Barcode

The American flag and barcode design speaks to the connection between patriotism and consumerism in American society. The barcode symbolizes the commercialization of the country, where everything is assigned a price and is bought and sold like any other commodity. The use of the barcode as a medium also comments on the way in which we are constantly being tracked and categorized by corporations through our purchasing habits, as well as the power that large corporations hold in shaping our culture and political system. This piece raises important questions about the relationship between commerce and nationalism, and the ways in which these forces intersect in the modern world.