The Confederate Battle Flag by the author John M. Coski - Book Report/Review Example

The Confederate Battle Flag by the author John M. Coski Contents Introduction 2 Research and Documentation 3 Analysis and Argument 4 Conclusion 7 References 8 Introduction The book The Confederate Battle Flag was written by the author John M. Coski. The book was written in 30th May 2006. This book covers the topic Confederate flag which is considered as an important thing in Civil War relic. It has also become a popular news item. Strong public debate took place on this topic. Confederate flag has different symbols and meanings. The piece of cloth used in Confederate flag represents white supremacy and racial injustice to some people. But for others it represents a connection to past. In the book “The Confederate Battle Flag” various political debates regarding Confederate Flag have been discussed. The readers produced different types of reviews regarding the things covered and discussed in this book. In this paper in depth research of the reviews will be done. Different perceptions of the authors regarding the things written in the book will be focused in this paper. The professor Derek Frisby and Robert D. Sampson has analyzed and reviewed the book from different aspects and facilitate the readers in evaluating the book properly. The backgrounds of these professors and their qualifications will be mentioned in this paper. Both of these professors have a vast knowledge in history which benefited them in reviewing this book. The whole book will be reviewed by the authors. The book Confederate Battle Flag was written by John M. Coski in a very accurate way. He has explain various things related to flag in a very detailed way. The thesis statement of the paper is, comparing and contrasting the views of Derek Frisby and Robert D. Sampson with respect to John M. Coski. Research and Documentation Derek Frisby reviewed the book in a detailed way. He is the professor of History in Middle Tennessee State University. He is holding master degree and doctorate in history. He pursued these degrees from the University of Alabama. He is the faculty co-coordinator of College of Liberal Arts. After completing his studies, Derek Frisby started teaching history in different colleges. Derek Frisby did an in depth analysis of the things written in The Confederate Battle Flag. He mainly used secondary data for analyzing the views and opinions of the author John M. Coski. Derek Frisby has a huge knowledge of history which has enabled him to review the topics covered in this book. He has made a research regarding civil war history for producing its views on Confederate Flag. The books of history were the main type of resources used the professor for reviewing the book. Frisby not only reviewed the book of The Confederate Battle Flag but also reviewed the approached of the author while writing this book. The professor Robert D. Sampson also reviewed this book. He is the professor of history. Robert D. Sampson received his doctorate degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has written many journals regarding various historical topics. In his early age he worked as a newspaper reporter. Robert D. Sampson pursued different courses which focused on U.S politics, history and economics. The author explains the meanings of different symbols for doing the review of Coski’s book. Books and different research papers were used as the recourses for evaluating the book from different aspects. Professor Sampson criticized the work of Coski by focusing on the issue that the passion was absent in the author for which he was unable to explain the things written in the book in an effective way. Both of these professors produced there different perspectives regarding the book. Their critical review of the books helped the reader in understanding various things and importance of symbols in regard to Confederate Flag. The in depth knowledge of these reviewers facilitates the readers in knowing the meanings associated with civil war icons. The critical reviews of these professors created many debates and controversies regarding the book1. Various strengths and limitations of the book were highlighted by these professors while reviewing the book. The professors clearly explained the readers about the useful things they will find in Coski’s writing. The book Flag, Nation and Symbolism in Europe and America written by Richard Jenkins and Thomas Hylland Eriksen and the book Confederate Symbols in the Contemporary South written by Ron McNinch-Su, James Michael Martinez and William Donald Richardson highlight two different perspective of John M. Coski writing on Confederate Flag. Analysis and Argument According to the view of Derek Frisby, the book of Coski’s on Confederate Flag has many positive things and limitations. In the review the professor stated that Coski the evolutions of different symbols and their meanings in a detailed way which help the readers in understanding the basic concept of the book. The author had made a good balance in integrating civil war and its memories through his writings. Stars and Bars design was granted by Provisional Confederate Congress. The reviewer stated that Coski highlighted about Jews and Southern Christians in his book regarding the flag debate. The professor said that the flag debate which took place in Confederate Congress was a signal of flag flaps2. He reviews that the book explains that importance of national symbols on battlefield. If uniformity is not present in designing the flags of the state then the Confederate flag become similar to stars and stripes. The reviewer stated that the attempt discussed in the book for standardizing the battle flag facilitates the readers in understanding the importance of flag in Rebel military. The use of battle flag in Virginia was attempted to impose on western countries has been discussed in the book. John Coski analyzed the history of flags from collecting different resources from history, articles, newspaper etc. The history of transforming Confederate battle flag in becoming America’s embattled emblem. Derek Frisby stated that the author has given a clear picture of the changing role of Confederate battle flag in the history of America. The professors highlighted that Coski gave strong arguments which stated that hoe defense of slavery is associated with flag. The symbols used in the flags depict liberty, encouragement and courage. The battle flags are not used much in southern countries. Confederate symbols used in the flags have become very much successful and the author Coski was able to explain this view in an appropriate way in his book. The professor Robert D. Sampson reviewed the book of Coski in various ways. Confederate flag was not the flag of U.S. The professor stated that the author described battle flag is used mainly by the troops in the battle field. This is because the visibility of this flag is more there. As per the review of the professor, in the public life of U.S Confederate flag is used as a volatile symbol. It helps to determine supporter’s affection and the war which is uncertain. Selective approach was focused by the author and it explains that cultural approach creates an impact on Confederate battle flag. Primary sources were used by the author and it facilitates him in analyzing the topic in detailed. Huge debate took place on the topic of Confederate flag. This debate was explained properly by the author3. While reviewing the book the professor stated that the arguments of the two groups in the debates were explained properly in this book. The state legislature and the Congress took part in the debate. Coski did a good evaluation on the controversial issues became popular in the state for using flag in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. The attempt of removing Confederate flag became risky in those countries and the flag was associated with various grass roots interest of the people. It became a strong issue in those countries. In U.S there was a huge controversy related to the flag. The people of U.K perceived that Confederate battle flag was strongly connected with the culture and values of American people. The author explains that for this reason Confederate flag became the second American flag. In the review, the professor also mentioned about the weaknesses of the book. The stated that while reading the book the readers can find some details which do not match with the content of the book. The readers need to hold their patients because the author has the answers of many long questions in this book. Different ideas and culture and politics will help the readers in understand the things mentioned in this book easily. According to the review of the book, done by Professor Robert D. Sampson, still now flag plays a vital symbolic role in depicting any nation or issue. Conclusion The book The Confederate Battle Flag provide vast knowledge to the readers regarding the symbols use in the flags. The history and the meanings of the symbols are discussed in this book in a very interesting and detailed way. The author did a detailed research on various things which are associated with flag which facilitated him in covering most of the topics of the book in an efficient way. The history professors Robert D. Sampson and Derek Frisby highlighted some different perspective in reviewing this book. Both of these professor highlighted different positive and negative sides of Coski’s book. Derek Frisby stated that Coski’s emphasized on the changing role of Confederate battle flag in the history of America. The professor Robert D. Sampson focused on the issue that culture and values of American people was represented by Confederate battle flag and the author has explained this issue in his book. References Coski. John. The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem. Cambridge: Belknap Press. 2005. Frisby, Derek. “Frisby on Coski, 'The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem”. H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online. Last modified May, 2006. https://networks.h-net.org/node/512/reviews/790/frisby-coski-confederate-battle-flag-americas-most-embattled-emblem . Sampson, Robert. “Review of Coski, John M., The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem”. H-CivWar, H-Net Reviews. Last modified July, 2006. http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=11975. Read More