Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Jason Lindsey has unveiled a new creative project titled UNFINISHED, a short film designed to coincide with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The four-minute production serves as a visual anthology of the American experience, documented through the lens of one of the nation’s most ubiquitous yet complex symbols: the American flag. Over the course of 15 years, Lindsey traveled across the country, capturing dozens of images where the flag appears not as a pristine icon of statehood, but as a weathered, integrated, and sometimes neglected part of the everyday landscape. By focusing on the "space between" the ideal and the reality, Lindsey’s work invites a national dialogue on the current state of the American Dream as the country approaches its semiquincentennial milestone in 2026.
The Genesis of a Fifteen Year Visual Archive
The origins of UNFINISHED trace back to the mid-2000s, a period of significant transition in American history. Lindsey, who was raised in the Midwest, credits his upbringing for his "do-it-yourself" spirit and a professional philosophy rooted in manual labor and grit. This background provided him with a unique perspective when he began documenting the American landscape. While many photographers seek out the "perfect" American image—characterized by white picket fences and pristine, waving banners—Lindsey found himself drawn to the flags that told a more nuanced story.
The catalyst for the project occurred in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, approximately one year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Lindsey photographed a mailbox with an American flag standing out of focus in the background. This specific image sparked a realization that the flag was not just a symbol, but a witness to history. From that point forward, Lindsey began a systematic yet organic collection of flag imagery, capturing the banner in various states of repair and in diverse socioeconomic settings.
The project eventually transitioned from a photography series into a cinematic endeavor. Lindsey spent roughly 18 months refining the script for the film, undergoing 15 different iterations to ensure the message remained powerful while maintaining political neutrality. The resulting four-minute film is a montage of these years of work, set to a narrative that challenges viewers to reflect on the distance between national promises and lived experiences.
Historical Context and the Semiquincentennial Milestone
The release of UNFINISHED is strategically timed as the United States begins its preparations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Known as the Semiquincentennial, July 4, 2026, is expected to be a year of intense national reflection, celebration, and debate. The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, established by Congress in 2016, has been tasked with planning programs that commemorate the anniversary while encouraging Americans to consider the "unfinished" nature of the country’s democratic experiment.
Lindsey’s film aligns with this theme of "unfinished" business. By showcasing flags that are torn, faded, or repurposed for commercial use, the project highlights the endurance of the symbol despite the wear and tear of time and social strife. Historically, the American flag has undergone numerous transformations, from the original 13-star design of the late 18th century to the current 50-star iteration adopted in 1960. Lindsey’s work suggests that the symbol is still evolving, mirroring the evolution of the citizens it represents.
The Flag as a Contested Symbol in a Polarized Era
A significant portion of Lindsey’s motivation for publishing UNFINISHED stems from the increasing political polarization in the United States. In recent decades, the American flag has occasionally become a flashpoint for partisan division. Sociological data suggests a shifting perception of the flag among different demographic groups. According to various studies on national identity, symbols like the flag can evoke a wide range of emotions—from deep-seated patriotism and hope to skepticism and reminders of systemic failures.
Lindsey noted that when he first began his 15-year journey, the flag felt less like a partisan tool and more like a shared national asset. He expressed concern over the trend of individual political factions claiming the flag as their exclusive iconography. "It really should be a symbol for all Americans," Lindsey stated, emphasizing that his film seeks to reclaim the flag as a universal, albeit honest, reflection of humanity.
The imagery in the film reflects this diversity of meaning. Viewers see flags attached to wind turbines, painted on the sides of pink buildings, and displayed in the windows of convenience stores advertising "beer, cigs, and lottery." By placing the flag in these mundane and often gritty contexts, Lindsey strips away the political rhetoric and returns the symbol to the people who live under it.
Technical Execution and Creative Philosophy
From a technical standpoint, UNFINISHED utilizes the "power of the still" within a moving medium. The film is composed of dozens of high-resolution photographs, layered with a narrative script that provides philosophical depth. Lindsey describes the relationship between the mediums with a specific hierarchy: "The flag is a promise. The photograph is evidence. The film is the space between them."
The "evidence" captured in Lindsey’s photography is often raw. The film features:
- Tattered banners: Flags with frayed edges blowing against industrial backdrops, symbolizing the resilience of the working class.
- Commercial iconography: Flags used on signage for "Toms Gift Butterflie Boutique" or roadside markets, illustrating the intersection of patriotism and capitalism.
- Domestic settings: A flag hanging on the retaining wall of a backyard pool with murky water, suggesting the complexities of the private American life.
- Industrial landscapes: Flags positioned near smokestacks and power lines, highlighting the environmental and industrial realities of the nation.
Lindsey’s aesthetic choice to focus on "salt-of-the-earth" imagery serves to ground the film in reality. He avoids the sanitized version of America often found in commercial advertising, opting instead for an "honest picture." This approach aligns with the documentary tradition of photographers like Walker Evans or Robert Frank, who sought to capture the "real" America during previous eras of transition.
Chronology of Development
The timeline of the UNFINISHED project reflects a long-term commitment to documentary storytelling:
- 2006-2009: Early acquisition of flag imagery, including the pivotal Ninth Ward photograph in New Orleans.
- 2010-2022: A twelve-year period of "addictive" collecting, where Lindsey photographed flags during his professional travels across the Midwest and the broader United States.
- Late 2022: The conceptualization of a film project to unify the photographic archive.
- 2023 – Early 2024: The scriptwriting phase, involving 15 versions of the narrative to achieve a balanced, non-partisan tone.
- July 4, 2024: The official release of the film, intended as a precursor to the 2026 Semiquincentennial.
- Post-Release: Lindsey continues to document flags, including three new captures the day after the film’s debut, indicating that the project remains an ongoing endeavor.
Analysis of Implications: The Flag as a Witness
The central thesis of UNFINISHED is that the flag is not just a subject, but a witness to the country’s history and its current struggles. Lindsey’s assertion that he "set out to photograph flags, and ended up photographing the country underneath them" suggests that the flag acts as a mirror. When the flag is displayed in a thriving community, it reflects prosperity; when it is found tattered in a neglected neighborhood, it reflects the work that remains to be done.
This perspective has significant implications for how national symbols are used in public discourse. By highlighting the "unfinished" nature of the American experiment, Lindsey encourages a move away from complacency. The film posits that the American Dream is not a finished product but a continuous process of striving toward ideals that have not yet been fully realized.
Industry experts suggest that projects like UNFINISHED are essential as the U.S. approaches 2026. These visual narratives provide a counterpoint to official government celebrations, offering a grassroots view of the nation that resonates with a broader audience. The film’s ability to remain "politically neutral" while addressing "politically charged" symbols is a testament to Lindsey’s focus on the human element of the American story.
Future Outlook and Exhibition
Looking forward, Jason Lindsey intends to expand the reach of UNFINISHED beyond digital platforms. He has expressed interest in finding physical spaces for exhibition, where the story can be brought to life through large-scale prints and immersive installations. The goal is to foster community discussions leading up to the 250th anniversary, using the film as a springboard for conversations about national identity and the collective future.
As the United States navigates a complex social and political landscape, UNFINISHED serves as a reminder that the symbols of the nation are as resilient and varied as its people. By documenting the flags that have seen the "gritty" side of work and the "honest" side of life, Lindsey has created a time capsule that captures the essence of a nation in progress. The project underscores the idea that while the work of building a nation is never truly complete, the effort to move toward those founding ideals remains a worthy and necessary pursuit.
