“Tagging” the Flag
Did you ever wonder what motivates the persons in state government positions who have charge of aesthetics assignments in regard to the art and advertising that promotes a state’s interests?
Are they the same who make decisions about the appearance of their state’s flag, for instance? Are they merely being responsive to the attention of the people who may have grown tired of or doubtful that their flag is being acknowledged by others? Who causes the change in design of a state flag?
Who determines what may otherwise be a good enough flag design, then orders that the state’s name—in large letters—be added to the face of the flag?
Two things happen: Labeling the flag is an admission that the flag is not memorable or interesting — no one knows its name. Secondly, the letters in the name from the reverse side of the banner become unreadable (unless one happens to have a mirror); MINNESOTA becomes ATOSENNIM.
In large RED letters, too.
Breaking this rule about flag designing is the least difficult to point out.
New Minnesota Flag 
[…] Flags of other States in Question While we have been looking at a few other major changes made in flags, we must say something about the activity for change that is taking place in other U.S. states. We thought that some of the proposals were not improvements, like those that felt the need to add their state’s name to the older design. Like over two dozen flags, from a distance—just 30 feet above the ground—all one could see is a small version of the state seal, or Coat of Arms or just a pleasant scene. When a State chooses to put its name on a flag, it shows it is insecure in its symbolism. There has to be something more symbolic and straight-forward in any state than simply writing its name on the flag. I wrote about this legislative susceptibility in an earlier post. […]
Flags of other States in Question « New Minnesota Flag said this on 3 February 2008 at 11:12 pm |