World of Symbols
Michelle Snyder, M. Phil, Symbolist
Michelle Snyder, M. Phil, Symbolist
Symbols flow like rivers through cultures: They migrate with people, and
as they are used, adopted, and adapted they pick up layers of meaning, like
water picks up elements from the ground over which it travels. Tracing the
origination of symbols is not unlike tracing the roots of words. We can follow
the similarities in the appearance of the symbols and their general meaning through the various cultures,
and based on the context of their use, can track their etymology. This etymology is evident in the visual aspect of a
symbol as well as in the concept it communicates.
Palimpsest and astatize come into play with the study of symbols. Palimpsest is the practice of scraping
ink from old papyrus in order to reuse it for new information. Shadows of the
old ink remain, as do shadows of the old significance of symbols. Astatize is best explained by watching
trees in the wind. The branches grow to disperse wind into different
directions. Like tree branches, symbols also astatize, growing from and merging
with one another, sometimes crossing paths many times. Sometimes the appearance
of the image evolves, sometimes only the conceptual message, sometimes both.
One can
learn much by comparing the use and meaning of similar images in different
cultures. As with mythologies, Faerie
tales, and legends, symbols often spread far beyond their place of origin. Some symbols tell us what their makers
cherished, produced, traded, or feared. The development in the meanings of
symbols over time reflects the migration and changes in cultures. Legends
associated with symbols have roots in ancient cultures; here we can discover a
treasury of history, bringing deeper and clearer understanding of both the
stories and the people. With some symbols, the visual aspects of the symbol
have not changed or evolved as much as the associations attached to them.
All cultures produce symbols. America is a place where many cultures
merge, and with that come a variety of symbols to enjoy. Contemporary artisans
use symbolism as decoration, or to create an association with a particular
symbol system. Painters, weavers, sculptors, and photographers all use visual
language to enrich their craft. The “Firefly Moon” gift store in Arlington offers
an eclectic variety of items. Beautiful mermaids in the window and on the
bookshelf wait for the right person to claim them. Wind chimes, handmade bags,
soap, and many other unique items surround the shopper with colors, shapes, and
symbols from a variety of cultures. Even the Man in the Moon makes an
appearance on the Grandfather Clock, “watching” all that come and go.
What are we layering onto the world of symbols? In our mass-production
culture finding something unique is difficult. Yet colorful handmade artwork, delicate
glass figurines, tapestries, quilts, or ceramic vases can enrich our homes as
an expression of our personalities; they help create a certain “feel” to the
space they are in. The shapes, colors, and patterns we choose are part of the
language of symbols; they speak to our family, friends, and visitors as surely
as we would with words. This visual record will preserve the character of our
generation, inherited by our children’s children. Just as we look at the images
familiar to our grandparents and think them odd, the pictures and symbols of
our generation will seem peculiar to our descendants. But in them will be a
treasure of information about the heritage of those that created them.
Michelle Snyder, MPhil., author of Symbology:
Decoding Classic Images. For other books and articles by Michelle, visit
her website and blog at www.whiteknightstudio.com.
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