The Sexual Symbolism of the American Flag

Myers, L. (1971). The Sexual Symbolism of the American Flag [Print]. Avant Garde, Summer, 1971, Volume 14.

Here, a man exposes his chest—on which the American flag is painted. The woman he exposes himself to then reveals her own chest—breasts with a peace sign painted on either one. Flag-man appears frustrated and offended by this display— a very different expression than that of when he was pulling up his own shirt. This graphic holds lots of interpretive potential. One could read these figures as allegories for their respective symbols, the man as America and the woman as peace. If read this way, the implication is that America is offended by peace. One could also read it from a more gendered perspective. It is considered more provocative for a woman to expose her chest than it is for a man. If taken in this direction, it could be implied that peace is a provocative concept, either provocative in general or to America and/or Americans. This provocative graphic would be justified or unjustified when solely looking at the graphic. However, considering it in the wider context of inclusion within progressive AvantGarde magazine— we can probably say that it is drawing attention to the hypocrisy of the situation rather than justifying it. We can also safely say that this graphic is not supporting but rather criticizing America’s disdain for peace.