Colors That Define Us

We are surrounded by color. Right from school days when color symbolized the groups we
were in to the religions and traditions that are represented by color. So much so that even the countries
are represented by the color that the flags carry.

Religions and traditions have played a crucial role in the use of colors. Christianity is symbolized
by GOLD, Islam is symbolized by Green, Hinduism by Saffron, Buddhism by Yellow and Sikhism by
Orange. Colors have been narrated in poems, mystical and philosophical ideas.

Sir Issac Newton’s 18th century work on optics and causes of color explains it all. His
experiment of using prism to demonstrate how the white light can be dispersed to seven component
colors of Rainbow was ground breaking.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe published Theory of Colors in 1810 and it would become one
of the first explorations of how certain colors can create specific functions of psychological reactions
when they are viewed.
According to Goethe, darkness was an active ingredient in color, rather than just being a passive
absence of light. “Color itself,” Goethe wrote, “is a degree of darkness.”
Goethe then attempted to assign emotional reactions to various colors. Many of the emotions of
colors which he described in his color theory are very similar to how modern science sees human
reaction to color which is used quite frequently in psychology.
Yellow: Goethe suggested that because yellow was the color closest to pure light, it would
create an emotional reaction of “brightness” when viewed. It could inspire people to become happier,
more peaceful, and even excited about the past, present, and future events that would transpire
throughout the day.

Blue: Because blue is darker than yellow, Goethe suggested that it had an element of darkness
to it. In his color theory, darkness is also a representation of negativity, just as light is a representation of
positivity. For Goethe, blue was therefore a powerful color that could stimulate contemplation because it
was a balance of light and darkness.

Red: Goethe associated red with reactions that were akin to jealousy. This is because people
who are surrounded by red are often viewed as being superior or more magnificent than others. There is
a certain “confidence” that exudes from individuals who are surrounded by this color. Since others
would want to obtain this confidence as well, jealously would ensue by its viewers.

Green: This color was looked upon as the perfect expression of quality. Because it is created
by mixing yellow (the color of light) with blue (the color of contemplation), it creates a response that is
neither powerful, exciting, or induces a jealous reaction. According to Goethe, if you had to stay in a
room all day long, the best color that room could be is green because it would allow the individual to
focus on themselves instead of reacting to the colors around them.
His theory on mixed colors and its perception were akin to modern times understanding of
colors.
Goethe believed that if you mixed two primary colors together to create a new color, then it
could create a different personal reaction when viewed. The same would be true if the colors were not
completely mixed together, but instead appearing together. Here are some more examples from the
color theory.

Blue-Red: Normally together these two colors would create purple. When they appear
together instead of mixed, then a feeling of “unquiet” appears. This feeling can then be exploited because
those who are viewing the color would seek out peace due to the degrees of darkness that these two
colors portray.

Yellow-Red: When yellow and red appear together, it enhances the excitement that the yellow
can produce. It also creates a disturbance within the mind because of the jealously that is often
associated with viewing the color red. According to Goethe, this is why animals who viewed these two
colors would become so enraged. If that energy could be funneled into something positive when created
within a human, then the reaction could create something very positive.

Goethe also indicated in his color theory that the color a person sees first in a combination
would influence their reaction to it. If an individual saw red first in a yellow-red combination, then this
would create a red-yellow reaction. This would change the reaction from excitement to warmth and joy,
according to Goethe, because red-yellow is more representative of fire light.
The same would be true for those who saw red first in a blue and red combination. This would
change the reaction to a red-blue reaction, which would create a certain level of disturbed passivity.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s color theory is not a scientific principle, but the ideas published
in 1810 helped to lay the groundwork of how we see color today.
Both Newtons and Goethe had influences in 19th century English Romantic landscape painter

Water colors painting of M. W. Turner were done on white surface thus reflect rays of light
through colors. Turner (1775-1851), was the forerunner of watercolors, so that his works are of
especial interest and value.

How does color interacts with rest of the film elements is interesting.

One of the pioneers of abstract modern art, Wassily Kandinsky exploited the evocative
interrelation between color and form to create an aesthetic experience that engaged the sight, sound,
and emotions of the public. He believed that total abstraction offered the possibility for profound,
transcendental expression and that copying from nature only interfered with this process.
Kandinsky’s visual vocabulary developed through three phases, shifting from his early,
representational canvases and their divine symbolism to his rapturous and operatic compositions, to his
late, geometric and bio-morphic flat planes of color