Vexilloids in the Outsiders 1983

The Outsiders 1983 is one of the rare instances where the transition from fiction to film is successful.  The genesis of this movie was inspired by a librarian - Jo Ellen Misakian at Lone Star Elementary School in Fresno, California.  In 1980 she wrote to Francis Coppola to turn the book into film.  Amazingly Coppola followed her recommendation. 

As it was in the 1950s, 1980s and will be in the 2020s youth are often confronted with an economic social caste system of culture and labels. As they adapt to 'modern' culture they often create their own counter culture to deal with it.  The 1950s Greaser is the grandaddy of all subsequent anti-establishment youth movement counterbeats before the Goth, Emo, Skater, Punk Rocker, Metal Head, Slim Shady, Hoodie, and Trenchcoat Mafia cliques. 

The emblem of DX gasoline was originally an independent company that operated out of Oklahoma but merged with Sunoco in 1968.  Here Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise work as gas station attendants. 

The film stars an ensemble of actors who became a would be male version of the Pleadies upon the imaginations of the world as it starred Tom Cruise, Emillio Esteves, Ralph Machio, Mat Dillion, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, and Christopher Howell.






No flags of note appear in this film but several vexilloid related items made a cameo.  Namely the high school letter-man jacket of livery and unintended streamers of disuse and mischief.

 

 Two high school letter-man jackets appear, during the concession at the drive-in and at the rumble between the Greasers and Socs.  The colours - or livery-  of the 'Socs' at the drive-in is green and white.

The livery of the Alpha Soc before the rumble is blue and yellow.  Although lead Greaser Darryl used to play football with his football buddy, the rift in culture and socioeconomic status is wide.  







Ponyboy and Johnny take refuge at a playground, what seems to be the worn ends of a volleyball net sway from a pole like a streamer.  This is a vexilloid-streamer of accidental-natural genesis.  But like any other flag or vexilloid it conveys a message.   In this case it signals 'neglect' or 'disrepair.' Likewise Ponyboy and Johnny are boys who are neglected by their parents.

Finally when Ponyboy and Johnny are on the monkey bars a lone streamer of toilet paper can be seen hanging from a tree branch.  TP on tree is a vexilloid-streamer created out of vandalism, humor, or as a silly prank. 

Ren and Stimpy with the American Flag

 Before the talking yellows sponge and wacky crab cake burgers, there was Ren and Stimpy.  Wacky doodle chuckles from the 1990s that recycled art from nearly every decade of the 1900s.  Wacky bulb noses from the 1930s, recycled and charmed art from the 1950s.  Ren and Stimpy became an iconic animated duo during the 1990s decade.

Ren and Stimpy go against the grain as best befriended friends of a cat and a dog.  The cat has the big blue nose while the dog has the long floppy ears.


The American Flag makes several appearances in the show.  On of the best examples is the 'banned' episode with Mr. Liquor who had pet fish that smoked.  A unique 35 starred flag with ten stripes is featured in this episode.

The red and white US stripes are also seen in the background when our amazing duo explore the outer reaches of space in zap nackered original parodies of Star Trek and other 1950s sci-fi.


In one introductory sequence they can be seen saluting the American Flag Planet, whose geography has been altered to look like a US Flag, or perhaps the planet has been covered with the a really really really really really large flag.

New Jersey and the New York State Flag with the Christmas Spirit - December 25, 2012

NEW YORK FLAG - NORTH POLARIZED

 Joy to the World and a Merry Merry Christmas to all.  New Jersey and New York were chosen as this years Winter Holiday X-Mas Spirit Cards.

Every year since 2007 I have chosen two state flags that align as 'providence partners.'  This 'providence partner' idea is revolutionary. A pattern emerges when the state flags are put in a certain order that seems too surreal to be true.  Is all a big coincidence, or rather an arrangement of fate? 

The flag of New York has been 'North Polarized' with the spirit of an American Christmas.  The Goddess Liberty is holding a large candy cane instead of a liberty pole.  Likewise the Goddess Justice has her sword replaced with a red candle and instead of a balance holds two Christmas Bells in her left hand.  Justice is nearly blinded by the Santa Hat, except for the wee corner of her right eye.

A slight colour adjustment to Liberties blue dress is made green, in honor of the festivities. Likewise the heraldic wreath, more commonly known as a  head band that holds the earth is changed to the traditional Christmas colours of red and green.  The Earth too has rotated on its axis to show the Indian Ocean and most of Asia, since many of the great religions and philosophies all originate from this continent.  East Africa, India, Russia, the Western Asia, China, and the west coast of Australia are visible on this globe.  Instead of an American Eagle, a white peace dove with holly in its mouth flies at the crest.

Night has replaced day upon the shield of arms.  It is the same view on the regular New York State Flag but snow is covering the ground and you can see Santa and his reindeer flying over the moon.  Finally the motto "JOY TO THE WORLD" is along the bottom in the honor of the Christmas Spirit.


NEW JERSEY FLAG - CHRISTMAFIED

Coincidentally the Goddess of Liberty makes an appearance on the flag of New Jersey on the same side.  However the flag of New Jersey is the more traditional world wide view of the Christmas Spirit with a keen focus on the Nativity.  The Goddess Liberty is made into an angel and her 'freedom pole' is replaced with a biblical Shepard's crook.  The Goddess Ceres is playing a brass horn instead of holding her traditional horn of plenty.

Along the shield are three Kings or Magi who came to visit the baby Jesus in Israel, which replaces the three plows on the official New Jersey Flag.  Although the Magi have different coloured clothes they match in design except for the crowns.  The heraldic helmet with mantling is missing and now the mantleing acts as a stage window into the iconic Nativity Scene of Mary in red, Joseph in green in a manger overlooking the birth of Jesus.  Above the manger is the star of Bethlehem that is shinning brighter than any other star.

A lamb has replaced the regular horse head of the Jersey Flag as a symbol and metaphor for Christ. The wording upon the compartment scroll has changed to reflect the angels celebration of 'FAITH' and 'JOY.'    Finally the infinity symbol has replaced 1776 to reflect the timelessness of this magical moment in human history.

For Comparison of Official and Christmas Versions

New Jersey & New York