The American Flag Analysis

A flag serves as a scared item that holds a great significance. Each element it utilizes can symbolize a piece of a country’s history. The physical and the figurative factors of a flag can represent the society, culture, and values of that particular country. The flag can be seen with admiration and respect, or it can be utilized for social commentary. The American flag holds cultural, social, and moral significance that the nation interprets in various ways.
The American flag is a living piece of fabric that has gone through numerous phases of evolution throughout history. Its reformation might continue to transpire with the addition of Puerto Rico as an official state. The first American flag dates back to 1776 where it was created by Betsy Ross. Today the national flag consists of thirteen alternating red and white stripes, along with fifty white stars lying at the top left corner. The thirteen stripes represent the initial colonies that declared independence from Great Britain and established themselves as a sovereign nation, while the stars stand for the fifty American states. These features serve as a representation of American values. For example, the location of the stars at the highest point on the flag signifies honor and valor, which ties into the idea of great independence. Furthermore, the colors utilized in the flag also represent values: “White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice." These values impose a great impact on the American culture and society in multiple ways.
The second and the third picture below hold a stronger physical context, due to all the rubble around the environment, which impacts the audience to view it as a war scene. The pictures also depict a group of people that are lifting the flag up, which portrays team work and dedication to our country. It also reinforces the notion of retrieving and never falling. Raising the flag has become a great deal in the American culture. The nation tends to perform such an action to emphasize immovability and resistance of the United States, mainly after wars and ceremonies, as well as honoring military martyrs. If one was raised among army vets, the event possesses a stronger emotional outtake, as it represents the sturdiness and the bravery of Americans to sacrifice their lives for their country. Both events, Iwo Jima and the Ground Zero flag raising, may seem more important and crucial to an American citizen, rather than to the outside world, due to their national pride. Citizens who had lost a family member during either of those events, will view the picture in a bigger and more emotional sense, rather than viewing it just as a historical event. Raising the flag has become a tradition and among the highest honors that is done with the flag. It often brings out the idea of unity and solidarity.


Although the flag often symbolizes reverence and glory, some people use it as a way to criticize the country and its structure. Down below is a well-known photograph of the flag, where the fifty stars are replaced with corporations’ logos and a giant stamp that reads “SOLD.” It refers to the free-market economy of the US and materialism. This ties back to the idea that “the contemporary movement of globalization” comes with pros and cons. On one hand, globalization boosts the strength of bonds among countries. On the other hand, it blurs the nation’s identity and revolves around financial gains, rather than culture and values.
I believe that the flag should be used to emphasize the value of a country, rather than putting out its flaws. Even though the government grants Americans freedom of speech, that does not permit them to abuse this right and use the flag to attack the country. There are various ways the flag can be used, like showing national pride or criticizing what it stands for. Despite this, the flag is a symbol of America and its interpretation depends on the individual.

 Works Cited
Nealon, Jeffrey T., and Susan Searls Giroux. The Theory Toolbox: Critical Concepts for the     
            Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. 2nd ed. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield 
           Publishers, Inc, 2012. Print.
Streufert, Duane. USFlag.org: A Website Dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America -
          What Do the Colors of the Flag Mean?, www.usflag.org/colors.html.


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