COLOR IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

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COLOR IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

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Color is

1. That aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of the light reflected or emitted by them, definable in terms of the observer or of the light, as:
a. The appearance of objects or light sources described in terms of the individual's perception of them, involving hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources.
b. The characteristics of light by which the individual is made aware of objects or light sources through the receptors of the eye, described in terms of dominant wavelength, luminance, and purity. (ONLINE DICTIONARY.COM)

The truth is we see color is many different ways, we see color from lights and colors that are reflected back to our eye from two-dimensional and three-dimensional surfaces. The interesting thing about surfaces is that they soak up colors differently, making many different visible colors. Colors bring out emotions, symbolism, conceptual dimensions (example, black is hateful, red is lust or love), and color associations (example, loud, quiet, food, dry wet).

Without Color, could you image what are our world would be like?

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

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In this project, I will explore the aspect of color used in different cultures. My main focus will be on the color association with different countries. The countries that I will be looking at our...USA, Ireland, Italy, China, Iraq, Greece, Sweden

I. Introduction
II. Countries
1. USA

a. flag

b. color association (for each country)
2. Ireland

3. Italy

4. China

5. Iraq

6. Greece

7. Sweden

IV. Conclusion

QUESTIONS

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This project will help explore...

Is there a difference in color within cultures?
How do the colors reflect the culture?
Is color used differently?
How does the colors of the culture tie in within their flag?
Is the color of the cultures reflective in color association?

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Countries Flag Location

USA

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The USA flag colors are red white and blue. How do these colors represent the our todays culture? When we think of the colors Red and Blue together we think of a bold combination because of events such as 9/11. Our famous quotes are "these colors will never run" A new since of Nationalism was raised from this event and red, white and blue represent this pride of America. United States is bold, strong, and a government that is not typically liked to be messed with.

Nationalism in graffiti

New York City and Hollywood are also another look at how the United States Flag color represents our culture. Red is a highly energized, increases blood pressure, and an attention grabber. The City nightlife can be described as red, "the city never sleeps" is a perfect expression of this color. These Cities are always on the go, and especially raises blood pressure by the chaotic traffic and always busy streets.

Ireland

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Ireland Flag

In Ireland Coast

The luck of the Irish, Ireland, typically thought of fresh green beautiful farm lands and gallons of beer sitting around in pubs. Irelands flag is green, white, and orange. The color green represents the Irish culture perfectly.

The meaning of green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. With both a warming and cooling effect, the color green denotes balance, harmony, and stability. Use several shades of green for a fresh, Springtime feel. ("http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/colorselection/p/green.htm")

Ireland is full of green, farm land. It is nature at its finest, there is hardly any large industrial building, but many cute farm houses and rich in the old Irish culture.

Northern Ireland

Green is calm and peaceful and as you can tell, Ireland is defined by these two words.

China

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China's flag colors involve red and yellow. In China, red is the color of good luck and is used as a holiday and wedding color. Chinese babies are given their names at a red-egg ceremony. It is the color of happiness and strength. Also Red represents fire, reaching upwards, corresponds to the south as dictated by the traditional Chinese cardinal points, and coincides with the warm season of summer. The color yellow is most straight-forwardly translated as 黃 huáng, remembering that light orange often qualifies as 'yellow' to the Chinese, as do some shades of brown. Yellow is the name of the ancestor of the Chinese nation (黃帝 Huángdì 'The Yellow Emperor') and to say "yellow flower" (黃花 huánghuā) is to say chrysanthemum.The chrysanthemum represents virginity.(http://everything2.com/title/Chinese+colors)

Overall, The chinese use color as symbolism and reflective to their ancestors history. It is not so much as how the color of their flag represent their culture but how the colors symbolize certain meanings. However because yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness, when you take a look at Chinese culture, their still is a very large part of ancient China still involved with their current culture. It is very calm and peaceful, like the tea ceremonies, peaceful and exert happiness and good living.

Iraq

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Iraq flag colors are red, green, and black. The design marked a notable break with the colors used in most other Arab flags, which have lengthy histories—green and black are used to represent Islam and red is used to represent Arab nationalism. Islamic crescents are usually depicted in green or red in Arab heraldry. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iraq)

The crescent is commonly regarded as a symbol of Islam. The crescent was the symbol of the Sassanid Empire of Persia (Iran) and is prominently displayed on the crowns of its rulers. After the Arab conquest of that empire in 651 CE, it was gradually adopted by later caliphates and Muslim rulers as an established and recognized symbol of power ( the color red) in Western Asia. It was also a symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

The color green has a special place in Islam. It is used in the decoration of mosques, the bindings of Qur'ans, the silken covers for the graves of Sufisaints, and in the flags of various Muslim countries. Green has been associated with Islam for many centuries.

The Crescent

Italy

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Italy is an interesting country to look at because it's colors are associated with food. Pasta, Pizza and anything Italian come to mind with Italy. An instant thought of red, white, and green are the Italian symbol for their famous food. With roots as far back as the 4th century BCE, Italy introduction of items such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize. Interesting thought is red is for tomatoes, and green is for bell peppers which makes Italian food famous.

It is estimated that Italians eat over sixty pounds of pasta per person, per year, easily beating Americans, who eat about twenty pounds per person. And while pasta is made everywhere the product from Italy keeps to time-tested production methods that create a superior pasta.

If you go anywhere and ask for Italian food, you'll get two answers, pizza and pasta.

Sweden

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Sweden, the first thing that pops into peoples head when they think about this country is all the blonde hair and blue eyed people that live there. This is a very typical statement because a large amount of people are blonde hair and blue eyed. What better colors, blue and yellow, to represent their flag.

Sweden's culture is also know for fashion and friendliness. The color yellow is also known for happiness and cheerful. However blue and yellow together make a flashy combination, like fashion making a statement.

It is a very elegant country full of large grand building and nice people. Yellow is a color that represents this term. It is not a bold color representing huge building with people always in a hurry but yet a simple and effective country.

Kohlswa Herrgård

Swedish Hotel

Greece

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Greece, blue and white stripes is usually associated with sailors and boating. When we look at the country, Greece, it is purely blue skies, white stackable houses and endless blue waters surrounding the country.

These two colors, blue and white represent Greece's country perfectly. Instantly people associate blue and white together as the sea, water, sailboats, etc, some countries represent food, power, fashion, but Greece represents the endless blue water.

Blue and White make up a peaceful harmony, and if you look at Greece's culture, it is a calm, peaceful, and relax environment. It is not a high pace culture, but yet traditional and easy going. Blue and White do not scream loud and in your face types of colors and this is why Greece's flag is a perfect example of how their colors represent their culture.

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Color makes our world unique.

In conclusion, we can see color makes up different symbolisms and reflections in cultures of all the different countries of the world. Each flag color represents something different to the country and all show a deeper reason of use and meaning of color.

Color brings light and inspiration to a world full of blank canvases waiting to be painted.