Diary of a Wimpy Kid Flags and vexillology

PE Teacher with school patch
Home of the Westmore Middle School Hornets

Diary of Wimpy Kid was written Jeff Kinney. This is an immensely popular children's book series that nearly every American Kid has come into contact with. It's kind of like Dilbert in Middle-Elementary School? Part confessional, part chicken soup, and part humor. 9 out of 10 kids agree it's good and can relate to the social challenges presented by Mr. Kinney.

Running with the flag during a game of Gladiator

Wimpy Kid concerns itself with that magical period just before young adulthood - those twisted teenage years. The joy of childhood reaches its peak just before puberty. Biologically teens are adults but mentally - they need a lot more cooking in today's modern society.

Here the younger boys are dominated by the older kids during a game of Gladiator.



Halloween Costume with Safety Pennant Flag

Although the flag may seem out of place, knights from the middle ages often carried lance pennons. The flag stick is not safety device but lance pennon. In either case they serve to protect and identify the person carrying it!





Animated Version of Halloween Adventures
It's not a safety flag - it's a lance pennon!

Back to the Future Flags - Part XI, other non traditional US flags

Calvary Guidon in Back to the Future III - 1885

In Back to the Future III, Marty travels back to 1885 in order to save Dr. Emmit Brown from his tragic end. Upon returning Marty happens to jump back in the middle of a US Calvary and Native American Chase. The US soldiers carry a specific type of military swallow tailed flag - known as a guidon - that originates from a heraldic battle standard.

Back to the Future II - 2015

In Back to the Future II - Marty travels into the future to save his son from making a big mistake in Cafe 80s. There is a US flag sticker or print on the the wall that you can barely see. It is behind the television, but you can see the US flag in the holes of the auto-television servers. The pop star on the television is supposed to be Michael Jackson.

Pink! - Alecia Beth Moore

In this alternate 2015 Hill Valley where George McFly is a science fiction writer, the world has changed and robotic tele-servers were created in the mid 1990s as well as hover technology. We exist in the Hill Valley were George McFly never became a science fiction writer and subsequently never inspired others.

Also in this alternate 2015 future our musical pop star artist 'PINK!' does not pursue a musical career. Instead she moves out to California in Hill Valley to become a famous movie star in 2017. The weird thing is that pop star Pink! is sitting at the counter looking at another classical American pop star - MJ - who is also still alive in this alternate happy technology inspired future by George McFly.

Nancy Reagan with an American Flag Dress

Cafe 80s - 2015

Also in Cafe 80s there is a cut out of Ronald and Nancy Reagan dancing on the wall. Mrs. Reagan is wearing a dress made out of an American Flag. This is so appropriate since the 80s were Reagan's decade. He was elected in 1980 and was in office until 1989. Because of medical advances inspired by George McFly and stem cell research - Ronnie and Nancy are alive and well in this alternate happy techno future. In this timeline Ron and Nancy can still do the Fox Trot - Ronnie is 104 and Nancy is 94.

You don't see too many flat screen TV is Back to the Future II because it's Cafe 80s and they wanted give it a real 80s feel. Besides in this alternate 2015, society tends to recycle TVs instead of throwing them away.
 Link to Part XII

Link to Part I

Two and a Half Men - Alan's Welcome Home Nightmare Banner

Welcome Home Banner

In the immensely popular television series Two and a Half Men the character Alan Harper is a loveable neurotic off beat dad whose own worst enemy is himself. In one episode the stress of life even permeates his dreamworld.

In his dream-nightmare sequence Alan is forced to live in his storage unit. Hanging in the entrance way is a welcome banner. It reads 'WELCOME HOME ALAN.' The colours are green, yellow, and orange.

Back to the Future Flags - Part X, The California State Flag

Back to the Future III - 1990
California Flag Flying Alone

In the Back to the Future trilogy the California State flag makes an appearance in all three movies. In Part 3 the modern version of the California State flag can been seen outside of the bar when Buford Mad Dog Tannen calls out 'Clint Eastwood' for a gun fight. The flag is flying in the upper right corner.

The appearace of a modern California State flag in 1885 is highly unlikely but not impossible, since the modern flag was adopted in 1911. It's interesting to note that the flag with the original Bear Flag is also flying in the movie.

Back to the Future II - 1989
California Flag is never alone

In Part 2 the California Flag never appears alone but always side by side with the US flag. You can see a mini California flag on Principal Skinners desk in between the US flag and school trophy.


Back to the Future 1985
California Flag Alone in Hill Valley

By far the best shot of the California State flag flying alone in Hill Valley. You can see the white shoes and skate board of Marty McFly under the tree branches on the left. The California State flag is barley visible. It is flying from a pole on Bank of America above the Hill Valley welcome sign.



Link to Part XI - Back to the Future Flags

Link to Part I

 

Back to the Future Flag - Part IX, Biff's Butthead Cane

Biff Hitting Marty with his Golden Fist Cane

In Back to the Future Part II we travel to 2015 and see an elderly Biff harass Marty McFly. In this episode the cause of trouble starts with Marty. In a way Biff is less not the guilty party, rather Marty can only blame himself for the sequence of negative consequences.

Subsequently Marty must face the music of his own making, that leads him and Doc into a nightmare universe, that must be fixed.

Biff holding his Vexi-Cane

Biff's cane has a golden fist for its finial. The handle is has a shimmering black coating.

Although vexillology mostly concerns itself with flags and fabrics, a pole with a decorative icon or totem falls under the general term of vexillology. The Egyptians were famous for using such objects.




 Link to Part X - Back to the Future Flags

Link to Part I

Back to the Future Flags - Part VIII, Banners of Hill Valley

Hill Valley 1955 Essex Theater
Air Conditioned Banner

In 1955 the Essex theater proudly touts that it is "AIR CONDITIONED." This is a marvelous technology that is often taken for granted in the modern world.

The banner is written white with a blue background. The letters are topped with snow to show that its cool inside.

Hill Valley Essex Theater 1985
"NEW SHOW EVERY THUR & TRY OUR DAILY DOUBLE"

In 1985 the Essex theater lives up to its name in more ways than one.

In the original 1985 banners of the Essex theater tout a new DNA exchange art festival every Thursday and promotes a daily double. The sign has been slightly altered to read 'Org American Style' for the wee ones.


Hill Valley Court House Mall Banners

In 2015 the Court House Mall has zip zap early nineties art banners. The colours are rather unconventional - grey, sea green, and red. Apparently there was a retro art exposition going on at the Mall in 2015?

You can see the hands of Biff's Gang smashing though the windows after their aborted attempt to bully Marty McFly.

Hill Valley 1885
Gold Bunting behind the Mayor

By fateful chance Marty and Doc end up in 1885 and witness the opening ceremony-festival for the start of the clock tower.

On stage is the Mayor of Hill Valley in 1885. He is standing behind a certain type of vexilloid - the golden bunting - fan shaped 'curtains' that are more often decorative than symbolic.



Fireworks go off with the official start of the Clock Tower

Here Marty and Doc witness spectacular first minute of the clock tower. Below the fireworks on top of the wooden scaffolding are decorative 'flags' known as bunting.

The bunting on the clock tower is fan shaped and from the outside it is red, white, and blue. The people are crowded around a flag pole with the US and California State Flag. And just in the upper frame you can see the bottom stripes of other American Flags, that fringe the shot.

Red Bunting with ZZ Top

Finally ZZ Top plays music on stage, surrounded by red bunting.











 Link to Part IX - Back to the Future Flags

Link to Part I

Veteran's Day