subject: Color - Does It Really Affect Your Mood? Part Three: Green, Blue And Purple [print this page] Each color has inherent meaning and evokes a certain feeling when we see it, right? The research shows this is only partially correct. Yes, colors do evoke certain feelings within us but each color does not actually possess a meaning. All meanings assigned to colors are learned, and change from culture to culture, according to Kenneth and Cherrie Fehrman in their book Color, The Secret Influence.
In fact, our entire world is colorless. Color is a complete illusion! Yes, everything we see, touch, wear and eat has absolutely no color of its own. We only see color due to light. Each different color has a different wavelength, which causes us to see everything in different colors. (This is a very simplified explanation of course, but its enough for our purposes today.)
We take most of our color cues from our families, school, television, print media and from our friends. Overall though, these color signals all repeat the same color myths and biases we have been taught since birth. We derive most of our meanings for color from nature. For example, what symbols do you associate with the color red? Generally, red is linked to blood and fire. Consequently, red is thought to mean power and is charged with emotion. Put it with purple and you have passion, but put it with black and you have rage.
Green too seems to have a conflicted nature. On one hand we associate green with growth, prosperity, springtime, foliage and minty fresh, clean scents. Green has further associations with possession of both things and of the self, prosperity. Yet, green also congers up thoughts of mold, decay, nausea and jealousy. Green is most associated however, with springtime renewal. Consequently, in times past, green was a powerful symbol of fertility and was often worn at weddings in Europe.
Blue symbolizes infinity and serenity due to its color connection with our seemingly never-ending sea and sky. This seems to be particularly true with the more greenish blues of aqua. Cooler blues tend to make us think more of sadness and depression.
Blue is the most favorite color in America, particularly with men. Blue is also a symbol for order, dependability, strength, justice and authority. Hence its choice for most police uniforms throughout the world.
Purple is a very special color. This was the color used to represent the God Jupiter, by the Romans. Initially only royalty was allowed to wear this color. This was mainly because they were the only ones who could afford this particular color dye. Purple was a very expensive dye to make and originally could only be obtained from the deep purple of mollusk shells. Once synthetic purple dye was formulated however, purple became an instant fashion craze. In fact the entire court of Queen Victoria immediately adopted purple. The color was perfect for their extended period of mourning after Prince Alberts death.
Purple represents not only sensuality and decadence (probably from the purple wine stains on the lips of the royals and aristocracy) but magic, mystery and spirituality as well. While purple is rarely used in advertising, when it is, its royal associations link it to luxury. Think of the mystery of a purple-gray stormy sky as the wind makes the tree branches dance.
