Presentation Title
Why is the perception of the Confederate Battle Flag so different in Europe?
Degree Name
Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MA)
Department
Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Location
UW Tacoma Tioga Library
Start Date
17-5-2018 6:00 PM
End Date
17-5-2018 6:05 PM
Abstract
The Confederate Battle Flag disrupts the public sphere in the US, but not in Europe. Recent debates over the Confederate Battle Flag sparked my interest on how its perception has changed over the decades since 1865. In Europe it is still mainly a symbol for rebellion, not a reminder of violation of human rights and slavery. Specifically, in Germany the flag was flown during the “Velvet Revolutions” in the late 1980s (Coski, 2009). These rebellions eventually led to political changes and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Using Critical Theory (Sim & Van Loon, 2001), I explore the reasons behind that difference in awareness of its representation. I am comparing popular culture like movies, fashion and music that uses the image of the Confederate Battle Flag in the United States and Germany. Researching the educational system in both countries to distinguish how differently the era of the American Civil War is taught in schools here and abroad suggests that there is a strong relationship between how the Confederate flag is appropriated in popular culture and the educational systems of the U.S. and Germany. It is important to understand how a person’s upbringing can shape their reality. I will also briefly discuss other European countries like Ireland, Russia and Italy to show how these nations have their own unique understanding of what the Confederate Battle Flag represents.
COinS
Why is the perception of the Confederate Battle Flag so different in Europe?
UW Tacoma Tioga Library
The Confederate Battle Flag disrupts the public sphere in the US, but not in Europe. Recent debates over the Confederate Battle Flag sparked my interest on how its perception has changed over the decades since 1865. In Europe it is still mainly a symbol for rebellion, not a reminder of violation of human rights and slavery. Specifically, in Germany the flag was flown during the “Velvet Revolutions” in the late 1980s (Coski, 2009). These rebellions eventually led to political changes and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Using Critical Theory (Sim & Van Loon, 2001), I explore the reasons behind that difference in awareness of its representation. I am comparing popular culture like movies, fashion and music that uses the image of the Confederate Battle Flag in the United States and Germany. Researching the educational system in both countries to distinguish how differently the era of the American Civil War is taught in schools here and abroad suggests that there is a strong relationship between how the Confederate flag is appropriated in popular culture and the educational systems of the U.S. and Germany. It is important to understand how a person’s upbringing can shape their reality. I will also briefly discuss other European countries like Ireland, Russia and Italy to show how these nations have their own unique understanding of what the Confederate Battle Flag represents.