symbols-A universal Language

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Did you know roses can represent love or that lilies could stand for beauty? Symbolism is “the practice of representing things by symbols or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character” according to (dictionary.com). Symbolism has been used throughout the world and it can vary among cultures because of its various ideals and qualities it can represent, in literature and in art.
In the late nineteenth-century symbolism originally developed as a literary movement, soon it was associated in the artwork of younger artist. They believed that art should mirror an idea or emotions rather that symbolize the natural world. In many artworks symbolism adds a quality or idea like in Madonna and Child with Saints Peter Paul and the donor' (1505) by G Bellini. The background illustrates the heavens because the marble floor in the painting contrasts with the natural background giving a heavenly feel. Intentionally, symbolism formed as a reaction to impressionism and naturalism. Many times the color or hue of a painting can surface many emotions, blue for example can represent calmness and red can represent passion or anger. Also many objects in art represent other things beyond themselves. Mirrors can be a sign of the sun, broken it represents separation or bad luck. Most of the symbolist painters used objects and gave them a deeper meaning such as death, religion, and love. Also many artist would intentionally make the meaning their painting unclear and not clarify it, this made most viewers interpret the painting however they wanted. In addition to that symbolism influenced two later art movements, surrealism and expressionism.
Symbolism in American culture can easily be found because we see symbols every day. For example a four l...

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...-popular-objects. yourdictionary.com.“Examples of Symbolism” March 11, 2014. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples-of-symbolism.html.
Eva Ketter Labiak. Answers.com. “That’s what it meant: Symbolism in Poetry”. March 11, 2014 http://english.answers.com/history-of-literature/thats-what-it-meant-symbolism-in-poetry
Holly Quinn. Huffingtonpost.com. “Dreams About Being Chased: Dreams Meanings Explained”. March 11, 2014. 07/13/2011. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/symb/hd_symb.htm.
Rebecca Turner. Worldofluciddreaming.com. “30 Common Dreams Symbols and Their Mysterious Meanings ”. March 11, 2014. http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/30-common-dream-symbols.html
Holly Quinn. Huffingtonpost.com. “Dreams About Being Chased: Dreams Meanings Explained”. March 11, 2014. 07/13/2011http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/dreams-about-being-chased_n_891410.html

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