Symbols

In your own words, define what a symbol is and how it functions. Think of one or more symbols and describe them, then describe what they symbolize. Why do you think those things have acquired a culturally agreed upon meaning? How does something like this happen? Can symbols be created at will, or do they occur “naturally”? Can you give an example of one or the other (or both)?

In my own words, I would describe a symbol as an arbitrary sign or object that has a conventional, or generally agreed upon meaning, significance or indication. How it functions? I think that over time, a group of people will view a particular object, item, or sign, and according to their culture, will attribute it to something that they feel it seems to be a representation of. Sometimes you just feel that an object is a clear representation of something else; there probably is no real logic behind it.

A few universal symbols are, very obviously, things such as "fire," which represents two aspects: both warmth and destruction; and in a more contemporary point-of-view, emoticons, which uses punctuation marks to create facial expressions. A few symbols are also very prominent in western culture and philosophy, such as classical elements: fire, water, earth air; and the four temperaments: choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic and sanguine, which I learned about in last year's English course. The classical elements and the temperaments are intertwined in meaning, both finding their origins in ancient Greece. The four temperaments were originally called the Humors, and they represented different personalities according to each temperament. The classical elements vary in how they are interpreted according to different cultures and religions; for example, in early Buddhism, the four elements were a basis for understanding suffering.

I think symbols attain their conventional meanings when a group of people view a sign or object as relating to something else, in which both share a common characteristic, as is the case with the symbol "fire". Sometimes a symbol may be personal, and in this case the symbol may be referring to the sentimental attachment the person (or group) feels towards the object. In other cases it seems to be made up. Origins of symbols are hard to trace this way because they are so often borrowed, reused, and renamed due to differences in people's interpretation of the symbol (as I learned from reading The Da Vinci Code, in addition to all the other Dan Brown novels). For instance, the symbol of the dove carrying an olive branch, representing peace, I believe, probably finds its origins in the book of Genesis of the Bible, where Noah sends a dove out the ark and it returns with an olive branch. Symbols are usually disagreed upon in their meaning, again, due to differences in culture. Off the top of my head, an example could be the symbolic meaning of bats. In western culture, people seem to regard bats as though they are demons. However, in asia, bats are traditionally a symbol of good fortune.

Some symbols have a symbol that is generally agreed upon. Objects such as fire have attained universal acceptance because what they represent are clear in the object's natural characteristics. Some symbols, such as the all seeing eye and the Masonic Square and Compass (again, credits to Dan Brown) are symbols that can only be recognized - and interpreted - by few because of its limited significance for the general public.