Color Symbolism
Grade 8 Art Project
Betty Blue, a France Film (Romance/Drama)
Three Colours: Blue, a France Film
Although the posters may seem like a parody of their titles (they both contain the term “blue”), the use of the color seems accurate in setting the mood.
Betty Blue complies with low saturation and contrast between rich yellow and dark blue. It forms visual priorities through the sizes of figures (ex. The face of the main figure is the largest, demanding attention. Then, we can look at the title (37 degrees) as it is the second largest. The other small details, such as white text or black houses are tiny too.) Due to the overwhelming use of navy and blue, and less usage of yellow, we can get the impression that the film is not emitting a happy, joyful tone, but a rather glum one. We also receive more hints the film is intended to be a wretched ride, due to the actress’s facial expression and the impression that the sun is setting, a symbolic visualization usually implying the downfall of something or someone.
The film poster of Three Colours: Blue is rather vividly saturated with intense colors. The primary light/bright colors of the posters are the white title, the actress’s face, and yellow captions. The background is a serene blur of blue and black. Contrary to the pacific background, the film also presents a downhearted atmosphere. The actress’s facial expression seems solid and vigilant. This may signify either danger or distress.
The Wasted Times, a Chinese Film
Adieu Les Cons, a France Film
The Wasted Times shows the distinct line between red and black (dark gray). The waves look akin to blood, indicating a dangerous, cruel situation for the plot. Due to the contrast between the red and black, the figure below, settling down in the wave/blood stands out immensely. The waves/blood also set a certain priority in layering, as the opacity of each wave indicates movement.
Adieu Les Cons also uses red, black, and white to create contrast between the two figures and items that surround the white heart shape. With the use of a heart, one can easily deduce that the film is related to the theme of romance or love. The two figures seem to be fleeing, it is a humorous design to refer back to its film title (the English translation for this movie is “Bye Bye (offensive slur)”). The two figures running away, due to its title, seem to be a mocking gesture towards other characters in the film.
It can be noted how the same color palette is used for two distinct genres. (The Wasted Times is a Chinese-Hong-Kong thriller film and Adieu Les Cons is a Comedy/Drama)
Therefore, it is impressive how the two posters use the emotional implications of vibrant red in two different ways.
The film poster of Mean Streets shows excellent utilization of shapes and forms. The most noticeable would be how the building/factory cut-outs blend in with the dark shape of the gun (with red smoke) as if it is one of those buildings. The primary colors used are yellow, orange, red, (warm colors), and black. The bloody red can be associated with the term “mean” in general.
The poster of Her is simple yet striking. The magenta background fuses with the red/pink shirt he wears, whereas Theodore (the main character)’s closed-on face is very noticeable to the audience. This also counts with the title “her”, as it is visualized in distinguishable (and contrasting) white. The background color can be a parallel to the genre itself, a science-fiction romantic drama.
FINAL PIECE
My artwork combines the concept of the two terms “dead end” and train tracks (from previous concepts) to create a new scene. There is the use of curved lines for the train track, straight lines for each layer of the wall that becomes smaller as it goes, and thick, dark brush strokes to convey ground texture for the background. (LINE & TEXTURE) Despite the similar color palettes (all colors are warm colors in this piece, excluding the white figure), there is CONTRAST in lighting.
There is a single source of light that is evident, and the light expands into the space (further creating spatial perception), creating direct contrast between the dim, desaturated brick walls and the light source at the end of the train tracks (this can be stated as an EMPHASIS and VALUE, as the light source is the focal point, the brightest part, of this piece). The train tracks, brick walls, and wood walls behind them all show REPETITION. The brick wall is a clear example of a PATTERN, as it is a repetition of the same brownish-red colored rectangle. If one looks above the drawing, there is a black rectangle emitting sparks from itself, implying it is (or was) a certain device that displays pixelated messages. The sparks that are released seem to show MOVEMENT due to the size changes in the particles as they “go forward” or change direction. Although the yellow brush strokes do convey the fact that it is the most blazing color in the painting, as a film poster, the title ("Dead End.") would be showing the highest contrast in comparison (white ←→ #481F01 (a deep, dark shade of reddish brown))
Despite these diverse aspects included in the art piece, several limitations are noticeable. There seem to be boundaries to how I’ve depicted the depth of my space (the overall setting in the artwork). In simple words, the angles or depth of the perspective used is slightly out of place, and there could’ve been more work done on the proportions of each object (ex. The exclamation sign post, the broken VMS, and the white figure) In addition, it is my personal belief that there could have been room for additional details, such as areas in texture.
The overall theme of this process would be how the use of color, text, and arrangement can influence the audience’s interpretation (rather than apprehension, excitement, etc.). These factors can be affected by one’s cultural background or the society’s general perception of that particular factor. One example of this would be how red is usually associated with atmospheres of danger, cruelty, and gruesomeness, and this fact, interestingly, is globally understood. Another example of text would be how the design of the font can influence the emotions it emits.