I thought more about the idea of non-exclusive unification. We have discussed many different cultures and communities existing together in the twin cities. There is a beauty about languages, signifiers, and ethnicity's sharing the greater space of two cities. They overlap, run into eachother, a weaving in and out that form rhythmic surface and structure.There is something to be said about signs that reference the history of Minnesota and the twin cities. But what about a non-exclusive abstract format that anyone can reflect on?
I thought of those old toys that drew patterns, overlapping different colors and the patterns could be similar to each other but different, still existing on the same surface.
These are just some quick ideas that came up with. Regardless how you might view the appearance I believe there is something here. Let me know what you think.
I'm really excited by the idea of an abstract rather than representational flag!!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like there might still have to be something to make it tie to Minnepaolis/St.Paul specifically, but this is a really interesting start!
Well I agree that abstract flag could be cool, I just don't feel a connection to MPLS or STPL. So I don't know if there would be a way to connect this to MPLS and STPL some way but I think in order to connect a bunch of different people to a flag, who live in one city, there should be a simple identifier that people could connect to.
ReplyDeleteI had a thought about this flag prjct and I think there could be a way to really introduce this to the public. With maybe a guerilla ad approach or whatever, but I think that people may not realize what the hell we are doing unless we inform them somehow. So I think that we should take the opportunity to introduce them to there flag.
just thinking out loud!
I agree, Alex. I think that there needs to be some symbol that people can connect with. But I do believe it needs to be a symbol that is encompassing the idea of different people and culture.
ReplyDeleteTed. The idea of color use came into mind. By using the colors that already exist in both flags of each city, there is a connection there. I also think that there could be more to it. I agree there needs to be some signs that each person can relate to.
I agree that you would need to introduce the idea of a flag to the public. That is why anything, abstract or illustrative, flags always have had to be described to the people that it represents.ds
I think, potentially, the form of this flag clouds the intent. I think there is a simpler solution, and when when you think of most great flags, simplicity is key. Perhaps it's as simple as almost a ven diagram, one side repping MPLS, the other repping St. Paul, and you divide the two with a single line representing the river.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get into the notion of diversity represented abstractly — in any sense — it tends to feel weighted by the efforts to either a) cover too much ground or b) be too smart. While communities are, in whole, very rich and diverse places, they are also marked by culturally similar groups breaking off and forming pockets in the whole. You can have obvious examples, like Chinatown in NY, but you can have non-ethnic based natural segregation, like Williamsburg hipsters in Brooklyn. Or even hipsters in NE Minneapolis and but Somali population amongst the Franklin / downtown area.
I wouldn't almost erase the notion of those by flying them under one simple form, representing the whole, not an overlap of all the difference. But that's just my two cents.
God, that comment needed an edit before posting. Sorry for the additional "but" and the first sentence of the last graph, which should read, "I WOULD almost erase the notion of those by flying them under one simple form..."
ReplyDeleteWell said Dylan. I agree. Kick ass!
ReplyDeleteI do it for your love, Dan.
ReplyDelete