vexillology

flags are pretty cool. i've always known a good flag when i see it. i am a fan of the scandinavian flags, for the bold colors and simple and similar lines (and, lets be honest, for their prominence in my life as an ethnically scnadinavian american from minnesota and wisconsin, where the scandinavian flags fly in abundance). i really like the madison city flag, which is hanging in front of my house in the orange glow of the porch light right now. and the american stars and stripes, to which i pledged allegiance every school day morning for years? yep, it's a good flag.

what i didn't know was that there is a whole world of flag study (vexillology) and flag thought. i saw this TED talk recently, and i think you should watch it, too. it is worthy of your spare 18 minutes. particularly if you're from milwaukee.




so, after you've watched that, behold the madison flag:

and notice that it follows the rules. look at that central image, so nicely capturing the orientation of the capitol building with a dome as it lies on the diagonal isthmus. the strip of white is the isthmus, running between two blue lakes. so much is communicated with so few lines and colors. well done, favorite city. well done.