Color Symbolism edit
Color symbolism in art and anthropology refers to the use of color as a symbol in various cultures. There is great diversity in the use of colors and their associations between cultures[1] and even within the same culture in different time periods.[2] The same color may have very different associations within the same culture at any time. Diversity in color symbolism occurs because color meanings and symbolism occur on an individual, cultural and universal basis. Color symbolism is also context-dependent and influenced by changes over time.[3] Symbolic representations of religious concepts or articles may include a specific color with which the concept or object is associated.[4] There is evidence to suggest that colors have been used for this purpose as early as 90,000 BC.
Red edit
Red is often associated with love, passion, and lust: i.e, it's used in relation to Valentine's Day very frequently.[5] but it can also be used to signify danger or warning. For instance, it's used for stop signs[6] and fire engines.[7] In China, red is often used to symbolize good luck or happiness, and is used for many holidays or weddings.[8]
Blue edit
Blue is the color of the ocean and the sky; it often symbolizes serenity, stability, or inspiration.[9] It can be a calming color, and symbolize reliability.[10] In the Catholic Church, the Virgin Mary is most often depicted wearing blue, to symbolize her divinity.[11] Blue is widely used for baby boys' clothes or bedrooms, although the reason blue is so strongly associated with boys is debated.[12]
Yellow edit
Yellow is a color often associated with sunshine or joy.[13] It is sometimes used in association with cowardice or fear, i.e, the phrase "yellow-bellied".[14] Children tend to like this color, and it is used to market products to children;[15] it is also used for school buses and taxi cabs since it is such a bright, noticeable color.[15]
Green edit
Green is most often used to represent nature, healing, or fertility, since it's such a dominant color in nature. It can be a very relaxing color[16] but is also used in the US to symbolize money, greed, or jealousy.[16] Saying that someone is "green" means they're inexperienced or new.[17]
Black edit
Black, in Western culture, is considered a negative color and usually symbolizes death, grief, or evil.[18] People often wear black for mourning, although this practice isn't as wide-spread as it was in the past.[19]
White edit
White most often symbolizes perfection, faith, innocence, softness, and cleanliness.[20] Brides often wear white dresses to symbolize virginity or purity.[21]
Pink edit
Pink is associated with softness, femininity, sweetness, and love.[22] However, it was formerly used as a masculine color, frequently used for baby boys; it wasn't until the early 20th century that the gender roles of pink and blue were reversed.[23]
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- ^ Smith, N. S.; Whitfield, T. W. A.; Wiltshire, T. J. (1990-04). "The accuracy of the NCS, DIN, and OSA-UCS colour atlases". Color Research & Application. 15 (2): 111–116. doi:10.1002/col.5080150209. ISSN 0361-2317.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ 1900-1988., Birren, Faber, ([2006?]). Color psychology and color therapy : a factual study of the influence of color on human life. [Whitefish, MT]: Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1425424104. OCLC 74452551.
{{cite book}}:|last=has numeric name (help); Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Color symbolism", Color Studies, Fairchild Books, ISBN 9781501303364, retrieved 2018-11-05
- ^ "Encyclopaedia Britannica". Lexikon des gesamten Buchwesens Online. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "valentine - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ Road vertical signs. Variable message traffic signs, BSI British Standards, retrieved 2018-11-05
- ^ "Why are fire trucks red?". www.rocklandfirefighters.org. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Color Symbolism in Chinese Culture: What do Traditional Chinese Colors Mean?". Color-Meanings.com. 2015-01-16. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ "Meaning of The Color Blue |". Bourn Creative. 2011-01-15. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Blue Color Meaning - The Color Blue". Color-Meanings.com. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary always wearing blue?". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Why Is Pink for Girls and Blue for Boys?". Live Science. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ Morton, Jill. "Yellow". www.colormatters.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "yellow-bellied - Dictionary Definition". Vocabulary.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ a b "Meaning of The Color Yellow |". Bourn Creative. 2011-02-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ a b "Meaning of The Color Green |". Bourn Creative. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Green definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Black Color Psychology - Black Meaning & Personality". Color Psychology. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ Jalland, Pat (1996-11-07), "Death and the Victorian Doctors", Death in the Victorian Family, Oxford University Press, pp. 77–97, ISBN 9780198201885, retrieved 2018-11-06
- ^ "Meaning of The Color White |". Bourn Creative. 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ Davis, Lexxi. "Why Do Brides Wear White? And Other Questions". Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ "Meaning of The Color Pink |". Bourn Creative. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ Ant, Puja Bhattacharjee, CNN Animation by Giant. "The complicated gender history of pink". CNN. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
{{cite news}}:|first=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)