteen centuries of Chinese flag culture not only recounts a history new to many if not most of our readers, but demon - FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / REVUE strates the cultural significance of flags in societies the world over. Lastly, TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE EN VEXIL - a selection of abstracts from recent scholarship in flag studies symbolizes LOLOGIE (ISSN pending), March / Mars 2013, the encouraging future of vexillology as a broad-based and ever-changing Vol. I, No. 1. Published quarterly / est publié qua - tre fois par l’an. North American Vexillological dialog. Association / Association nord-américaine de Though Flag Research Quarterly is a new publication, it could not exist vexillologie, 1977 N. Olden Ave. Ext. PMB 225, without the dedicated work of Peter Ansoff, outgoing editor of NAVA Trenton, NJ 08618-2193 USA. News, and Ted Kaye. Their professionalism and hard work has a lasting legacy in the issues of NAVA News they nurtured, and is an inspiration as Please submit correspondence and submissions we move forward into this new era of publishing. In this publication we to: / Veuillez envoyer toute correspondance à seek not to replace but to add to what has come before. We look forward l’addresse suivante: Editorial Office, 1977 N. to hearing from you, our readers and writers. We gratefully acknowledge Olden Ave. Ext. PMB 225, Trenton, NJ 08618- that it is you, not us, who produce Flag Research Quarterly; we eagerly 2193 USA;
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 3 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
Burton: National flags are summary symbols of perceived values continued from page 1 than merely the emblem of an arti - There is a difference between civic Along with these, the deeper ficial or puppet state. The flag is, or respect and unreserved accept - meaning of symbols, such as flags, should be, a symbol of the people ance. The flag may be respected but comes into question. In evolving united, as opposed to a prop to ex - if it is not accepted by everyone, or their own identities, tomorrow’s pressions of jingoistic nationalism promoted for more than it really adults, pledging allegiance (or not) (and not overlooking the kind is—a symbol, but not the sub - to the flag, will shape the identity greeting of the unmournable death stance—can it truly be the nation’s also of their nations. The age of of Osama bin Laden). As for sym - “principal symbol?” empires is over—for now. bolic analogues (this paper dis - Patriotism and flag-waving are cusses several), gun ownership What then is a flag? frequently, and sometimes conve - might be postulated as a symbol of A flag is an image, and a conven - niently, confused. Does that make independence and freedom, as is tional design or logo. Artists might patriotism a dirty word? Australian the flag. However, the one doesn’t argue about the design, as in my political philosopher and commen - justify wrapping misinterpretation country, but the conventions of flag tator Tim Soutphommasane, argu - of the Constitution in the other design are, or ought to be, solidly ing for its rediscovery (Reclaiming (NRA). Hanging out more flags, grasped by vexillologists and are Patriotism), doesn’t think so. How - perhaps intentionally, muddies this summarized elsewhere (Good Flag, ever, patriotism runs deeper than fraught issue. The linkage, at - Bad Flag; Burton). But what are the kind of flag worship promoted tempted by vested interests playing flags for? Why are they useful? by some national flag associations, on citizens’ fear, soils the flag. As even professional designers, including some in my own country Statutes alone do not make a na - careless of those conventions, of Australia, via indoctrination in tion, or even a viable nation-state. sometimes fail to grasp, flags ulti - schools and public liturgies sur - The connection between coherence mately are a form of semaphore. rounding National Flag Day. Else - of a nation-state and civic identity, They send signals. Traffic signs are where, in a more sinister way, integration and involvement, espe - flags of a kind. We even use the despots co-opt the national flag to cially of minorities, is a key to true verb: they flag a message. And as endow their regimes with a sem - patriotism. While a few democra - outlined below, there are many blance of legitimacy. Dietrich Bon - cies appear cohesive, the number other flag-forms in the contempo - hoeffer was a more patriotic of nation-states lurching toward rary world, even things we would German than any swastika-waver, failure increases—the panoply of not consciously salute, but which in and more a citizen than any West - their flags at the UN no disguise. fact we do in the way that we use boro evangelical. 1 National pride, expressed in a them. Of course, national flags are more showy but shallow way with flags is A close analogue of theatre in than propaganda props. They are not a sign of strength, but neither their special quality of adding to meant to be summary symbols of are civic apathy and complacency. the pageantry of life, flags portray values perceived as decent and in - As the highest and most visible and display, attract and instruct, clusive of a civil society. Yet na - symbols of the nation-state, how - proclaim and alarm. tional flags as such are fairly ever, national flags seem here to Apart from the physical and visi - recent. The age of nation-states is stay. In 1930 there were around ble, the symbolic nature of flags in - barely 500 years old and may yet sixty independent states. Today dicates a more numinous prove to be a transient—or even a there are two hundred, all allegedly dimension, a manifestation of, or at transitional—phase in world order. “sovereign.” Whether all the associ - least an attempt to articulate, the For now at least, the important ated national flags will retain their subliminal. All symbols are a pro - thing about national flags is that present status is another question. jection of conscious reflection and they represent and are accepted If states must have such a symbol, wonderment over the vaguely trou - symbols of a cohesive nation rather what will be inspiring enough to bling nature of the cosmos and our draw citizens truly together? Many, place in it. indeed most, citizens have deep af - Flags or their solid equivalents 1. But see Mike Davis, Hillsboro fection for their country and its (vexilloids) have been used Church’s Welcome in Bethalto, Ill. (Jan. 9 flag, while others, ostracized or throughout history to demarcate 2011),
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 4 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
and to express the pageantry of Games where it seems kudos is •Tattoos, face and body paint sheer joie de vivre (and therein now to countries even more than to (sometimes of actual flags) all may lie their future usefulness: if individual athletes, national flags proclaim a kind of vexillism. language began as imitation of have been democratized and inter - •In a hyper-visualized multi- bird-song, perhaps flags are their nationalized. They are used a props media world, medieval-style borrowed plumage). in protest (as in the Arab Spring), communication by graphics is The best recognized flags are ar - in signage as direction finders and unrolling, appropriate for popu - guably the Union Flag and that of language indicators, and vulgarized lations illiterate then and, after the United States, both the product (some would say desecrated) as television, now. of different imperial styles. Both props in pornography (patriotic •Social media all use vexillo - instances suggest usage as the porn or pornographic patriotism?) graphic “icons.” complement of familiarity, and per - The global convergence under •Commercial advertising also haps longevity, and an obvious link way—something quite distinct from presents its own livery and her - to advertising and propaganda. cultural uniformity—opens another aldry—a pageantry of the mar - Yet familiarity can also encour - perspective in considering what ketplace. age complacency. The history be - flags really convey and how useful hind flags and their evolution is they still are. Why the need for Not waving, just texting often complex, and too often a flags at all in an interdependent Foremost among the new vexillo- closed book even to their subjects, world? Is there a patriotism and forms, part of a trans-national which leads to … loyalty higher than simply to local transformation of allegiances, are patches on the planet? Will what cell-phones, their more recent and Happy Tacky, are now regarded as flags of “sover - evolving embodiments decorated Or the recent trend to display na - eignty” (a convention, after all) be - with icons—protoflags all. The ar - tional emblems on car stickers or come the equivalent of luggage gument is by analogy, but bears re - as part of a living canvas, as indi - labels or tourist souvenirs of visits flection. Like flags, cellphones are viduals adorn (or disfigure) their to exotic places? highly portable. Like flags, they own bodies, which are more per - send signals and graphic signs, and ishable than a symbol that needs Vexillo-Techno: in the sending, make emotional no such reinforcing when ideally it Return of the Vexilloids and informative contact with the should float free above us all. If linear simplicity is the hall - recipients. Mobile phones are as This expanding (and costly) mark of familiar fabric flags, what much vexilloids as those of the tribal practice pays strange homage can be said of various pharaohs, or the vexilla of Roman to the flag. Wearing the national emerging analogues also of interest legions. symbols doesn’t make any one to vexillology which also manifest The analogy is not as fanciful as more patriotic than those who semaphoric variations? may seem. At the 13th Interna - don’t. Still, the unprecedented vul - The earliest flags were solid vex - tional Congress of Vexillology in garizing of its display does endow illoids—usually staffs of office, mil - Melbourne, Whitney Smith drew the flag with a new graphic power. itary, secular or religious, or attention to a third dimension to It also prompts wonder: is the flag portable totems. If flags as we traditional fabric flags beyond not sufficiently established without know them operate chiefly as mo - length and breadth: their thinness. the need of such supplemental re - biles, they are being replaced in Apparently, he was referring to the inforcement? The comparatively modern culture by other attention- fact that a flag conveys its signal by sudden appearance of the flag as a getters that encourage the same its very motion. personal badge may be sponta - tribal habits that flags exploit. The new mobilia bring yet a fur - neous, or simply herd behavior. Not everything is a flag. But any - ther dimension, analogous though Grass-roots promotion of “Caesar’s thing can be. it be. They can be “unfurled” to flip image” may conveniently mesh Consider: and slide, as flags might dip and with policy, the one phenomenon •Fashion and other dress codes glide. They get waved about. Their feeding the other. (tuxedos to gothic, national cos - screens light up with all the wink - tume). Like codpieces in the ing livery possible to plasma. Ring Flags in an age of transition and 16th century, men’s ties send tones mimic the anthems associ - transformation various signals, including subtle ated with national flags, fanfares As social artifacts, and taking cue attempts at alpha male domina - securing attention—all a sign of a from flag displays at the Olympic tion. supranational state, or at least an FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 5
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 5 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
LEFT: The flag of Jamaica in food: black beans, callaloo and bananas. SUSANNA FIERAMOSCA NARANJO RIGHT: The flag of France in food: red grapes, Brie cheese, crepes with jam. OKTAY ORTAKCIOGLU
emerging state of affairs. The Nokia biles of whatever form, can excite Southern Cross, that Australia chime is recognized around the giddy and powerful emotions. Na - should change its flag often elicits planet. tionalism of the jingo kind might vehement opposition. Flags and There is another dynamic that be fading, but the pace is uneven. tattoos seem often associated with traditional flags do not have. Thuggery still masquerades as sov - testosterone (why are there so few Rather than dividing nations, as ereignty. female vexillologists?), and at cer - national flags have done since their Dictators and demagogues have tain tea parties, carry a message of inception, mobile phones unite long appreciated the power, and implied aggression: “Don’t Tread people across continents—albeit exploited the dark side, of flags. On Me!” individually or sometimes, collec - Massed flags can be mesmeric, and On one level, a meeting of her - tively for political purpose (the Or - youth is impressionable. Where aldry and advertising, the recently ange Revolution in Kyiv, and more ideologies and promises of nirvana fashionable urge to get decorated recently, the Arab Spring). In fact, beyond verification are at play, (actually, branded—a mark of they go beyond the limited delin - flags and their panoply can incite servitude) amounts to desecration eation and purposes of national extreme adventures. In the getting of the primordial and most beauti - flags. Goodbye nation state: wel - of wisdom, a culture of discovery ful vexilloid of all. To what and to come to one world. These “smart” and communication needs, or uses, whom is this common but arguably telebots are the practical, really flags and their analogues, but when masochistic genuflection? useful, flags, the vexillovectors, of the message is massage, critical There may be something more the electronic age. faculties can go off-line. than youthful rebellion and as - In an electronically connected sertiveness here—perhaps a deep world, the technorati (they are not Flags to tattoo to disturbance. A climate of pes - necessarily young) are more con - The link between flags and other simism is unsurprising given the cerned and interested, it seems, in accoutrements of culture is all the apocalypse 2 delivered on 11 Sep - these real working models than in closer when the national flag ap - tember 2001, while the cataclysm the badges of previous nation - pears in secondary applications, as continues by proxy across the alisms and tribal allegiance. After a car decal (very personal prop - world. As Nigerian writer Chinua all, a traditional flag is simply a erty)—or tattooed on symbolically Achebe saw, governance collapses piece of cloth. It will not wink at significant parts of the body. when too much change too fast op - you, except in the mind’s eye. Like graffiti, tattoos are flags of a kind. Part sign among those im - The dark side pressionable of bravado, tattoos 2. “Apocalypse” seems the right word as If traditional flags are pieces of flag a sense of individual and soci - the revelation of things hidden but cloth, so are blindfolds. Our brave etal anxiety. For example, though planned from a decade before. new world is not all positive sema - denied, the slightest suggestion to phore. The gaudiness of flags, mo - many, ironically inked with the FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 6
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 6 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
presses the individual 3—except the parade of symbols taken from are symbols, not ends in them - today his subjects are reversed: the the flag—any flag—verges on the selves. It is the apotheosis of these West is in neurosis, the rest not far neurotic, to the extent that it is a and cognate symbols that cause behind. sign of “protesting too much,” a problems. A more peaceful world The tribal or team (read, na - need for reassurance of who we would avoid the ideological ex - tional) flag, as a symbol of the com - are. Those who know who they are tremes that flag-waving risks fo - munity, ideally should float serene do not need labels or badges. menting, and focus on the in the background and above us all. When food is depicted as flags pageantry of flags, for beauty is its It fulfills its function when left in (or vice versa), as in international own most powerful advocate. that zone: all is right with the food fairs, at one level this is sim - Whatever the future, flags have world. It is when all is not right ply chefs at play and clever adver - become more than flexible artifacts with the world that tribal symbols tising. At another level, physics and of colored fabric. Vexillology might are dusted off, polished, pro - metaphysics seem to merge. Is the take cognizance to avoid a tradi - claimed, celebrated, sacralized, and consumer meant ritually to com - tional but too-narrow definition of proselytized—the recipe for xeno - mune with what is symbolized? this expanding aspect of human phobic riot anywhere. 4 “This is your National Symbol, Take culture, leaving the study of flags Are flags in fact sacred? It and Eat” and be patriotically and their functions marooned in a No, but what they represent can nourished, comforted and trans - conceptual strait-jacket of a former be, or be claimed to be. formed. age. The totems of aboriginal peoples Desirable as transformation of are to them sacred and to ob - the status quo might be, flags in Bibliography/Works Cited servers constitute an ancient flag- themselves represent the power, Achebe, C. Things Fall Apart. London: Wm. Heinemann Ltd., 1958. form. It is also commonplace for force and authority of this world Burton, A. “Australia Day and Identity: flags of more allegedly “civilized” that we know, not that which is What Future the Flag?” Crux Aus - peoples to be seen as “blood-ban - mystically aspired to. To treat flags tralis Vol. 22:3 (2009). ners,” i.e., “our fathers and sons as anything more than secular arti - —. “Australian Flags: Whose Identity?” fought and died for the flag.” The facts may be seen as a kind of blas - Crux Australis Vol. 22:2 (2009). —. Raising the Standard: An Argument flag is co-opted to eulogize the no - phemy. from Design. Proceedings of the 24th tion of military sacrifice. To give What is it that associates nation - International Congress of Vexillology, one’s life for a just cause can also alist flag-waving with every kind of 1–5 Aug. 2011, Alexandria, Va. Ed. be the ultimate form of jihad or local “patriotism” to make either a S.M. Guenter. Trenton, N.J: N. Am. moral struggle (a Christian concept virtue? The last century amply Vexillological Assn., 2011. —. Token Totems – Flags of the Palio: absorbed by Islam), though a sad demonstrated a link between flag - Cultural Crossover in Flag Design. reflection of the still evolving gery and false patriotism. To the Proceedings of the 23rd International human condition. But to turn extent that flag-waving reinforces Congress of Vexillology, 13-17 July blood-sacrifice into the corner - that perception, are flags things we 2009, Yokohama, Japan. Ed. Z. stone of a religion is bad and prim - should put away as relics of hu - Harden. Yokohama: Japanese Vexillo - logical Assn., 2011. itive theology, little short of manity’s childhood? Would the ulti - Good Flag, Bad Flag. E.B. Kaye, compl. superstition. Ideally flags might be mate flag perhaps be one implied Trenton, N.J: N. Am. Vexillological aloof from such abuse. Indeed, ob - by its absence? Perhaps not, or Assn., 2006. sessive flag-waving, the vexophal - ever, for as a species we are tool - Gould G., Boland L., and Harverson, S. licism of ever higher flag poles, or makers and also symbol-makers, to Caught in the Breeze: 10 Essays. Can - berra: Blemish Books, 2010. the point where billions postulate NRA—National Rife Association. Natl. deity with no proof beyond the Rifle Assn. Website. 3. It’s title adapted from W.B. Yeats’s prompting of wishful thinking. NRA Media. Natl. Rifle Assn. Website. “The Second Coming,” Achebe’s 1958 More prosaically, despite flags Orenski, P.J. “Quo Vadimus: An Essay on Nobel Prize novel Things Fall Apart being turned into tourist trinkets the State and Future of Vexillology.” Flag Bulletin Vol. 40:4 (July-Aug. dealt with the impact of western cul - and fashion accessories, the dignity ture on traditional life in Nigeria. 2001). Today, the grievances of the developing of the nation-states they represent Soutphommasane, T. Reclaiming Patri - “Third” World are delivered to the remains intact, at least for a while otism. Cambridge: Cambridge U. doorstep of the “First” or “developed” yet. Tribes there will always be, and Press, 2009. World. just as we make gods in our own 4. In December 2005, the Australian image, humanity shall continue to flag was used as a rallying prop in no - tably anti-Muslim beachside riots. make symbols. But in the end, flags FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 7
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 7 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
Fig. 1 (LEFT): The pennons in hands of Soldiers, 2d cen - tury. Fig. 2 (ABOVE): Mausoleum fresco from the Tang Dynasty, C.E. 820. THE AUTHOR’S COLLECTION
ARTICLE A Look at Traditional Chinese Flags Across Eighteen Centuries By XING FEI In China’s long recorded history, flags appeared very nessed the creation, growth, and decline of about fifty early. Three thousand two hundred years ago, King Wu centralized dynasties and locally autonomous powers. of Zhou used a white banner as a commander’s flag These rises and falls were related to about ten ethnic when he conquered the King of Shang (Muye). populations, including the Han, the Huns, and the Around the same time, the character Lü （旅） , which Mongols. The use of flags grew and developed during was related to military flags, appeared on inscriptions this period into a complicated system. Waving flags on oracle bones. However, these historical records are could be seen everywhere from royal processions to not yet sufficient to meet the requirements of archeo - army battles, and from commercial advertisements to logical studies. Not until the 2d century C.E. is there cultural performances. enough reliable documentation—written text, draw - After the 5th century, frescos and picture scrolls de - ings, and other archaeological evidence—for Chinese picting flags became more prevalent. Most frescos people to research traditional flags (Fig.1). have been discovered in mausoleums (Fig. 2), but Although traditional Chinese flags have a very long some have also been found in the famous Dunhuang history, the historical record limits initial research to Grottoes (Zhang). Picture scrolls became common the 18 centuries from the 2d century to the end of the after the 10th century and drawings of all types have Qing Dynasty in 1911 are the topic of this study. valuable historical relevance (Fig. 3). Historic written These eighteen centuries can be divided into the records became more descriptive and accurate. Volu - first 15 (2nd through 16th) and the last three (17th minous official historic records offer detailed descrip - through 19th) centuries. The first 15 centuries wit - tions of the flags used in the emperor’s processions FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 8
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 8 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
Fig. 3 (RIGHT): Southern Song Dynasty Pic - ture Scroll, Wenji’s Return to Han, The Fif - teenth Beat of Hujia Eighteen Beats , Early 12th Century. Fig. 4 (BELOW): The Manchu Eight Banners, 1644-1912. THE AUTHOR’S COLLECTION
and also of the rules governing the were relatively uninfluenced by ex - Banners System)” which governed use of flags by the imperial family. ternal cultures and developed both politics and the military (Fig. There are also military manuals along a relatively steady path. 4). The Eight Banners divided mili - that recorded the various types and The last three centuries (the 17th tary and peasantry into eight formats of military flags, offering to 19th) marked the pinnacle of de - groups. These groups were produc - detailed instructions on how flags velopment for traditional Chinese tive forces during peace and battle- were to be used in training and in flags, after which came rapid de - ready battalions in war. This is the battle. In well-known poems and cline. This period also marks the highest degree of integration be - novels, there appear many descrip - founding of the Qing Dynasty by tween flags and society. tive passages about flags. Flags the Manchus and their subsequent When the Manchu soldiers con - even became an important part of decay. By the beginning of the quered all of China, the rule of the the vernacular language. 1800s, the Manchus of Northeast Eight Banners spread further. It Throughout these fifteen cen - China had already established the gradually became an effective, turies, traditional Chinese flags “System of Eight Banners, (Eight though very strict, system of gov - FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 9
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 9 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
Fig. 5 (TOP LEFT): Guangdong Customs in Qing Dynasty, 1760. Fig. 6 (LEFT): The Qing Dynasty national flag, 1889-1912. Fig. 7 (TOP RIGHT): The three flags of the Chinese Re - public, 1912. THE AUTHOR’S COLLECTION
erning China. To expand the foun - all noted in special record books. born into luxury, but were lazy and dation of power, the Manchus later The country provided their entire had no ambitions. established the Mongol Eight Ban - families with all their needs. The The poor records of the soldiers ners and the Han Eight Banners. officials’ and soldiers’ official du - under the Eight Banners in both The latter was a small group of ties of training, guarding, and fight - internal and external battles in the Han ethnicity who supported ing in times of war were passed latter part of the Qing Dynasty, was Manchu rule early on. Qing emper - from generation to generation. an indication that the System of ors continued and further ex - There was no need to secure em - Eight Banners was coming to an panded the use of royal flags from ployment or establish a livelihood. end. Besides the Eight Banners, the the Ming Dynasty. In many picture After 200 years, with no wars to Qing Dynasty established the Han scrolls depicting the procession of fight or need to work, their off - ethnic-focused “Green Standard the imperial guards, the Eight Ban - spring became useless individuals Army,” which employed the use of ners, as well as other flags, are who only cared about enjoying the green flags. There were also local prominently featured (Yun). luxuries of life. In China, the term militia that employed flags of vari - Brave and capable soldiers and “Children of the Eight Banners” is ous types, such as the Xiang Army officials of the Eight Banners were used to describe those who were the Huai Army and the Black Flag FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 10
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 10 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
Army among others. Flags were tional flags had been destroyed. tribal flags to develop and also commonly used in everyday Western flags and culture had a grow. life. Tall, Chinese-style flag poles profound impact on China. 3. The design, materials, form, with specialized flags stood in front In 1911, with the collapse of the decoration and crafting of tra - of many government buildings, Qing Dynasty and the establish - ditional flags are all represen - temples, and ancestral halls (Fig. ment of the Republic of China, new tative of Chinese cultural 5). Although the Qing Dynasty’s flags appeared (Fig. 7). Choosing a heritage. system of flags was widespread new national flag was a point of 4. In the process of developing and sophisticated, its demise began contention among various political modern flags, too much Chi - with the Opium Wars in 1839. groups. Most favored a flag consist - nese cultural heritage has been The Qing Dynasty viewed itself ing of five colors (red, yellow, blue, lost and traditions have been as representing the “Kingdom of white, and black). The Group too quickly abandoned. At the Heaven,” and looked down upon Wuchang Uprising favored Tiexue’s same time, the understanding other countries as “barbarians.” 18-star flag. The provisional presi - of Western flag culture is shal - They also looked down upon the dent, Sun Yat-Sen, strongly advo - low and incorporation of mod - flags of Western merchant ships cated for a red flag featuring a blue ern flag design incomplete. and trading posts. When British sky with a white sun (Sun). In the It has been some time since tra - cannons blew down the doors of end, the moderate five-color flag. ditional Chinese flags were a key the Qing Dynasty, the various West - was chosen Although all three flags part of China’s flag culture. As ern powers began building trading were designed for the republic, the China’s economic revival brings a ports, establishing concession and flag with the blue sky and white cultural revival, traditional flags constructing churches; Western sun emphasized the core leader - are regaining attention. Historical flags were flying in China’s sky. ship of the revolutionary party. The films and folk activities were the Qing officials and civilians were five-color flag emphasized the first to embrace traditional flags. shocked. By the mid-1800s, as a re - equality of society, ethnicities, and The academic study of traditional sult of the need for improving navi - people. Although the 18-star flag flags has just begun and only gation and coastal defense, the also advocated revolution, the unity minor progress has been made. triangular yellow dragon flag rose of the provinces is akin to the unity Presented at the Association’s 46th on the ships of the Qing Dynasty. of the states in the stars of the annual meeting, 5-7 Oct. 2012, in Later, these yellow dragon flags American flag. The use of the new Columbus, O. were rectangular. This marked ac - republic’s flag indicated the deep ceptance of the reality that the influence of the new thought and Bibliography/Works Cited Collection of Ancient Texts, the Mobi - “Kingdom of Heaven” was just an - culture of flags on the Chinese. The lization Order of Muye ( 尚书 •牧誓 ). other country. It also reflects the use of the new republic’s flag also “E ight Banners System,” Wikipedia, influence of Western flags. represented a new era where tradi - http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 八旗制度 In 1889, the Qing Dynasty issued tional flags were decisively aban - accessed 25 October 2012. the “Beiyang Navy Regulation (Yi),” doned and a strong push was made Sun Yat-Sen, Replying to the Letter from Senate about National Flag, Lit - officially designating the rectangu - to build a new flag culture. erature of Republic of China in the lar yellow dragon flag as the na - One can see that traditional Chi - Founding Period , in the Early Repub - tional flag and also as the military nese flags have the following spe - lic of China, the First Series, Histori - flag (Fig. 6). At the same time, it cial characteristics. cal Materials vol.1, Published by created a system of flags for naval 1. In the evolution of China’s long National History Institute (Taipei), 1997, pp. 1-2. use. Later, the Beiyang Navy imi - history, traditional flags devel - Yi Huan, Beiyang Navy Regulations, tated Western navies, creating flags oped into a sophisticated, Armament (Chapter 13): National for naval officers. During this time, widely used system. They are Flag, General Flags, the Qing Dynasty started training a an important part of China’s http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 北洋海軍 modern army, and used new West - historical heritage. 章程 , accessed 24 October 2012. Yun Lu, Qing Dynasty Sacrificial Vessel ern-style military flags. However, it 2. Traditional flags came in all Book of Pictures, Guangling Publish - was too late to prevent the collapse shapes and sizes and served ing House (Yangzhou, China), 2005, of the Qing Dynasty. The System of multiple purposes. They were pp. 466-477, 785-804. Eight Banners, the yellow dragon also deeply integrated into the Zhang Ming-Qia, Mural Paintings in flag, the royal flags, and the Qing lives of officials and common the Mausoleum of Prince Zhanghuai, Cultural Relics Publishing House, military flags were all abandoned. people. Under centralized rule, 2002. The foundation of China’s tradi - it was difficult for local and FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 11
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 11 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
ESSAY / ESSAI Bold Beginnings By HUGH L. BRADY Although this is the first issue of the Flag Research historical purpose (as discussed below). And including Quarterly, it’s been in the making for some time; its the words “flag research” in the quarterly’s name indi - parentage reaches back to late 1987 when Grace cates its subject matter immediately to all of those in - Rogers Cooper took over as editor of NAVA News. terested in vexillology even if they aren’t aware of the Begun as the NAVA Newsletter in 1967, it mostly fea - word, including researchers and librarians. tured reprints of popular media articles about flags, By focusing on news and information about vexillol - items of Association business, and short pieces di - ogy and vexillologists with articles and commentary rected primarily to collectors. Grace began featuring on all aspects of the discipline, including new research longer articles of original scholarship timely pro - and how vexillology is used by nonpractitioners, the duced. Successive editors such as James Croft and Flag Research Quarterly makes an immediate contri - James Liston continued Grace’s aim of featuring origi - bution to vexillological understanding. nal works, each taking the publication closer to the The Board believes this reorientation of our publica - issue you now hold in your hands. David Martucci was tions program will allow the Association to continue to the first editor to produce all-color issues. Peter An - lead in the publication and dissemination of vexillo - soff, aided by Ted Kaye, then-editor of Raven: A Jour - logical scholarship. This represents a significant step nal of Vexillology, and the editorial board of Martucci forward for the Association as we prepare for the 50th and John Lowe, continually edited high-quality issues anniversary of our founding in 2017. that featured many contributions to flag knowledge. As alluded above, the Board decided to return NAVA However, editors and editorial boards have been News to its original function as an Association precluded from fully realizing the potential for a quar - newsletter, e.g., meeting notices, minutes, nominating terly flag research publication. It has been hard to re - committee’s slate for the Executive Board, and as cruit contributions from outside scholars who, looking place to summarize current vexillological information at the name NAVA News, concluded it was nothing appearing in other media. It becomes a hybrid elec - more than a club newsletter. The continuing need to tronic/print publication on an as-needed basis; when publish business items and other matter tended to printed, it will appear as an insert to the Quarterly, crowd out scholarship of varying length because of much as the Flag Institute’s Gazette is packaged with space constraints. And, frankly, it was thought by some Flagmaster. Raven remains our pre-eminent publica - that to feature more original scholarship outside of tion and will continue to appear annually, and Raven Raven would hurt our annual journal. will continue to have the right of first refusal on print - The need for a quarterly research publication to ing papers presented at the annual meeting and other complement—not compete with— Raven has been evi - events sponsored by the Association. Just as Raven did dent for some time and the Board decided to review not spell the end of the Flag Bulletin, this quarterly the publications program. Consultations with past of - does not equal a loss for Raven . ficers, editors, and Whitney Smith and his son Austin The Quarterly ’s editor brings excellent credentials to were held. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive the job. Kenneth Hartvigsen is currently serving a pre - for the establishment of this quarterly. doctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution and The Board’s action was motivated by three concerns: is finishing his dissertation for his Ph.D. in art history the loss of vexillological publications in the last three at Boston University. Those of you who were at the In - years, respect for the Association’s traditions, and the ternational Congress of Vexillology in Alexandria, Va., promotion of vexillology as the scholarly study of in 2011, will recall that he won the Driver Award for flags. The number of North American publication out - his presentation “Picturing Flag Violence in Civil War lets for vexillological scholarship in shorter articles is Sheet Music: The Case of ‘Down the Traitors’ Serpent diminishing, not increasing. Flag Bulletin, Flagscan, Flag’.” Kenneth represents our emerging scholars and and Flagwaver have ceased as ongoing publications; his willingness to take on this task benefits us all. others are issued irregularly. Launching a new publi - A quarterly forum to regularly engage vexillolgists cation avoids a debate over whether we are discarding and other scholars is critical to advancing vexillology the NAVA News name and retains it for its intended by improving the quality and expanding the scope of FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 12
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 12 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
its scholarship. I would argue that, Perhaps. Closer examination of cations” (Responsibilities 3). Thus, in recent years, scholarship in our recent papers suggests that the Board’s expectation is that this discipline lacks a compelling direc - progress may be illusory. Arguably, quarterly will provide that oppor - tion. It usually fails to examine the some papers do not even represent tunity and further vexillology by literature of the field, such as there vexillology. adhering to the Association’s is, and regularly tends to presume Smith published his “Fundamen - founding purposes: “promotion of no prior work on a subject. Use of tal Theses of Vexillology” in 1982, in research into the origins, history, archival resources that are not part to combat “random or pur - and symbolism of flags [and issu - available on the Internet is rare. poseless” activity by vexillologists. ing] publications on flags and vex - Often, it is not adequately Thesis No. 18 is particularly in - illology” (“Articles of sourced so that the underlying ma - structive: Incorporation”). terial can be located and evaluated. The designing and making of As a regular forum to engage the Authorship credit is not allocated flags, the display of flags, promo - scholarship published by other by objective standards; minor acts tion of flag usage, collecting of journals and presented at Con - of compilation and technical assis - flags, the use of flags to achieve gresses and meetings, the Flag Re - tance are inflated far beyond the certain ends, and analysis of the search Quarterly will help expand value of the contribution. Statistical relative artistic merits of . . . flags our understanding of the human work of dubious value is touted to are not subsumed in the study of need to create and use symbols to support weak claims. Finally, it flags, although the study of any of express political, cultural, and so - often misapplies evidentiary stan - the above activities is (33). cial ideals. To provide a rigorously dards by confusing the existence of Accepting the thesis as true—and edited and timely selection of a fact for the truth or falsity of the for this essay, I do—narrative pa - works that explore vexillology in event or phenomenon the fact rep - pers of an individual or collective unexpected and illuminating ways, resents. This all adds up to impede experience in setting up a flag ex - to me, is an exciting development. needed critiques and refinements hibition, holding a flag contest, and At the beginning of this century, of theories, concepts, and argu - designing a flag, for example, one author examining vexillology ments in the discipline. would fail this test. Even if the pa - asked Quo vadimus? (Orenski 7) or The question is not whether pers made recommendations for “where are we going?” This quar - “vexillology [has] made an inroads best practices in holding exhibi - terly replies, in the words of Virgil, as [a] field of study,” as Dr. Scot tions and contests, that does not audacibus annue coeptis or “look Guenter asks (2), because the an - make them vexillological ones. with favor upon a bold beginning.” swer is a qualified “yes.” Work that What is missing is any explanation “tell[s] us not only about flags but of how these activities help us “un - Works Cited “A rticles of Incorporation.” N. Am. Vex - about people—about the social derstand more accurately and more illological Assn. Mar. 19, 1968. Web. groups that use them or have used completely the nature of human Guenter, Scot M. Introduction. Pro - them in the past,” has been on the society” (Smith 32) or whether ceedings of the 24th International increase (3). Using Whitney Smith’s these activities as currently con - Congress of Vexillology, 1–5 Aug. 2011, Vexillological Classification Sys - ceived and executed can ever aid in Alexandria, Va. Ed. Scot M. Guenter. Trenton, N.J: N. Am. Vexillological tem, Guenter assigned all papers that understanding. Of course, au - Assn., 2011. 1–5. CD-ROM. presented at the most recent Inter - thors are welcome to argue that the Orenski, Peter J. Quo Vadimus: An national Congresses of Vexillology thesis is wrong or imperfectly ex - Essay on the State and Future of Vex - (1987, 1999, and 2011) held in pressed, but currently, there is not illology. New Milford, Conn: Private North America to one of the sys - a publication that can host or foster Print, 2001, 2003. PDF. “R esponsibilities of NAVA Member - tem’s 10 categories. This showed the kind of dialogue envisioned by ship.” NAVA News Jul.-Sept. 1978:3. that the number of papers dealing Smith for both present and future Print. with history declined from about generations of vexillologists. Smith, Whitney. “Fundamental Theses one-half of the papers presented in Members of the Association have of Vexillology.” Flag Bulletin 21:1 1987 to one-third in 2011, while the a responsibility to both “read[] the (Jan.-Feb. 1982). 23–34. Print. number of papers examining usage literature of the field and re - grew significantly in the same pe - search[] and specializ[e] in some riod. Thus, Guenter concludes, area of it not well known” and “vexillology is growing and evolv - “shar[e] discoveries and the results ing” because its scholarship has ex - of research with other by con - panded beyond history (3). tributing to . . . vexillological publi - FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 13
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 13 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
ARTICLE Don’t Wave the White Flag Too Soon By TODD SENTELL All my life I’ve been fascinated with flags. As a kid I all kinds of flags I’ve collected in my days on Earth looked at pictures of them in books and wondered and gave them a look-see at flag books I’ve collected. I what the colors symbolized, or why they put a bird told them what they’d need to know for my infamous there and a cross over there. It may seem impressive vexillology examination while they gazed, and became to be interested in vexillology as a kid, but then again I dazed, looking at my vexillology handout. So many was also just as interested in shooting passing cars, or questions! my friends, with my BB gun. Which I did. A lot. Still, I • What are the two main things flags do? believe that flags can teach powerful lessons, no mat - • Graphic elements in flags usually do what? The ter a vexillologist’s age. word starts with an “s” Working at schools in Georgia for students with a • The earliest known cloth flags were thought to have wide range of learning, behavior, and emotional disor - come from where? ders, I have enjoyed sharing my love of flags through a • There are how many recognized countries in the two-week lecture series on vexillology. Vexillology world? wasn’t a formal part of the curriculum in these • What’s the name of the dude or chick who carries a schools, and in fact, although I’ve always been sur - flag? rounded by some mighty educated fellow teachers and • What do you think is the ratio of our national flag? administrators, no one ever knew what the word vexil - • What’s the ratio of a square flag? lology meant. In courses on U.S. history, civics, Georgia • When was the last time the United States flag was history, world cultures, or fine arts, with students from changed? 7th grade all the way to seniors, I’ve taught a two- • Can you burn the United States flag and not get in week lecture series on vexillology that includes a final trouble? exam as well as a project where the students make • What’s the protocol for when and how you should their own flag. I called it the “Flag of Me” project. In - burn the United States flag? troducing vexillology to social studies students is not • Why did the United States flag go through so many only obvious to me, but necessary. I have taught the changes? lecture series to my fine arts students because I • If I leave the United States flag up during the night, wanted them to fully understand that flags are also then I should do what to it? art—they are a deliberate attempt by someone to • The study of flags is called what? make something aesthetic. But, in a flag there is They were truly freaked out. Then they discovered meaning in everything. The color, the charge, the posi - there was a lot of class time left, and there was no sign tion of the charge, everything has meaning deter - of stopping. We continued with basic flag types: mined by a person or group, sometimes under • What’s the name of a flag that has a strip of color tremendously difficult circumstances such as war or that runs along the outer edge of the flag? the development of a new country. In most every case, • Two bands of color either horizontal or vertical? I teach them that the meaning is so deeply serious • Three bands of different colors either horizontal or that it verges on sacred. My students always respond vertical? positively to these lectures as flag study is so new and • A field divided into four different quarters? fascinating to them. In all cases my students said • A center cross that divides the field? they’d never look at a flag the same again. • A cross that divides the field where the vertical is to One recent experience with this lecture series sticks the left of center? out in my mind. I cannot tell you how moved I was, as • An X-shaped cross? well as amused, at what the students revealed during • A complete cross surrounded by the field where the this project. Because of these wonderful moments, be - arms are equal? cause of a piece of fabric that waves in the wind, I’d be • A triangle of any size or shape? happy to teach vexillology to my special students • A narrow band that acts as a border between two every day. colors? I started in on the scholarly study of flags with pas - • A zigzag edge like the teeth on a saw? sion and spirit in my voice and soul. I began unfurling • What’s the name of the type of flag … the flag itself FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 14
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 14 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
… that’s triangular? (a trick ques - appear above. Everybody did so get them right. tion … had to) well—I was actually shocked to tell And he did get it right, on a • What’s the name of the most fa - you the truth. The second require - deeper level than he might possi - mous pirate flag? ment was the “Flag of Me” project bly realize. He said • What type of animal does the where the students made a cloth or My flag of choice for this assign - word “pennon” come from? poster board flag with colors and ment is a two banded horizontal And did they think they were charges that had to have exact bi-color design. The ratio of my going to get away without talking meaning. On the due date the stu - flag is roughly 1:2 because my about flagpoles? I think not! dents went up to the front of the flag is of a rectangular shape. On • What’s the ornamental knob on class, and as I held their flag, they my flag I have the colors yellow top of the flagstaff called? were required to explain every de - and green and together they rep - • What’s another name for the tail to their classmates. resent my active lifestyle. Green pole? Snap said the red on his flag rep - represents my love of the out - • What’s the round mechanical de - resents him getting better at base - doors along with my lifetime vice called that allows the flag to ball because he’s been trying hard. wilderness experience and prac - move up and down? For the charge he used a picture of tice of survival skills. The main • The rope or cord used to raise him in the dugout during a base - purpose that my flag serves is the flag is called what? ball game. that the flag I have come up with • The metal ring used to secure the Montene said the crucifix repre - represents the things in my life clip to the flag is called what? sents her love of Jesus. that I enjoy being a part of and • The inner, lower left portion of Milo said the picture of the nose experiencing for a lifetime to the flag nearest the flag pole is on his flag represents his concern come. The way I decided my flag called what? for his sister who wants to get a to be positioned is yellow for the • The top quarter of the flag near - nose job. The meaning of a hammer top color because that is the part est the flag pole is called what? about to smash his alarm clock of me that I think means the • What’s the outer part of the flag glaring the hideous time of 6:30 most, and on the bottom I have called? should be pretty obvious. green for my secondary love for I politely asked them to do some Hap’s flag represented a place adventure. Yellow symbolizes my hellacious research on the history he’d like to live in and rule called friendly, peaceful approach to of the Gadsden flag and some butt- Haptopia. people and who I respect and kicking investigation on the history Beauregard didn’t have a name care for. of the Jolly Roger. Then, we moved for a new world represented by his What an outstanding job Click onto memorizing the messages of funky flag, but he said it would be did! He’s a whacky 14-year old who marine signal flags. Next, I encour - more of a kingdom and he’d be the I have always liked a lot. He’s also a aged them to spend an enormous ruler. good vexillologist. I’ll offer to him amount of time going through the Albert had a near perfect flag. It what I think might be the greatest Association’s web site, and heck, was elegant and simple, the way sign of respect and appreciation for let’s cap it off with a whole bunch professional vexillographers like it. a flag and that’s saluting it. I salute of brisk memorization on United He had drawn a heart containing your flag and I salute you and Al - States flag etiquette! the words, “ Brandi + Albert.” As bert too, my vexillologists. One student, Herman, who by simple as that. We asked Albert if The students told me that they’d then was sweating and sporting a he loved Brandi, who goes to an - never look at flags the same way couple of crimson cheeks, took his other school. He said he did. I again, that they’d pay more atten - glasses off and, seeming on the asked Albert if Brandi loved him tion to what a flag might communi - verge of losing consciousness, said back. Albert said he was pretty sure cate, represent, and symbolize. It “Boy, Todd, we sure do have a lot to she did. I asked if he wanted to made me tear up, it really did. They learn about vexi-llow-logy!” What I keep his flag. Albert said yes and said that since they had a better think Herman really wanted to say he wasn’t embarrassed one bit as feel for what a well-designed flag was, “Boy, Todd, speaking for every - he carried it back to his desk. looks like they would speak up and one, we sure do hate your greasy Click’s bi-color flag was elegant tell anybody who would listen what guts and wish you’d drop dead…” and simple, too. He didn’t have to, elements of a flag could be At the end of the lecture series but he wrote his explanation out so changed to make it more balanced, the students took a final-style when he presented his flag to us he logical, and communicative. exam, with all of the questions that would remember all the details and It’s what vexillologists do. FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 15
A research publication of the FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 North American Vexillological Association / REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE Page 15 Une publication de recherche de EN VEXILLOLOGIE l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
Selected Abstracts of Dissertations and Theses Related to the Study of Flags: 2010-2011 War Flags into Peace Flags: The Return of Cap - identities of nations and their militaries. Mexican national tured Mexican Battle Flags During the Truman Ad - memories of the Mexican War endured into the 20th century; ministration. Anderson, Ethan M. Thesis these memories not only characterized Mexican opinion at whenTruman returned the flags, but prevent return of flags (M.A.)—Dept. of History, Kansas State Univ. (2010). from Mexico to the U.S. Illustrations: the Flag of the Tampico On September 13, 1950, in a culmination of three years Battalion, Mexican Guerrilla Flag, Guidon Presented to of efforts by organizations and individuals inside and President Alemán, and a U.S. Flag still in Mexican custody. outside the Harry S. Truman administration, 69 cap - tured battle flags from the Mexican-American War “Swear this flag to live, for this flag to die”: Flag were formally returned to the Mexican government at Imagery in Constructing the Narrative of the Civil a ceremony in Mexico City. The events surrounding War and the Transformation of American National - the return of flags to Mexico occurred in two distinct ism. Vanover, Eric Thomas. Thesis (M.A.)—Dept. of phases. The first was a small, secretive, and largely History, Virginia Tech Univ. (2010). symbolic return of three flags conceived and carried The Civil War transformed nationalism in American out by high-ranking U.S. government officials in June society and created a notion of national identity 1947. The second large-scale, public return of the re - closely tied to flag iconography. Flag symbolism devel - maining flags in the custody of the War Department oped as the prominent visualization of nationalism in was initiated by the American Legion and enacted by American culture during and after the Civil War. The the United States Congress. Despite their differences, flags of the Civil War - namely the American flag, the both returns were heavily influenced by contemporary Confederate national flag, and the Confederate Battle events, primarily the presidential election of 1948 and Cross - grew into iconic images within American com - the escalation of the Cold War. Also, although the sec - munities. Their status as symbols of nationalism, patri - ond return was much more extensive than the Presi - otism, and an American historical past often advocated dent originally intended, it was only through his full by newspapers, individual citizens, and the soldiers of support that either return was accomplished. In the the war themselves, initiated an American tradition of decades since 1950, historians have either ignored the flag iconography for the purpose of nationalism un - return of Mexican battle flags or focused instead on foreseen in American culture before the war. After the Truman’s wreath laying at the monument to the niños war, the issues of reconciliation and of what context héroes in Mexico City in March 1947. This study, for the war would be placed in American history also be - the first time, provides an in-depth description of the came influenced by flag imagery. With the potential for efforts to return captured Mexican battle flags and ex - post-war bitterness and lengthened disunity, the plains why these war trophies were returned while American flag offered a symbol that allowed Ameri - others have remained in the United States. The goal of cans to remember the war as the deeds of patriotic cit - this investigation is to present the efforts of the Tru - izens and as part of a continuous American national man administration for what they truly were: an un - narrative. In doing so, the American flag became the precedented act of international friendship. Although iconic symbol of American nationalism. the actions of the U.S. government and private organi - Note: A very thorough treatment, using primary sources and zations were partially influenced by self-interest and popular reporting of the time, of the development and growth of flag iconography during the Civil War in both sec - Cold War fears, their primary motivation was a sincere tions and the respective roles played by the press and sol - desire to erase the painful memories surrounding the diers in encouraging its growth and attendant feelings of Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 in an effort to nationalism. The three images from the popular press repro - improve future relations between the two countries. duced at the end are adequate for supporting the discussion, Many historians point to the Truman administration as but the reader is left wanting more. the end of the Good Neighbor Policy toward Latin America. This study, however, argues that the return of Symbol of hate or pride: The ironic effect of expo - captured Mexican battle flags represents the true pin - sure to the confederate flag on judgment and be - nacle of the United States’ Good Neighbor Policy to - havior. Columb, Corey J. Thesis (M.S.)—Dept. of ward its southern neighbor. Psychology, Florida St. Univ. (2010). Note: A very good read on a little-examined topic that high - The Confederate flag is a symbol rich with meaning. lights the emotional and practical power of flags in politics While public debate has focused largely on which per - and the symbolism of war trophies, particularly flags, in the FRQ-No1-v1_Layout 1 3/18/2013 2:37 PM Page 16
MARCH 2013 MARS | No. 1 FLAG RESEARCH QUARTERLY / A research publication of the Page 16 REVUE TRIMESTRIELLE DE RECHERCHE North American Vexillological Association / EN VEXILLOLOGIE Une publication de recherche de l'Association nord-américaine de vexillologie
ception of the Confederate flag is France and the United States: Haudenosaunee/Longhouse cul - the most appropriate, it is equally Borrowed and Shared National ture. Hall was best known as a po - important to understand the conse - Symbols. Crawford, Katlyn Marie. litical leader who played an quences of being exposed to this Thesis (M.A.)—Dept. of Foreign integral role in the revival of Hau - symbol. We predict that exposure Languages, Univ. of North Texas denosaunee spiritual traditions in to the Confederate flag is likely to (2011). his community, Kahnawake Mo - lead individuals who associate the This thesis analyzes and demon - hawk Territory. He was also in - flag with racism to engage in more strates the similarities and differ - volved in the repossession of negative judgments of and behav - ences between some of the traditional Mohawk territory in ior toward Black targets than peers national symbols of France and the New York State in 1974. Hall was not exposed to the flag. In contrast, United States. This includes the an avid reader of historical and those who view the flag as a sym - shared and borrowed aspects of philosophical texts, and he penned bol of the South should show little each one and the ways in which several self-published newsletters to no effect of exposure to the Con - each culture is reflected through, and books which were dissemi - federate flag on judgment of and and built around them. The flags, nated not only in Kahnawake but behavior toward Blacks. In study national anthems, and several na - to surrounding Native communi - one, participants then made judg - tional icons such as France's Mari - ties. However, with all these accom - ments of either a Black or a White anne and Uncle Sam are discussed. plishments, his artistic career has male after reading a short story This analysis deals with the histor - been overlooked in the canons of about him. For those who believe ical contexts and cultural meanings art history. The most recognizable the flag is a symbol of racism, ex - of the symbols, showing the work he produced would be the posure to the Confederate flag in - changes each has undertaken in Warrior Flag, which garnered inter - creased negative judgments toward form and in national and interna - national attention when it was used a Black person, compared to those tional importance. Through the during the blockades and protests who believe it is a symbol of the study of national symbols, this the - in both Kanesatake and Kah - South and were exposed to the flag sis reveals the similarities along nawake territories during the 1990 and those in both groups exposed with the differences between the Oka Crisis. However, his work was to a neutral symbol. Study two two nations, which are often per - much more varied than this one served as a replication and exten - ceived as being highly dissimilar piece and his artistic practice de - sion in which we measured partici - and even opposing in belief sys - serves special attention. With the pants’ aggression toward a tems, cultures, and histories. exception of the flag, his work has purportedly Black or White partner Note: Focused on the flags, anthems, not been shown in any galleries through noise blast task. For those and anthropomorphical representa - nor does it appear in the several tions of each country, this is a good who believe the flag is a symbol of discussion of the use of symbols in surveys of contemporary First Na - racism, being exposed to the Con - forming and maintaining national tions art. The richness of his work, federate flag increased aggression identity. There are clear and concise which takes on characteristics of toward a Black person, compared histories of each and their uses in both advertising design, political propa - to those who believe the flag is a past and present; this informs the sug - ganda, and historical painting, gestion that "our modern, abstract na - symbol of the South and for those tional symbols” are more potent during should be considered as a unique who had a White partner. war or political unrest than peacetime, and integral part of Aboriginal and Note: The author's work provides an especially considering that the sym - North American art history. interesting frame for the discussion of bols of both countries were born out of Note: An examination of how one how flag imagery may influence indi - armed conflict. No illustrations. artist's work of political expression vidual attitudes and behavior towards initially took the form of a flag, later others. Because the Confederate battle Louis Karoniaktajeh Hall and widely adopted by Native American/ flag "is a widely recognized and highly First Nations activists. The statement visible symbol in the [U.S.]," the re - the Art of Resistance. Cross, Wa - that the author grew up "passively ap - search findings that "exposure to the sontiio S. Thesis (M.A.) —Dept. of preciating a flag she observed "on a Confederate flag has a negative im - Art History, Concordia Univ. (Que - daily basis" without knowing the de - pact on judgments and behavior to - bec) (2011). signer's name or the flag's "important ward Black people"—if it holds upon This thesis examines the artistic message" and her observation that the replication—suggests this impact artist "believed that one important should be considered by policymakers output of Louis Karoniaktajeh Hall step towards regaining sovereignty who must determine just how visible (1918-1993), a Kanien’keha:ka man was" a flag provides vexillologists the battle flag should be in the modern who played multiple roles in the with a fertile field for further exami - South. No illustrations. rejuvenation of the traditional nation. Good illustrations of the flag.