Flags, Color, and the Legal Narrative: Public Memory, Identity, and Critique

Flags, Color, and the Legal Narrative: Public Memory, Identity, and Critique (Springer 2021) has been selected as the recipient of the Gherardi Davis Prize for a significant contribution to vexillological research. The book explores how flags convey symbolic information about a society's origins, culture, self-image, and values. It investigates the identification of "identity" based on culturally specific color codes and images that conceal assumptions about members of a people, and how flags narrate constructions of belonging that become tethered to negotiations for power and resistance over time. The book also examines the transmitted values of flags over time and space, and the relationship between law and flags in their visual representations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 697 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The Flag Research Center, founded in 1962, is a leading institution dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the human need to create and use symbols, such as flags, to express political, cultural, and social ideals. The center's latest publication, Flags, Color, and the Legal Narrative: Public Memory, Identity, and Critique (Springer 2021), has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Gherardi Davis Prize for a significant contribution to vexillological research in 2021.

This remarkable work stands out for its comprehensive and in-depth examination of flags as powerful conveyors of profound symbolic information about a society's origins, culture, self-image, and values. The selection committee recognized the book's groundbreaking approach, setting a new standard for research in the field of flags.

The Flag Research Center is a hub of intellectual inquiry, fostering research and dialogue on the cultural, historical, and political significance of flags. Its mission is to explore the ways in which flags shape public memory, identity, and critique, and to examine the complex relationships between flags, society, and power.

The book under review, authored by Professor Hugh Brady, Director and Senior Fellow at the Flag Research Center, delves into the intricate process of identifying "identity" based on culturally specific color codes and images. It challenges the notion of a uniform and fixed national or ethnic identity, highlighting the contested and dynamic nature of identity construction. Bennet (2005) defines identity as "the imagined sameness of a person or social group at all times and in all circumstances," emphasizing the idea of a shared past and present. However, the book argues that identity is not a fixed entity but rather a product of social, political, cultural, and historical processes that are constantly negotiated and contested.

Flags, as visually evocative and ideologically representative symbols, play a crucial role in narrating constructions of belonging and identity. They prescribe a story of unity and coherence, but through semiotic confrontation, they also reveal the complexities and contradictions within societies. The book explores the ways in which flags are used to express political ideologies, commemorate historical events, and symbolize cultural heritage. It examines the role of flags in shaping public opinion, mobilizing social movements, and influencing legal and political decisions.

The Gherardi Davis Prize is an esteemed recognition of excellence in vexillological research, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the field. The prize is named after Professor Gherardi Davis, a renowned scholar and pioneer in the study of flags and their symbolism. The selection committee for the prize, comprised of experts in the field, carefully considered the book's contributions to vexillology and its impact on the understanding of flags and their role in society.

In conclusion, the Flag Research Center's publication Flags, Color, and the Legal Narrative: Public Memory, Identity, and Critique has been recognized with the prestigious Gherardi Davis Prize for a significant contribution to vexillological research in 2021. This groundbreaking work sets a new standard for research in the field of flags, challenging prevailing notions of identity and revealing the complex and dynamic nature of identity construction. The center's commitment to advancing knowledge and understanding of the human need to create and use symbols to express political, cultural, and social ideals through flags is a testament to its enduring impact on the study of vexillology and beyond.

Weight: 1280g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030328641
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021