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Symbols, Flags and the Symbolic Landscape in Northern Ireland
Dominic BryanInstitute of Irish Studies
Queen’s University Belfast
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The Symbolic Landscape
The ‘symbolic landscape’ – how people narrate meaning and identity in their physical world (planning of spaces, building, symbols, memories, memorials, parades, protests, carnivals etc etc).
The symbolic landscape as a reflection of power and identify.
The Development of Public Space
• The development of public (civic) space – religion, politics, identity.
• Democratic Principles – Freedom of Expression/Freedom of Assembly/Freedom from harassment
• The power to control civic space (class, age, gender, ethnicity).
• Contestation in the public space –private v commons; norms and values; ‘public order’; violence, threat, harassment…
• Contestation of public space and divisions within society.
• Manifesting power in the public space.
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How Symbols Work
• the meaning of symbols is not fixed;
• meaning depends upon context;
• symbols have a range of meanings;
• different people will read the same symbol in a different way;
• the psychological drives for the display of symbols might vary;
• Symbols help community formation;
• power dictates strategies followed;
• new symbols can be used to in new situations;
• political actors have a number of strategies when using symbols.
Symbolic Conflict:
• InventedAll symbols are invented at some point in time.
• ValuedSymbols are used in contexts, such as rituals, where they are given value.
• AppropriatedSymbols with value are often appropriated by different groups.
• DestroyedSymbols can be banned and destroyed.
(Simon Harrison 1995)
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THE USE OF FLAGS ON THE LANDSCAPE OF
NORTHERN IRELAND
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