The flag of the United States of America has become a relevant, ubiquitous and diversely viewed icon through the history of its country, its role in international politics, economics and culture. Despite the United States’ Flag Code, which specifies how the U.S. flag is to be handled and thus prohibits, among other things, altering its appearance, so-called subdued versions have been developed for the use on military uniforms and vehicles.
These flags deviate from the official flag of the United States, with its seven red and six white horizontal stripes, and a blue canton studded with 50 white stars on the left side, and are color-matched to the particular camouflage pattern on which they are used (see mode).
By using the subdued versions the soldier‘s visibility and exposure are reduced, thus increasing his efficiency.
Furthermore, when the flag is placed on the right side, such as on the upper arm of a U.S. soldier, a mirrored version is used, called the Reverse Field Flag, since the flag code also requires the flag to fly canton first, in the direction of running or travel on its wearer, to avoid the otherwise possible association of a retreat by compositional means.
One can say that the modification of the U.S. flag is for the sake of perceptual and psychological optimization in its environment, which has a higher priority here than the integrity of the icon. The works of the priority series deal with this phenomenon, as well as the diverse consideration of symbols. Their size ratio to each other, was adjusted to their perceived density of information.
Depending on the viewing angle, the impression of the blurred painted flag changes. While the stars are barely visible from the front, a glance from the side reveals clear contours. The depiction of the flag is not definite, but holds several truths.