Red



Red

Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630-740nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared(below red) and cannot be seen by the naked eye. Red is used as one of the additive primary colors of light, complementary to cyan, In RYB color space but not CMYK color space.

Etymology and definitions

The word red comes from the Old English Further back, the word can be traced to the Proto-Germanic rauthaz and the Proto-Indo European root reudh-. In Sanskrit, the word rudhira means red or blood. In the English language, the word red is associated with the color of blood, certain flowers(e.g.roses), ripe fruits (e.g.apples cherries). Fire is also strongly connected, as is the sun and the sky at sunset. Healthy light skinned people are sometimes said to have a ruddy complexion (as opposed to appearing pale). After the rise of socialism in the mid-19th century, red was used to describe revolutionary movements.

Symbolism

Sin, guilt, pain, passion, blood, anger

Red is used as a symbol of guilt, sin and anger often as connected with blood or sex. A biblical example is found in Isaiah: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Also, The Scarlet Letter, an 1850 American novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, features a woman in a Puritan New England community who is punished for adultery with ostracism, her sin represented by a red letter 'A' sewn into her clothers. This all comes from a general Hebrew view inherited by Christianity which associates red with the blood of murder, as well as with guilt in general. Often things will be in red to scare. Another popular example of this is the phrase "caught red-handed", meaning either caught in an act of crime or caught wiht the blood of murder still on one's hands. At one point, red was associated with prostitutes, or now, with brothels (red-light districts). In Roman Catholicism, red represents wrath, on of the Seven Deadly Sins. In Christianity, Satan is usually depicted as colored red and / or wearing a red costume in both icnography and popular culture. Statisitics have shown that red cars are more likely to be involved in accidents.

The color red is associated with lust, passion, love, and beauty as well. The association with love and beauty is possibly related to the use of red roses as a love symbol. Both the Greeks and Hebrews considered red a symbol of love, as well as sacrifice. Psychological research has shown that men find women who are wearing red more attractive.

Courage and Sacrifice

Red is used as a symbol of courage and sacrifice, as in blood splilt in sacrifice or courage in the face of lethal danger. Examples of this are found in the flags of many nations including the United States, as well as in the novel The Red Badge of Courage, in which a soldier in the American Civil War discovers the meaning of courage. In Christianity, red is the liturgical color for the feast of martyrs, representing the blood of those who suffered death for their faith. It is sometimes used as the liturgical color for Holy Week including Palm Sunday and Good Friday, although this is a modern (20th century) development. In roman mythology red is associated with the god of war, Mars. A Roman general receiving a triumph had his entire body painted red in honor of his achievement. The pharase "red blooded" describes someone who is audacious, robust, , or virile. In Edward de Bono's book Six Thinking Hats a red hat represents feelings and emotions. Red and gold are also used for the Gryffindor house, which is known for bravery, in Hogwarts.

Warning

Red catches people's attention, and can be used either in a negative way to indicate danger and emergency, or in a positive way in advertising to gain more viewers, or in nature, as a ripe fruit announces its readiness with its red color. Several studies have indicated that red carries the strongest reaction of all the colors, with the level of reatction decreasing gradually with orange, yellow, and white, respectively. Because of this, red is often used to catch people's attention in a variety of situations.

Eastern and African traditions

In China, red is the symbol of fire and the south (both south in general and Southern China specifically). It carries a largelly positive connotation, being associated with courage, loyalty, honor, success, fortune, fertiltiy, happiness, passion, and summer. In Chinese cultural traditons, red is associated with weddings(where brides traditonally wear red dresses) and red paper is also frequently used to wrap gifts of money or other things. Special red packets in Mandarin or lai see in Cantonese are specifically used during the Chinese New Year to give monetary gifts. On the more negative side, obituaries are traditionally written in red inck, and to write someone's name in red signals either cutting them out of your life, or that they have died. Red is also associated with both the feminine and the masculine (yin and yang respectively), depending on the source.

In Japan, red is a tradtional color for a heroic figure. In the Indian Sub-continent, red is the traditonal color of bridal dresses, and is frequently represented in the media as a symbolic color for married women. The color is associated with purity, sexuality in marriage relationships through its connection to heat and fertility. It is also the color of wealth, beauty, and the goddess Lakshmi.

In Central Africa, Ndembu warriors rub themselves with red during celebrations. Since their culture sees the color as a symbol of life and health, sick people are also painted with it. Like most Central African cultures, the Ndembu see red as ambivalent, better than black, but not as good as white. In other parts of Africa, however, red is a color of mourning, representing death. Because of the connection red bears with death in many parts of Africa, the Red Cross has changed its colors to green and white in parts of the continent.