VCD about NZ's Flag Change

Finding posters (as opposed to cartoons) about the flag change was very difficult. I've found an old New Zealand tourism poster which, if the context is altered to be about the changing of flags, could potentially be useful.

From: http://www.nzedge.com/149-the-new-zealand-dream/

I did find a poster about the changing of the Australian flag (they are in a somewhat similar situation)

From: http://eveningreport.nz/2015/06/28/second-drafts-of-history-time-to-choose-a-flag/
and this pdf: http://www.robertlpeters.com/news/images/RLP_CA_OzArticle.pdf


Here's a poster that uses the American flag in two ways, by Jason Munn:

From: http://jasonmunn.com/collections/archive/products/the-national-1

Cartoons about NZ's Flag Change

Cartoons are often satirical and sarcastic looks on current events. Looking at the snarky, mocking style of newspaper cartoons regarding the flag issue may be helpful to refer to as I draw up my parody/pastiche thumbnail poster designs.

Cartoons retrieved from: http://www.nzflag.com/gallery.cfm

Pak'n'Save mocks the ridiculous designs:

As does American show host John Oliver:

From: https://pinoria.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/watch-john-oliver-offer-some-ideas-for-new-zealands-new-flag/

Cartoon suggesting the change of anthem to coincide with the flag change:

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/blog-on-the-tracks/9757057/New-Flag-New-Anthem

Cartoons retrieved from: http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2014/01/cartoons-about-changing-new-zealands-flag.html

Research + Topic: Against Changing the Flag

The topic that resonates the most with me is around the changing of the New Zealand flag, how that will impact our identity, and all of the issues surrounding that.
I have chosen to take a negative stance for the changing the flag in my poster designs.

The research that I have done and the debate in class have helped to convince me of this position.


Research:

Word list of what New Zealanders consider is important to them regarding a flag

From: https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/what-new-zealand-stands-for

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Opponents to change argue that:

• The national flag has "stood the test of time".^[13] Some New Zealanders feel attached to the flag as it has been part of the country's history; these events are what give the flag its symbolic and emotional value rather than the instrinsic design itself.^[9][14] For example, all poll results from 2014 show that a large majority of the public are opposed to changing the flag or at least do not see it as a pressing issue (see section below).
• The Union Jack in the flag represents New Zealand's strong past and present ties to the United Kingdom^[15] and its history as a part of the British Empire, and theSouthern Cross represents its location in the South Pacific.^[9][16]
• Proposals focus too much on Māori and Pacific designs when most of New Zealand's heritage, culture, linguistic background and political institutions are British derived.^[14]
• Generations of New Zealanders have fought and died under it during many battles.^[5] Changing the flag would thus be disrespectful to their efforts and sacrifice. Note that the first time the Flag of New Zealand was flown in battle was from the HMS Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate in 1939.^[17] However, New Zealand flags were flown in World War I, such as the Quinn's Post New Zealand flag, flown during the Gallipoli campaign.^[18] Rhys Jones, former chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, noted that the flag has already been changed during New Zealand's history, and a salient legacy of the Gallipoli campaign was discussion of the nation's independent identity.

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_flag_debate

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A flag needs to be instantly recognisable

Test after test shows that the current New Zealand flag is immediately confused with flags of other countries, especially Australia. In many instances, a flag is used in an international context. There is no question that the Silver Fern is the most recognised symbol of New Zealand. For over a century the Silver Fern has been the emblem of our sports men and women. The Silver Fern is used extensively as a symbol by Government, tourism, trade organisations and commercial brands. The Silver Fern says "New Zealand".

This website is all for changing the flag, but I could play with 'instantly recognisable' in my anti-change designs somehow...

From: http://www.nzflag.com/whychange.cfm

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Flag design idea by Dick Frizzell

Flag design idea by Frizzell's son, Otis.

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/10481008/Waving-flag-for-debate

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The flag design gallery at https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/

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A 2005 proposal by Cameron Sanders

Various popular new flag designs:

http://gizmodo.com/9-designs-that-could-finally-replace-new-zealands-contr-1703954168

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From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68851727/Silver-fern-prominent-in-popular-New-Zealand-flag-options

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From: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/calls-new-flag

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Silly flag designs that have a small chance of being our national flag

From: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11449883

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Almost 80 per cent believed the first referendum in December should ask if the flag should change rather than waiting to pit the current flag against an alternative in a second referendum next March. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 per cent.

From: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11441353

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From: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11456858

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Design that won a flag-design competition, by Denise Fung

From: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11471215

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"New Zealand is the only country whose national colour is black, and every other country recognizes this."

From: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11477011

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Exercise: Word and Concept Lists

Changing the flag

Concepts/Ideas

Tangible signs: 

Flag as a material object

 - Union Jack / Southern Cross

Silver fern, koru, kiwi, stripes

Colours - red white and blue, black, silver, yellow, green

Situated - flagpoles, diplomatic vehicles, international sports teams and crowd

All ID - licences, passports

Uniforms - sporting and military, embassies

Flag in specialist positions (eg. half mast for grief)

Tourist packaging etc.

Intangible / Signified Meanings:

History, identity, colonial history - British Empire, Commonwealth

Diversity, indigeneity , indigenous origins

Contemporary, current

Brand/marketing, community

Pride, patriotism, national identity, nationalism, future

Recognition, international identity, unification, collectivity

Cultural diversity, N.Z. specificity

Rhetorical devices (to persuade towards one view or another)

Against change - 

waste of money

loss of history - ripping up the flag

symbol of national sacrifice  - we fought for it, dying for your country, funeral of our identity, crosses, burial grounds, poppies, soldiers

For change - 

fresh start

uniting a nation - we’re all together

a bright future - light = forward looking and uplifting imagery

cultural diversity - melting pot, rainbow nation

Public vs Private Schooling

Concepts/Ideas:

Tangible signs:

Logos

Uniforms - mufti vs blazers & ties

Colours

Zones - pay in from anywhere vs the right suburb

Class sizes - small vs big

Location

Money - parents pay vs government pays

School communities 

Sports teams - funded vs fundraising

Intangible / Signified meanings:

History, special character of the school, founders & principles

Values and traditions, school mottos and beliefs

Achievements, status

Diversity

Student experiences - more expensive vs cheaper school trips

Rhetorical devices (to persuade towards one view or another)

Private -

Smaller amount of students

Stronger future

Safe environment

Public - 

More diverse environment

Freedom of choice

Homework: Find Ihi Wehi posters

One:

From: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/improve-social-media-ads-using-brain-science/

Ihi - Shows it's made from real tomatoes, bright red tomato coloured image, combining the tomato with the sauce bottle is a form of subversion.
Wehi - humorous because combining a sauce bottle and tomatoes is unusual


Two:

From: http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/beautiful-natural-history-museum-posters#.dtOznPQx5

Ihi - combines three completely different images from the Natural History Museum to create a new specimen. Use of juxtaposition of images. It shows that they have a huge selection of specimens.

Wehi - The combination of the three very different elements to make a new creature is engaging, interesting and humorous. It makes the audience interested in attending the exhibition.

Three:

From: https://www.behance.net/gallery/Plastic-bag-use-is-a-capital-offense/2992629

Ihi - Combines a photograph of a plastic shopping bag and a drawing of a woman to illustrate the phrase "Plastic bag use is a capital offence". Again this is an example of subversion, as the photograph has been manipulated to be the dress of the woman with her hands up, being arrested for using a plastic bag.

Wehi - This unusual use of a plastic bag, and it's integration into the drawing, makes it interesting to look at. It feels like this crime is as bad as any other offence, and you'll get in trouble for it, but it's humorous too, which stops it from being too serious and worrying.

History and Identity debate

We are arguing that the New Zealand flag should remain unchanged, as there are many good reasons why our current flag is both relevant and relatable.

In both the First and Second World Wars, the New Zealand ANZACs fought under the national flag, and posters used it to stir up national pride and patriotism in support of our soldiers. Consequently, many of the older generations, especially the war veterans, identify with it - it reminds them of an important time in New Zealand’s history.

Other important moments in New Zealand’s history are also connected to the current flag. It is carried by Olympic champions and represents us internationally as a well, known, differentiating emblem. Changing the flag will cause many issues, primarily that the world will have to re-learn the symbol, and potentially also the colours, that they associate with our nation. Atlases will need to be updated and uniforms redesigned. Without a history behind it, a new flag will be impersonal and carry no impact or weight.

This change in flag would impact how the world sees New Zealand as a country - essentially, it’s a branding of the nation as something new and different. Turning New Zealand into a brand may be useful for tourism purposes, but it’s not the right way to promote a country.

Apparently, even if we change our current flag, the flags for the defence forces will remain as they are - that is, the current flag but instead of a navy blue background, they have red or white. This will mean that the original flag will still be used internationally in important military events, so this new flag is mostly about changing how we as New Zealanders portray ourselves. Other countries in the past have changed their flags, but globally no-one really notices. 

A new flag will affect our future history as well. In a few generations, young people may no longer recognise and associate with the old flag, and understanding of it’s significance to our people will be lost.


Research links:
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/flags-of-new-zealand/maritime-origins
http://www.nzflag.com/history.cfm
http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/new-zealand-flag.html

Exercise: Ihi Wehi in the environment

We looked at a selection of posters that displayed the Ihi and Wehi components to create an impactful message between themselves and the audience.

As Group 1, we looked at image set A.

One - 

Ihi - dominance, trapped in a corner, oppression, power, feels like there is no escape for the boy, scale. Use of juxtaposition, using scale as a key strategy. Highlighting a new hazard of motorbiking in the 1930s.

Wehi - you feel helpless and anxious for the child who appears to be in danger.

Two - 

Ihi - Humour, pop-arty, childish colours, they go together - they need each other. Children’s dental hygiene campaign? Personification of inanimate objects to help us form relationships and personalities between them, hugging. 

Wehi - friendly and happy (making your toothbrush happy by reuniting them), makes toothbrushing friendly.

Three- 

Ihi - How the government has rights over everything - they have the power over individuals and their rights, about abortion, and how the government needs to approve consent for a woman to “remove a substance from this area” (her womb). Accompanied by the words “Preserve the rights (of women)”. Juxtaposition of the sign over the woman gives it a different meaning than usual - subversion.

Wehi - The sign makes me feel uneasy, it shows power and authority. 

Four - 

Ihi - The liquid (alcohol) literally distorts the face of the person, he is trapped inside the restraints of the glass, and therefore in his alcohol addiction. “When alcohol distorts reality… Librium - an important aid in the treatment of alcoholism”. He has a thinking face on - is he contemplating a change for the better? Think before drinking. Inside the liquid of the glass, he doesn’t look human anymore. Juxtapostion of the glass over the man is combined by words about alcohol distorting reality to create a new meaning to his distortion.

Wehi - Sobering, depressing poster. Makes us think about the effect that it has, like the man inside the glass is.

Five - 

Ihi - monochromatic, formal, Parody (but respectful). Advertising a Piano Concert but also Commemorating the Twin Towers/World Trade Centre which is shown in the two black piano keys, that represent the towers (they are the same shape). Comparing the piano keys to the towers (juxtaposition?) but only showing the keys. Looking at something normal (keyboard) in a new way to mean something else - subversion.

Wehi - Respectful, contemplative, reflective.