Armband
Encyclopedia
An armband is a piece of material worn around the arm over the sleeve
of other clothing if present. they may be worn for pure ornamentation to mark the wearer as belonging to group, having a certain rank or role
, or being in a particular state or condition. Spring armbands were used by men to keep overly long sleeves from dropping over the hands and thereby interfering with their use.
When used as part of a military
uniform
it is called a brassard
. Uniforms serving other purposes such as to identify members of club
s, societies or team
s may also have armbands for certain ranks or functions. An armband might identify a group leader
, a team captain, or a person charged with controlling or organizing an event.
Bronze age armbands have been found made from bronze (sometimes gilded) and jet
. Some were constructed so that it would have been impossible to remove them.
Police Departments in Asia use armbands for a "traffic reflection armband" or marking a type of unit.
Armbands are sometimes used to indicate political affiliations or to identify the wearer with an ideology
or social movement
.
Large corporations sponsor athletes and teams in an effort to get advertising
when the athletes exhibit the corporate logo
visibly. Armbands, headband
s and wristband
s are common forms of such advertising.
Journalists in Asia would use an armband to mark themselves during big events. It's like a press badge and also tells what news network they are from.
The phrase to wear your heart on your sleeve
, meaning to show your feelings, to display an emotional affiliation or conviction, is supposedly related to armbands. In medieval jousts
, ladies of the court were said to tie a piece of cloth — a scarf
or kerchief
— around the arm of their favorite knight
, who thus displayed his affection for the lady.
or wishes to identify with the commemoration of a comrade or team member who has died. This use is particularly common when a group or team meets after having lost a member. In association football, it is common for a team to wear black armbands in their next match after the death of a former player or manager. This may also be accompanied by a moment of silence
at the start of the match.
The phrase "black armband view of history" was introduced to the Australian political lexicon by conservative historian Geoffrey Blainey
in 1993 to describe views of history which, he believed, posited that "much of [pre-multicultural] Australian history had been a disgrace" and which focused mainly on the treatment of minority groups, especially Aborigines
. The term was used by Prime Minister John Howard
, whose perspective on Australian history strongly contrasted with what he called the black armband view.
Sleeve
Sleeve is that part of a garment which covers the arm, or through which the arm passes or slips. The pattern of the sleeve is one of the characteristics of fashion in dress, varying in every country and period...
of other clothing if present. they may be worn for pure ornamentation to mark the wearer as belonging to group, having a certain rank or role
Role
A role or a social role is a set of connected behaviours, rights and obligations as conceptualised by actors in a social situation. It is an expected or free or continuously changing behaviour and may have a given individual social status or social position...
, or being in a particular state or condition. Spring armbands were used by men to keep overly long sleeves from dropping over the hands and thereby interfering with their use.
When used as part of a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
it is called a brassard
Brassard
A brassard or armlet is an armband or piece of cloth or other material worn around the upper arm, used as an item of military uniform to which rank badges may be attached instead of being stitched into the actual clothing...
. Uniforms serving other purposes such as to identify members of club
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
s, societies or team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
s may also have armbands for certain ranks or functions. An armband might identify a group leader
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, a team captain, or a person charged with controlling or organizing an event.
Bronze age armbands have been found made from bronze (sometimes gilded) and jet
Jet (lignite)
Jet is a geological material and is considered to be a minor gemstone. Jet is not considered a true mineral, but rather a mineraloid as it has an organic origin, being derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure....
. Some were constructed so that it would have been impossible to remove them.
Police Departments in Asia use armbands for a "traffic reflection armband" or marking a type of unit.
Armbands are sometimes used to indicate political affiliations or to identify the wearer with an ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
or social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
.
Large corporations sponsor athletes and teams in an effort to get advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
when the athletes exhibit the corporate logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
visibly. Armbands, headband
Headband
A headband is a clothing accessory worn in the hair or around the forehead, usually to hold hair away from the face or eyes. Headbands generally consist of a loop of elastic material or a horseshoe-shaped piece of flexible plastic or metal...
s and wristband
Wristband
Wristbands are encircling strips worn on the wrist, made from a variety of materials depending on the purpose. The term can be used to refer to the bracelet-like band of a wristwatch, to the cuff or other part of a sleeve that covers the wrist, or to decorative or functional bands worn on the wrist...
s are common forms of such advertising.
Journalists in Asia would use an armband to mark themselves during big events. It's like a press badge and also tells what news network they are from.
The phrase to wear your heart on your sleeve
Sleeve
Sleeve is that part of a garment which covers the arm, or through which the arm passes or slips. The pattern of the sleeve is one of the characteristics of fashion in dress, varying in every country and period...
, meaning to show your feelings, to display an emotional affiliation or conviction, is supposedly related to armbands. In medieval jousts
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
, ladies of the court were said to tie a piece of cloth — a scarf
Scarf
A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:...
or kerchief
Kerchief
A kerchief is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes...
— around the arm of their favorite knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, who thus displayed his affection for the lady.
Mourning
In some cultures the wearing of a black armband signifies that the wearer is in mourningMourning
Mourning is, in the simplest sense, synonymous with grief over the death of someone. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which the bereaved participate or are expected to participate...
or wishes to identify with the commemoration of a comrade or team member who has died. This use is particularly common when a group or team meets after having lost a member. In association football, it is common for a team to wear black armbands in their next match after the death of a former player or manager. This may also be accompanied by a moment of silence
Moment of silence
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony...
at the start of the match.
The phrase "black armband view of history" was introduced to the Australian political lexicon by conservative historian Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Norman Blainey AC , is a prominent Australian historian.Blainey was born in Melbourne and raised in a series of Victorian country towns before attending Wesley College and the University of Melbourne. While at university he was editor of Farrago, the newspaper of the University of...
in 1993 to describe views of history which, he believed, posited that "much of [pre-multicultural] Australian history had been a disgrace" and which focused mainly on the treatment of minority groups, especially Aborigines
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
. The term was used by Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, whose perspective on Australian history strongly contrasted with what he called the black armband view.
See also
- Arm ringArm ringAn arm ring, also known as an armlet or an armband, is a band of metal, usually a precious metal, worn as an ornament around the biceps of the upper arm...
- BrassardBrassardA brassard or armlet is an armband or piece of cloth or other material worn around the upper arm, used as an item of military uniform to which rank badges may be attached instead of being stitched into the actual clothing...
or armlet, a piece of military uniform - Inflatable armbands, flotation devices
- TefillinTefillinTefillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form , it is loosely used as a singular as...