So I've been considering this idea for a while... how universal are the symbolic meanings attributed to (or gut reactions to) basic aesthetic qualities? Is there an almost inherent primordial symbolism (or rather an aptness for certain interpretations) in colors and sound qualities, or in the specific qualities of shapes and forms? (edit* I suppose "proportion" plays a big role in the way visual forms can be interpretted...?)
Nature might have the best examples of the gut reactions that can be triggered from aesthetic qualities, because the "messages" communicated through colors and sounds among animals are clear, without them having any cultural baggage to perscribe meaning (but I'm admittedly more of an art person than a science person, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of this). For instance, say, a cat purring is pleasant and soothing, while a dog growling or snarling sounds threatening...
Do major chords generally sound "happy" to everyone, and minor chords sound "sad?" Would the practice by fast food places of using the color orange on their buildings (because it supposedly triggers hunger in people) work in every country?... (I'd imagine the answer is yes to that, because orange would instinctually remind us (mostly) carnivores of meat). Anyone here have any perspective on different cultural interpretations or meanings for colors, etc, and do these cultural meanings seem to have any apparent "logic" to them... or does it all seem to be completely open to any interpretation?
My take so far has been that aesthetics are very open to interpretation but tend to be better suited for some meanings (or more likely to cause certain reactions) than others...
I've mostly thought of this from a musical perpective, but Momus had an interesting essay on Click Opera (I believe last year) on the "politics of color" or something, which I'll link to later if I can find it...
Nature might have the best examples of the gut reactions that can be triggered from aesthetic qualities, because the "messages" communicated through colors and sounds among animals are clear, without them having any cultural baggage to perscribe meaning (but I'm admittedly more of an art person than a science person, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of this). For instance, say, a cat purring is pleasant and soothing, while a dog growling or snarling sounds threatening...
Do major chords generally sound "happy" to everyone, and minor chords sound "sad?" Would the practice by fast food places of using the color orange on their buildings (because it supposedly triggers hunger in people) work in every country?... (I'd imagine the answer is yes to that, because orange would instinctually remind us (mostly) carnivores of meat). Anyone here have any perspective on different cultural interpretations or meanings for colors, etc, and do these cultural meanings seem to have any apparent "logic" to them... or does it all seem to be completely open to any interpretation?
My take so far has been that aesthetics are very open to interpretation but tend to be better suited for some meanings (or more likely to cause certain reactions) than others...
I've mostly thought of this from a musical perpective, but Momus had an interesting essay on Click Opera (I believe last year) on the "politics of color" or something, which I'll link to later if I can find it...
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