Wednesday, January 8, 2020

A Reflection On Reading Visual Culture - 2407 Words

READING VISUAL CULTURE Assignment 2 Colour is one of the dominant symbolic aspects of representation; another is the use of words. Expand upon the use of both in the construction of meaning. When it comes to representation, there is no aspect more important than that of colour. Whilst words can be used to describe what kind of emotion it is portraying, colour can change the emotion and meaning of a representation simply by just being there. A good example of the power that colour has can be seen in the painting by Raphael Sanzio called School of Athens (1510-1511). In this painting, Plato and Aristotle are at the centre, both wearing fashionable robes. Plato’s robe can be seen as different colours: Red which symbolises excitement,†¦show more content†¦Green is an emotionally positive color† (Scott-Kemmis, 2013). This colour is used in today’s society as a means of representing safeness and nature through certain symbols as it is a very positive colour. The traffic light is one symbol which helps do this by letting drivers and pedestrians know it is safe to proceed, â€Å"Green means â€Å"go.† When â€Å"all systems are green,† it means everything is in order† (Fact Monster, 2015). Another symbol which uses green is the recycling symbol, when this is seen it is instantly recognised as an organisation which helps the environment. However, much like a colour can add positivity to a representation, it can also add negativity. Envy, jealousy, inexperience and rotting are just some of the negative vibes green can add to a representation (Williams, 2010). In China for instance, where green used to be considered beautiful in the Tang Dynasty (Moss, 2015), the colour itself now represents disgrace (Williams, 2010). In English speaking cultures, green is also associated with envy, a powerful and negative emotion which can control a person (Parrot Smith, 1993). Green was first associated with envy when Shakespeare referred to it in Othello as â€Å"The green-eyed monster† (Shakespeare, 1603) and has been used for symbolising negative emotions ever since. Green, of course, is just the tip of the iceber g when it comes to colours and their representational

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