Depiction of the American Flag
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1. In Peter Max's Flag with Heart and Emma Amos's Stars and Stripes, two similar, but unique designs depicting the American flag are presented. Max's work reduces the number of vertical stripes to broad bands whereas Amos uses the more traditional narrow alternating bands to present her image. Max employs a combination of stars and hearts whereas Amos replaces the stars with a photograph. Max's flag uses very bold color along with fluid, almost abstracted lines in a manner meant to symbolize the joy and the power of the flag as a permanent icon within America's history and collective consciousness (What do the colors of the flag mean, 2003). The relationship of the stars and the hearts suggests that this symbol is deeply rooted in the American psyche. In Amos's more static painting, a broad "X" is centered upon the striped field, suggesting as does the photograph image in the stars where stars are usually found that the flag represents ideas and values that are not played out in the real world or in the real experience of American citizens. The difference between the two works in terms of design and symbolism is readily apparent, and despite the fact that they use what is a near-universal American icon, their understanding of the meaning of this icon represents different ideologies. 2. The black and white photographs presented in the exhibit such as TWU Rally, by Arthur Leipzig, is as powerful and significant in its commentary as the art work by artists such as Pete
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eas and experiences.
4. In Dread Scott's What Is the Proper Way to Display the U.S. Flag, the artist has elected to place the flag on the floor underneath a guest book in which visitors can write their comments on the work itself (St. James, 2003). Above the shelf holding the guest book is a photography depicting flag-draped coffins – undoubtedly coffins of military personnel who have fallen in battle while defending all that the flag stands for.
Interestingly, the placement of the flag on the floor demands that the viewer wishing to sign the guest book must step on the flag, thereby engaging in an act that is considered a desecration of the symbol contained in the flag. If one chooses to step on the flag and sign the comment book, thereby exercising the right to freedom of speech that is also implicit in the symbolic meaning of the flag, one must violate the integrity of the flag. The flag thus becomes a barrier to the expression of free speech and the rights guaranteed to Americans (Flag etiquette, 2003).
With the juxtaposition of flag-draped coffins over the guest book, Scott is also informing his viewer that loyalty to the flag is accompanied at times by a high price. The entire artwork successfully challenges
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Approximate Word count = 1488
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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