We are taught to stand for the flag — but what, exactly, does the flag stand for? In this course, we’ll take a long look at the Star-Spangled Banner as a case study in symbolism, nationalism, and the powers (and perils) of collective attention.

We’ll begin by reviewing the history of flags as a social, political, and military technology. Then we’ll zero in on the origins of the red, white, and blue. Through close readings and practices of sustained attention, we’ll explore how the flag has been imagined and reimagined to assert different visions of the United States over time. Is the Star-Spangled Banner a symbol of imperialism or liberation? Is it a tool of war, or a promise of peace? Who gets to decide what the flag represents? 

From Betsy Ross to Beyonce, and from Jasper Johns to Kendrick Lamar, we’ll trace the changing face of “our” flag as a collective inquiry into what, exactly, America can mean.

Led by Peter Schmidt, a writer and facilitator from Missouri.