Color Symbolism and Culture

8/8/2019 Color Symbolism and Culture

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How We See Color| Color Theory | Color inWorld Culture | Color in Symbolism | Art

Lessons in Color| Color Matters

Western world:

Traffic lights: Red means stop, yellow means

caution, and green means go. Yellow signsalso warn drivers of upcoming curves,

pedestrian crossings, and a animal crossings.

Patriotism: Most, if not all countries have aflag. The colors of each flag are usually seen

as patriotic. Red, white, and blue symbolizes

patriotism in the U.S.A.

Holidays: Red and green are favorite Christmas colours. Colors of Autumn such as orange,brown, yellow and red are associated with Thanksgiving with black and orange associated with

Halloween. Pastel colors are used for Easter.

Color Symbolism Chart

Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed,strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire,

blood, war, violence, all things intense and

passionate.Pink symbolizes love, romance, and excitement

Beige and ivory symbolize unification. Ivory

symbolizes quiet and pleasantness. Beigesymbolizes calm and simplicity.

Joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism,

imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold,philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy,

covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard.

Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability,harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence,conservatism, security, cleanliness, order,

loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression,appetite suppressant.

Turquoise symbolizes calm. Teal symbolizes

sophistication. Aquamarine symbolizes water.


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Lighter turquoise has a feminine appeal.

Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony,mysterious, transformation, wisdom,

enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning.

Lavender symbolizes femininity, grace andelegance.

Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant,

expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.

Nature, environment, healthy, good luck,renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility,

jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.

Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors,reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and

comfort.

Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty,dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical,

old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizescalm.

Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness,

peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth,winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western

cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.

Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality,elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil,

unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness,remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good

technical color, mourning, death (Westerncultures).

Eastern World:

Marriage: White and pinkare favorite just as in the

western world.Green: Eternity, family,

harmony, health, peace,posterity

Happiness: RedHelpful: Gray

Wealth: Blue, gold andpurple


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Emotions: Blue is seen as conservative.Red is power and aggression. Brighter

color such as yellow and orange representwarmth not only with emotions but also

with temperature. Cool colors are blue,

green, black or any color with a dark shade.

Ecology: Obviously green is the major

color symbolizing ecology. The new phrase for people or companies who find ways to cut backon electricity, fuel, or things that damage the environment is "going green."

Religion:

Colors are also used in religious ceremonies or represent aspects of religion. Native Americaninclude colors in religious ceremonies. The Navajo Nation considers four colors to be important:

Turquoise, white, yellow, and black. These colors represent four sacred mountains. The Apache

Nation also considers four colors to be important: Green, white, yellow and black. These aresacred colors of the white mountain and are also used in government. The Iowa Nation alsoconsiders four colors to be sacred: Black, yellow, red and white. They represent direction, their

flag, and what they consider to be four races of man. [1]

Use in Therapy:

Colors are sometimes used in therapy. Colors have a huge effect on people who have braindisorders or who are emotionally troubled. The color blue has a calming effect on many people

and lowers respiration and blood pressure. Red has the opposite effect. Some therapists use greento sooth and relax emotionally disturbed people who suffer from anxiety or depression. Some

claim that the color violet is good for migraines but I doubt that claim because it would be usedmore extensively in the medical field. Yellow help energize people and relieves depression.

Color in World Culture

Color means many different things to different people and cultures. We all have our own favoritecolors. People like different colors like they like different foods. Color also represents feelings,

people, countries, cultures, and color symbolism. In the western world, the color red is seenfrequently of symbolizing anger or aggression. Some car insurance companies charge more for

red cars because some of the owners of red cars are more aggressive or take more risks.

Books about color

Black: The History of a Color- Black--favorite color of priests and penitents, artists and ascetics,

fashion designers and fascists- has always stood for powerfully opposed ideas: authority andhumility, sin and holiness, rebellion and conformity, wealth and poverty, good and bad. In this

illustrated book, the acclaimed author of "Blue" now tells the fascinating social history of thecolor black in Europe.

White: Children, helpfulpeople, marriage,

mourning, peace, purity,travel

Gold: Strength, wealth

Evil or sadness- Just like inthe western world- black.


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Color and Meaning: Art, Science, and Symbolism - Does color have an effect on our feelings?The phenomenon of color is examined in new ways in John Gage's latest book. His study is

informed by the conviction that color is a contingent, historical occurrence whose meaning, likelanguage, lies in the particular contexts in which it is experienced and interpreted.

Veiled Brightness: A History of Ancient Maya Color- Veiled Brightness reconstructs what colormeant to the ancient Maya, a set of linked peoples and societies who flourished in and around theYucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Central America. By using insights from archaeology,

linguistics, art history, and conservation, the book charts over two millennia of color use in aregion celebrated for its aesthetic refinement and high degree of craftsmanship.

Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color- This authoritative guide presents hundreds of

color combinations and color principles needed to create effective designs. Every lesson isdemonstrated by example, enabling designers of all specialties and levels of experience to make

the best color choices for every type of design.

Documents

Color Symbolism and Culture