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Color symbolism is a huge topic and can in simple terms be defined as how we subjectively perceive colors and their meanings. Globally there is a common consensus that colors affect humans emotionally as well as that it has an impact on our physical wellbeing. Neurophysiological research shows the emotional impact that follows colorful images. The triggering of emotions is connected to the associations we relate to the different colors.
What do you associate with red? Or what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word green?
For decades filmmakers have evoked emotions through the use of colors in visual storytelling. Colors can stimulate empathy in the viewer to emotionally connect the viewer with the characters in the movie. The commercial industry uses color symbolism and color psychology in the same way as film directors do, to tell a story and to manipulate the feelings of the audience, to motivate them to buy a product or service. In art, cinematography and literature colors are used frequently to set a story's mood, to represent different characters and evoke emotions.
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Personal interpretations of color are affected by our biology, and how we react to color, as someone might feel passion when seeing red or others may feel fear. Secondly, our reaction to color is impacted by our cultural background, as different colors are used on different occasions, contexts and attributed to different values around the world.
Some places in Asia red is connected to good fortune and prosperity. In other places, like in Europe and North America, red is associated with passion, power and dominance. Swiss psychologist Max Lüscher and later research on color preference among Europeans found that the majority chose blue as their preferred color, as it is perceived as passive, sensitive, unifying, associated with tranquility, tenderness, love and affection. Orange-red is on the other hand associated with something eccentric, active, offensive, autonomous and aggressive and competitive, expressive of desire, domination and sexuality.
Secondly, our color perception is connected to personal life experiences, positive and negative and these will impact how we feel and perceive colors. Some color theories, like the theory about the seasons, suggest that different personalities are drawn to certain colors and find other colors overwhelming and draining. As with the cultural differences, some personalities find bold and bright colors overwhelming and intimidating, but other personalities feel attracted and invigorated by bold and bright colors.
Different color values connected to different cultures can be observed while choosing to watch a colorful Bollywood musical or a monochromatically styled Nordic crime series. The use of colors is very different and the cultural values clearly displayed. Color perception can be said to be situational and dependent on the context. When colors share their symbolic value cross culturally, they are known as conventional colors.
Besides cultural differences in color symbolism, colors have also changed in meaning and perception throughout history. During the medieval period red had a more religious significance as it was associated with the blood of Jesus Christ and hell fire. It also had a secular meaning, as a symbol of love, glory and beauty. Later in the period of the Protestant Reformation, the status of red changed and declined in status. Linked to immorality and the overindulgence of the Catholic Church, red lost its popularity. Another change in the perception of the red color happened due to political changes. Sometime after the French Revolution red was associated with radical left-wing politics and increased its popularity. Many would agree that red is the most powerful of all the colors and in many cultures, it is commonly used to express strong emotions like love, passion, hate and aggression.
Color can be used to evoke tension or bring harmony to a scene, and it can highlight the key theme of a movie. As colors guide our eyes and stir our emotions it creates psychological reactions, drawing focus to specific details in each frame, setting the tone and the mood of a movie and each scene. As you might have noticed, a specific color or color theme often follows characters or character traits throughout a movie. As the story arc changes, the color temperature of the scenes follows along. Powerful colors and combinations are often used for scenes with high emotional intensity.
Generally, filmmakers follow the industry’s color theory, as mentioned, that certain colors elicit certain emotions, thus they are represented along with scenes that correspond to those emotions. As you might have noticed, bright and warm colors are connected with happy, joyous scenes. To create a feeling of anxiety, unease or sadness and discomfort in a scene, dark colors are commonly used.
Well known for his characteristic use of colors in his storytelling, Wes Anderson’s frames are characterized by perfect color compositions, using the colors as powerful tools to add value and symbols to drive the story. And Anderson does something different. Instead of following common color theory, he often uses discord in his scenes. Instead of using dark or cold colors for sad scenes, he uses highly saturated warm or happy colors. Emotions are narrated in colors, geometries, perspectives and textures. Instead of following familiar color symbolisms and values, Anderson creates different emotional color connotations in his storytelling. Using bold colors and at times monochromatic color themes to drive the visuals. In the movie The Grand Hotel Budapest Anderson uses pink to elicit and symbolize danger.
In the movie, Moonrise Kingdom, he dresses one of the negative characters in a matching royal blue hat and coat. Instead of representing trust and security, something positive, he has connected the colors and her character with division, danger and authority.
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Who of us does not enjoy watching a movie with a pleasant or amusing color palette or going to an art exhibition, soaking in the colors and the emotions of the artworks? Or finding peace and tranquillity in observing the marvel of the colors in nature? Observing the clear blue sky and how it miraculously transforms when the sun is setting in the west, every day with a different light show and spectacular spectrum of colors. Or chilling under a green tree observing the yellow and white sparkles from the sun playing with the leaves of the trees, making some of the leaves look like gold and others, being left in the shade almost looks blue, like they are reflecting the sky.
They are everywhere we go; they constantly surround us. Red, blue, green, yellow, orange, black, white and all shades in between, the different colors have a powerful effect on each one of us. Have you ever noticed how you react and perceive certain colors and wondered why you feel like that? Our biology, culture and unique life experiences shape our perception of color and the symbols we attribute to each one of them. Used as a storytelling tool by filmmakers, writers and artists and the commercial industry worldwide, to express and evoke emotion, set the mood of a scene and define characters - color is a gift and a tool that enriches our lives.
Sensing how we perceive and react to colours and what they symbolize can deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. A deeper understanding of color symbolism can be a way to expand our visual and vocal vocabulary in order to express ourselves. It might be the beginning of painting our own life and expressing our stories through colour. It can help us to narrate our own stories in a better way.
If you should pick one color to represent yourself, or create a color palette for the documentary about your life, what would it be, and what would the symbolic value of the colors be?
References:
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780691251370/html
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/color-symbolism
https://jcolore.gruppodelcolore.it/ojs/index.php/CCSJ/article/view/CCSJ.130101
http://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=150384
https://no lmschool.com/the-jester-movie
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-use-color-in- lm-50-examples-of-movie-color-palettes/
https://www.ceros.com/inspire/originals/wes-anderson-color-stories/
https://www.color-meanings.com/color-symbolism-different-cultures/
https://www.colorsexplained.com/color-purple-meaning-of-the-color-purple/
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