| Abstrakt: |
As a popular motif in American art, images of the United States flag remind citizens of the importance of culture in promoting patriotism. Still, the prevailing aesthetic commands a dignified representation of the Stars and Stripes, shunning political criticism and disrespect for the nation's most cherished emblem. Amid the controversy over flag burning in 1989, artist Dread Scott unveiled his work What is the Proper Way to Display the U.S. Flag? at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In that piece, the U.S. flag was placed on the floor of the gallery, inciting enormous public outrage. As a form of interactive art, Scott invited visitors to record their thoughts about the flag in a ledger book furnished at the exhibit. More than 1,600 messages were transcribed in the ledger book, thus becoming an intriguing source of unobtrusive data. This research explores societal reaction to Scott's artwork through a content analysis of the entries contained in the ledger book. While interpreting prominent themes framing the conflict over flag desecration, this work contributes to a critical cultural criminology. In particular, the analysis brings to the forefront the significance of power, hierarchies, and social inequality driving criminalization campaigns aimed at controlling avant-garde flag art and political dissent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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