Interpreting Color

Table of Contents

Topic

Part A: What is Color all about?

• Definition

• Color and Meaning

Red

Pink

Yellow

Orange

Blue

Green

Purple

Brown

Black

Gray

White

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Part B: Culture in Culture

• Role of Color in Culture and Society refer to book 1 pg 33

• Weddings

• Death Rituals

• Religion

• Color Myths, Biases and Symbolism

Neutrals

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Violet

Colors and Children

Part C: Color in Business

Part D: Color and Cure

• Color/ Light and the Human Health

• Researches on Color and its Effect

• Ultraviolet Light

• Color/Light in Health Care Facilities

Part E: Color and You

• Aspects and Moods of Color

• Color Preference and Personality

Part A: What is Color all about?

Although color forms a major part of life, we only have a vague understanding of what it really is. This research paper aims to explore the meaning, impact and significance of color.

Before moving on, it is important to first define color. So what is color? Color is an illusion. Our environment only appears colored to us. When the eye sees the color, it is only being fooled by it because the world is virtually colorless. The world actually consists of achromatic (colorless) substances and electromagnetic waves that differ from one another only in their wavelength. Color is a small part of the vast electromagnetic band that connects everything. The multicolored appearance of the environment is only the result of the interactive visual process. What we experience as color and the sensation that results from it is simply within our brains.

Color and light have a close relationship. Color is constantly changing because light is constantly changing. The color composition of natural light changes from dawn to dusk, from summer to winter, from north to south and from east to west. Simply speaking, light and hence colors in California are different from what they appear in England. Colors that look bright and wonderful in California can be startling in the dimmer light of England.

Finally, it is also important to note at this stage that color perception varies greatly from person to person. It merely depends on the individual’s brain interpretation of color signals coming from the eye. It is affected by our psychological and cultural biases toward color.

The next section explores the meaning behind different colors. This will help us appreciate the depth behind the very thing we take for granted- color.

Color and Meaning

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Red: Feel the Excitement

Throughout history, red has signaled excitement, dynamism, danger and sex. It brings out the strongest of emotions in every culture, all across the world: love and the all-famous heart, anarchy and the waving red war banner, even Satan is red. It is a dynamic color symbolizing a wide range of aspects. It is the color of life, the color of evil, the color of danger and the color of excitement. Red gives a bold message. It is not calm, but rather a very strong color. From the gentlest of shell pink to the deepest vibrant ruby red, it is romantic, passionate, and at its coolest it’s mature and authoritative. It is commanding, whatever be its shade.

Red is the top-most arc of the rainbow and the color with the longest wavelength. It instantly commands attention even in infants. In fact, it is widely believed that red is the first color a baby sees.

The message that red gives is: Blood and Fire. From ancient times, red has been associate with fire and flame. It is hot, dangerous, exciting, provocative, fascinating and capable of stirring emotions in people. The most obvious element that comes to mind when one thinks of red is blood: the elemental life-giving force that brings forth birth, vitality, activity and strength. In the ancient Indo-European language called Sanskrit meant blood. The root of the English word is found in Greek and Latin meaning red.

Red often expresses opposite passions. To wave a red flag is to incite riot. Red marks the revolutionary martyrs. The red hearts of the Valentine’s Day represent love, but we also see and become red when we’re in a terrible fury or in anguish.

To be caught red handed means clear evidence of guilt.

Red is Power and Strength: Ever wondered why the cardinals of the church wear red? Why the cloaks of primitive kings were red? Why is the “red carpet”? All these are pointing towards the same thing. Red symbolizes power and strength. To be “red-blooded” means patriotism and macho. For the brave, there is the red badge of courage.

Exciting news is called “red-hot” and the most urgent of warnings are referred to as “red alert”.

Red is also Sex and Seduction: The true color red always symbolized sexual energy and stimulation. Cherries are used to create a sense of youth