The American Flag as a Cultural Symbol
Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and American Culture, University of Michigan
Ekene Ijeoma, Assistant Professor, Media Arts and Sciences and Director of Poetic Justice at MIT Media Lab
Marc Leepson, Journalist, historian, and author
Moderated by Kevin Lindsey, Minnesota Humanities Center
This panel discusses contemporary cultural responses to the American flag, as well as its musical counterpart the National Anthem, including artistic and historical perspectives. Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and American Culture at the University of Michigan, researches music-making in the U.S. with a special focus on “The Star Spangled Banner.” Ekene Ijeoma, artist, Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT and Director of Poetic Justice at MIT Media Lab, brings his musical and installation projects including Deconstructed Anthems into the discussion. Marc Leepson is a historian, journalist, and the author of Flag: An American Biography. In this panel discussion, they consider the emblems of U.S. patriotism and the role they play in defining national identity and staking out political ideologies. Long a symbol of devotion and of hatred, the United States flag—and the anthem that pays tribute to it—serves as a touchstone to reflect on American identity and the current moment.
Please note: you will receive an automatic email reminder one day and one hour prior to the event which will include the Zoom link and instructions for those who wish to attend in person.
The University of Minnesota Spotlight Series is a collaborative partnership between the University Honors Program, Institute for Advanced Study, and Northrop, to present lectures, panel discussions, exhibits, and other events throughout the academic year around timely topics of interest. The six-part 2021-22 series, hosted in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, focuses on patriotism, public service, and civic engagement. The moderator for all six events will be Kevin Lindsey, CEO of Minnesota Humanities Center. All events are Thursdays 3:30-5:00 pm and may be attended in Northrop’s Best Buy Theater or online via Zoom. Q&A sessions will follow each event.
