b
.BLACK
was the colour of mourning during the Roman empire, and in Judaism and Christianity it is associated with death and evil. During the Middle Ages, black clothing became popular, and during the Renaissance
it was worn by the wealthy and nobility in all parts of Europe. In the nineteenth century, the black army was the nickname of the Russian anarchists. In the twentieth century, black became the colour of Italian and German fascism, who were called blackshirts. In Shia Islam black is a very devout colour. The black standard is one of the flags of Muhammad in Islam. The black standard has been appropriated as a symbol by jihadism since the 1990s.
w
.WHITE
is the colour of death and mourning in China, Vietnam, and Korea. In India, people wear white after the death of a family member. Jewish, Christian and Hindu religions use the colour white in rituals to indicate purity, chastity, virginity, and peace. White is the traditional colour of bridal dresses in Western cultures. In Europe, white was historically associated with absolute monarchy. It became synonymous in the twentieth century with anti-communist and counter-revolutionary movements in Russia. A white dove is an international sign of peace,
and a white flag is the international sign of surrender.
y
.YELLOW
is the most visible colour from a distance, so it is often used for objects that need high visibility, such as ambulances, road maintenance equipment, and taxis. In East Asia, yellow is considered sacred and imperial. In China it is the colour for royalty, and during the Qing Dynasty, only members of the imperial household were permitted to wear yellow. In China it is still seen as the colour of happiness, glory, wisdom, harmony, and culture. Yellow is used to symbolise gold as one of the colours of the Catholic church and the Vatican. Yellow in Italian is giallo and a nickname for crime stories. The demonstrations in the Philippines in 1986 were also known as the yellow revolution.
o
.ORANGE
comes from the Sanskrit word for orange tree. In Asia it is known as saffron, named after the spice. In Hinduism, the divinity Krishna is portrayed dressed in saffron. In Buddhism, saffron is the colour of illumination, the highest state of perfection, and the colour of robes worn by monks. Orange ribbons are used to promote awareness and prevention of self-injury. In Northern Ireland the protestant order is called the Orangemen, who wear orange during annual marches. Orange is the colour of the Dutch monarchy, and in South Africa, orange was the colour of the ruling party during Apartheid. Prisoners are often dressed in orange to make them distinctive in case of escape.
r
.RED
comes from the Sanskrit word for blood. In Greek mythology it
was the colour for the planet Mars and the god of war. Red is the most important colour in China and means good luck and happiness. Red promotes long life, and it is used in Chinese new year celebrations. Red is the traditional colour for brides in India and Nepal. In Japan, a red kimono symbolises happiness and good luck. In Japan’s Shinto religion, red is the symbol of life. The Russian word for red has the same root in Old Russian as the word ‘beautiful’. The oldest symbol of socialism is the red flag, and red is still associated with socialist and communist parties. The red shirts, or the red movement, was the name of those who opposed the 2006 military coup in Thailand.
g
.GREEN
is the colour of nature in many cultures. Early rituals centered on the hope of a good harvest with green vegetables. Green is the traditional colour of Islam, the colour of the prophet Muhammed, which is why many flags in the Islamic world use the colour green. Since the
1980s, green has become the colour of environmental parties and organizations. Green parties in Europe have programmes based on ecology and environment. The word greenwashing is used to describe the advertising of companies that use positive environmental practices to cover up environmentally unfriendly activities. A ‘green room’ is used in television and theatre to quiet nervous performers.
b
.BLUE
is tested as the colour that is best liked by all cultures, which is how it became the colour for international business. The United Nations chose blue as a colour in 1946, but the colour has no special significance. Bluewashing is a term for companies that join the United Nations ‘Global Impact Initiative’ only for PR reasons. ‘Blue collar worker’ refers to the shirts worn by people working manual labour jobs. The Tuareg of North Africa wear blue turbans, dyed with indigo. Azure blue is the national colour of Italy, the national soccer team is called the Azzurri. Several languages, like Japanese, Thai, Korean, and Lakota Sioux, use the same word to describe blue and green.
p
.PURPLE
was the the most expensive dye in Roman times, and was worn by Roman magistrates, Byzantine emperors, and the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. During the reign of Elizabeth I, only royalty was allowed to wear purple in England. Roman Catholic bishops still wear purple as a colour of royalty. In Japan, the colour is traditionally associated with the emperor and aristocracy. In Thailand, widows in mourning wear purple. In Western politics the colour purple is neutral, and used for a coalition between a left-wing and a right-wing party. The Women’s Suffrage movement used purple, and the colour was adopted in the 1970s by the women’s liberation movement. Purple and pink are both associated with the LGBT community.
THIS IS ------- MY THOUGHT
Colours and Culture
provides
valuable
insights
into the
cultural significance
of colours, shedding
light on
meaning
associated with
colours
have evolved
over time across
different societies.
In the canon of design, the text serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural context in design decisions, especially in areas like branding, user interface design, and advertising. Understanding the cultural connotations of colors is crucial in creating designs that resonate with diverse audiences.
In contemporary practice of interaction design, the connection of colours and culture remains highly relevant. With the global nature of digital products and services, designers must be mindful of the cultural implications of color choices. A color scheme that is well-received in one culture might have negative connotations in another making it even more important for interaction designers to consider cultural sensitivity when making design decisions.
The author effectively conveys that colors carry nuanced cultural meanings, and these meanings are not fixed but evolve over time and across different contexts. The examples provided, such as the shifting bridal attire in China and the varied associations with the color red, vividly illustrate this point. The reading successfully emphasizes the dynamic nature of color symbolism.
One aspect that might be subject to disagreement is the assertion that blue is universally liked by all cultures. While blue is generally well-received, there may still be variations in its perceived meaning or emotional impact across different societies. It's important to recognize that even highly popular colors can have nuanced interpretations.
Colours and Culture teaches the reader the importance of cultural awareness in design, particularly in relation to color choices. It highlights the need for thorough research and consideration of cultural contexts when making design decisions. This knowledge will impact how readers approach design by making me more conscious of the potential cultural implications of color selections and encouraging me to conduct thorough cultural research before finalizing design choices. It reinforces the idea that design is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor and requires a nuanced understanding of the diverse audiences it serves.