I like that the flags dinged for having their name on the flag seemed to be rank in order of how damn big the name is; Illinois is rather small, so ranks higher than Montana, or dear god WISCONSIN. (You can see all the US state flags here.)
That said, DC's flag, if I didnt know it was from the Washington family coat of arms, would still just feel like a ripoff of Chicago's excellent flag.
<span>It amazes me that Arizona's flag was adopted in 1917, rather than 1971. It looks like a background cel for Schoolhouse Rock's "Sufferin' Til Sufferage."</span>
Clearly, it represents the fact that the Isle of Man is GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS WITH ITS THREE-LEGGED ASS-KICKING MACHINE! (See also the seminal article, "Why Our Cats Have No Tails.")
Maybe it's because I'm from there, but I agree with the high ranking of Arizona's flag. Simple design with symbolic elements. The sunset is more classic than, say, the cactus/citrus/cow on the seal.
Actually, the fonts change depending who's producing the image and whether you're looking at a digital image or a picture of a real flag (see examples for Wisconsin and Kansas). That said, most of the fonts really are ugly, and I can't believe that the flag's original designers used sans-serif fonts.
When I was in fourth grade, we had to do state reports. I chose Maryland, despite the fact that I had never been there, because I thought it had a pretty name. The format of the report required us to make an artistic rendering of the state's flag, using tiny squares of tissue paper twisted around a pencil's eraser and then glued to a white background. Those of you who have reviewed the list of good flags and bad flags will understand when I say that recreating Maryland's flag in tissue paper and glue ranks as one of the worst artistic experiences of my life. Also, it's still unclear to me how that assignment was of any educational value at all.
I will say that twenty-four years later, I still know a lot about softshell crabs based on that Maryland report!
I like that the flags dinged for having their name on the flag seemed to be rank in order of how damn big the name is; Illinois is rather small, so ranks higher than Montana, or dear god WISCONSIN. (You can see all the US state flags here.)
ReplyDeleteThat said, DC's flag, if I didnt know it was from the Washington family coat of arms, would still just feel like a ripoff of Chicago's excellent flag.
<span>It amazes me that Arizona's flag was adopted in 1917, rather than 1971. It looks like a background cel for Schoolhouse Rock's "Sufferin' Til Sufferage."</span>
ReplyDeleteThank you, JJF. I always thought DC's flag was dreadful, but I'm glad to know there's a reason for it.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how KS and WI aren't at the bottom of this. Those fonts are atrocious.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused. How did Maryland and Arizona end up on the wrong list?
ReplyDeleteI'm always torn as to whether the Isle of Man has the world's best or worst flag. Certainly the freakiest. (Excepting of course, Your Freak Flag.)
ReplyDeleteClearly, it represents the fact that the Isle of Man is GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS WITH ITS THREE-LEGGED ASS-KICKING MACHINE! (See also the seminal article, "Why Our Cats Have No Tails.")
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's because I'm from there, but I agree with the high ranking of Arizona's flag. Simple design with symbolic elements. The sunset is more classic than, say, the cactus/citrus/cow on the seal.
ReplyDelete“The apartment’s flag is a gold lion rampant on a field of azure." http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/18/big-bang-theory-recap-flashback/
ReplyDeleteActually, the fonts change depending who's producing the image and whether you're looking at a digital image or a picture of a real flag (see examples for Wisconsin and Kansas). That said, most of the fonts really are ugly, and I can't believe that the flag's original designers used sans-serif fonts.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in fourth grade, we had to do state reports. I chose Maryland, despite the fact that I had never been there, because I thought it had a pretty name. The format of the report required us to make an artistic rendering of the state's flag, using tiny squares of tissue paper twisted around a pencil's eraser and then glued to a white background. Those of you who have reviewed the list of good flags and bad flags will understand when I say that recreating Maryland's flag in tissue paper and glue ranks as one of the worst artistic experiences of my life. Also, it's still unclear to me how that assignment was of any educational value at all.
ReplyDeleteI will say that twenty-four years later, I still know a lot about softshell crabs based on that Maryland report!
You should come and eat some softshells, Gretchen, they are luscious. But I understand the pain of recreating the flag.
ReplyDelete