US Flag in Duran Duran's Music Video - Rio 1982

In the upper left corner is the flag of the USA on the yacht with the blue cover

 As the eyes of the world are forced to turn their attention to Rio, Brazil for the 2016 Olympics, it only makes sense to talk about Duran Duran's 1982 smash hit Rio.  No doubt Duran Duran will do a remake of the song, or maybe a hip hop artist will sample bits here and there for a R&B Rio remix dance number?  If they don't do this, they really miss the boat. No better yet, have Tay Sway and her gang sing Rio? Or maybe a grunge Pearl Jam version of Rio.  No doubt radio will play up this number.

A similar thing happened to Prince when the year 1999 came around with his 1999 song that aired in 1982, along with Rio.

Barely noticeable is the US flag on the yacht in the background.  Two other flags can be seen on the main mast of the Rio sailing ship in the background.










 

Livery of Michael Jackson's School in Thriller 1982

Interest in zombies waxes and wanes, currently it is in a sustained full bloom.  By the year 2022, the zombie thrill is sure to enter another waning phase.  But back in 1982, Michael Jackson made this ugly-yet lovable play with the afterlife a key note in his legacy.

Thriller 1982 was an epic video for its time, as its production value cracked the glass ceiling.  But a meeting of art, music, and video put this song and video in the charmed class of Some Where Over the Rainbow epics. 
 

 Of vexillological note the livery of Jackson's fictional school can be seen.  It is red and gold.  The name of the school obviously begins with an M.  But we never hear its name.  Who knows?


Also the Thriller Marquee is a strange triple edged device that playfully refers to a movie, video, and song.

US Flag in Land of Confusion Video by Genesis 1986

The US flag makes an appearance in the video Land of Confusion 1986 by Genesis.  When a dinosaur makes President Regan sit in a chair and watch TV, various channels are flipped through.  During the shot of President Nixon with Checkers, the US flag can be seen being raised.

This video captures the feels of the 1980s in a nutshell.  So much would change and so many of the puppet people are now faded into the mist.  Still, a classic video.

Clayton, New Jersey Township Seal...Too Religious?

Something of a small issue has arisen on the township seal of Clayton, New Jersey.  It has been accused of being too religious due to the motto including the words "pray" and a Church.  But this controversy really is moot.  Imagine if your local of state seal featured Pagan Gods?  Like Zeus, Pan, or Osiris?  Well...the New Jersey state seal and state flag feature Pagan Goddesses: the Goddess Ceres and Goddess Libertas.

Also the state seal and flag of Louisiana features the heraldic Pelican of Christ.  The flag and seal of Utah features a Mormon symbol - the beehive.  Finally the flag of Hawaii features the crosses of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick!  Like it or not Christianity is ingrained in American Culture at the very roots.  Even the Liberty Bell quotes from the "Original Testament, Leviticus 25:10."

The Lucky Leaf Banner and Badge from Malcolm in the Middle Television Show

Lucky Aide is the fictional supermarket where Lois works in the television show Malcolm in the Middle.  The colours of this corporation are light green, white, and dark green.  It features a four leaf clover. 

Lois played by Jane Kaczmarek is the no nonsense mom rearing four boys in this television show that was a touchstone television series for the Mighty Ohz, which spans the years from 2000 until 2009. But this show ran from 2000 until 2006.

Malcom in the Middle and the US flag

During the Mighty 00s, one of the keynote defining television shows of this decade was Malcolm in the Middle that aired on the Fox network.  When cell phones were as prevalent as cord phones, this sitcom aired from 2000 until 2006.  The first time the flag of the USA appears is in the second episode, when Francis is at military school in Alabama.

US Flag in Cool Hand Luke - 1967

The US flag appears in the film Cool Hand Luke 1967.  Starring Paul Newman, Cool Hand Luke is a classic film made during the Anglo-Saxon Cultural Revolution: when the roles of women and minorities shifted all across the world from England, Africa, Australia, and even in the United States.

The hero of this epic film is a criminal.  Rather than dutifully serve his punishment, the film makes the audience root for the criminal, Luke with the Cool Hands.  But this movie is more than just a film about punishment and crime.  It addresses the social issues and the meaning of life.  In many ways it was the forerunner to One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1975.

The most unique vexilloloid to appear in Cool Hand Luke is the chain-gang "Slow Down Men At Work" sign.  It is composed of red fabric with white letters.

Here is the vexilloid, cautioning drivers to slow down as men are working by the side of the road.