Trying to make sense of all the ideas about the fleur de lis that are running wild in my head. With the sources and sightings I am attempting to take a closer look at the meaning behind the fleur de lis image and move towards applying them into possible arguments, here is what I have come up with-
Argument
Is there a connection between the uses of the fleur de lis image?
What may have begun as an image denoting positions of prestige has been integrated into everyday use among the not so ordinary common people.
The widespread uses of the fleur de lis
A) Kings of France/England
B) America
Louisiana-Mardi Gras
George Washington's Inaugural Ball Silk Sash
Common place use of Kingly/Queenly imagery-
Idea of every man/women being a queen
Heraldry- how images represent many people
Coinage- people’s recognition of the fleur de lis as representing France but the image was used by people in a practical way just as well as the image is used today in various contexts.
-Burger King “There’s a new king in town”
- Epics to picture books (Fancy Nancy/Mary Engelbreit “it’s good to be queen”)
-Clothing from robes to: t-shirts, pants, sweaters, accessories worn by several
-Academic – sighting writing tools –you do not have to be royal to think or write
-De Loach- wine of world-class wine with the fleur de lis image on each bottle widespread availability-connection to the consumption of wine with nobility-
-Andy Warhol
“What’s great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coke, Liz Taylor drinks Coke, and just think, you can drink Coke, too. A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it.”
From his 1975 book, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, observations on the American perception of Coke.
Symbolism
Lily- An image chosen from a flower- accessible to all becomes regal through its stylization and association 3 petals, association with divinity and divine right to rule
Scout Emblem/folklore- Compass-guide (in reference to leadership/kings) Knowledge, light, truth, eagle
Misty,
ReplyDeleteI think that your question, "Is there a connection?" is probably the way to go. To make it stronger, ask "is there a single connection" or thread connecting all these meanings, or is there not and the meanings merely overlap? You will want, at some point, to tackle the fundamental question of what a symbol _is_ and what a symbol is _for_ so that you can put your specific research findings on the fleur-de-lis into a broad theoretical perspective.
Misty, I like this very much:
ReplyDeleteIs there a connection between the uses of the fleur de lis image?
What may have begun as an image denoting positions of prestige has been integrated into everyday use among the not so ordinary common people.
I enjoyed our conversation the other day, enjoyed watching you put things together, and this is good proof of progress. the Andy Warhol quote is perfect!
Mark's idea about what a symbol is ought to be helpful too.
Keep up the good work.