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"Symbolic" redirects here. For other uses, see Symbolism (disambiguation) and Symbolic (disambiguation).

Symbolism is the applied use of symbols: iconic representations that carry particular meanings.

The term "symbolism" is limited to use in contrast to "representationalism"; defining the general directions of a linear spectrum - where in all symbolic concepts can be viewed in relation, and where changes in context may imply systemic changes to individual and collective definitions of symbols. "Symbolism" may refer to a way of choosing representative symbols in line with abstract rather than literal properties, allowing for the broader interpretation of a carried meaning than more literal concept-representations allow. A religion can be described as a language of concepts related to human spirituality. Symbolism hence is an important aspect of most religions.

The interpretation of abstract symbols has had an important role in religion and psychoanalysis. As envisioned by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, symbols are not the creations of mind, but rather are distinct capacities within the mind to hold a distinct piece of information. In the mind, the symbol can find free association with any number of other symbols, can be organized in any number of ways, and can hold the connected meanings between symbols as symbols in themselves. Jung and Freud diverged on the issue of common cognitive symbol systems and whether they could exist only within the individual mind or among other minds; whether any cognitive symbolism was defined by innate symbolism or by the influence of the environment around them.

Symbolic Representation

The meaning of a symbol is based upon several factors, including pop culture associations, history, and contextual intent.

Historical meaning

This history of a symbol is one of many factors in determining a particular symbols' apparent meaning. Old symbols often become reinterpreted given time and new historical context.

The Rebel Flag of the American South contains elements of design which predate the American Civil War. These design elements were used by some Irish and Scottish inhabitants of The Americas. An early variant of the crossed bars can be seen on the Scottish Flag.

Following the American Civil War, the KKK founded in part by Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest became notorious in the American South for conducting racially-motivated attacks. Its members often associated themselves with the Confederate flag. This use of the Rebel Flag has resulted its association with racism in the minds of some and a subsequent dispute over whether or not the the flag has racist connotations.

It may appear that the Christian cross has its origins in the Ancient Egyptian Ankh, which it greatly resembles. In the case of the cross, however, its modern symbolism derives from the Roman Empire's use of large wooden crosses to crucify criminals, rather than being directly related to the Ankh signifying life.

Juxtaposition

Symbolism can be complicated via Juxtaposition as well. Alone, the cross has a specific meaning as a symbol of Christianity. However, a cross set on fire on a lawn is a symbol used by the KKK, which has racist implications, even though the original cross may have no such implications.

External links

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 ==Symbolic Representation==
-The meaning of a [[symbol]] is based upon several factors, including mass usage, [[history]], and contextual [[intent]].<br />
+The meaning of a [[symbol]] is based upon several factors, including [[pop culture]] associations, [[history]], and contextual [[intent]].
-This [[history]] of the [[symbol]] is the most important factor in determining a particular symbols' true meaning. The "[[Rebel Flag]]", for instance, goes back farther than the [[civil war]] and was used by the [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[Scottish people|Scottish]] inhabitant of [[The Americas]]. Even today, the symbol is still used in [[Scotland]], as a law enforcement symbol, and is on the Irish Flag. So then we can note that the meaning of a symbol must be derived from its most historical implications, to arrive at the supposed meaning. When we do, we will almost always find verification within the modern implications of the symbol in question (such as the [[Scottish Flag]edfddfdfdf] containing "the stars and bars"). We then must examine the current "mass usage" of the symbol in question. This can be rather difficult to do, especially, with a symbol such as the [[Confederate flag]], whose usage ranges from gang [[violence]], to the early [[Catholic Church]], and every point in between. So then we must decide wether a symbol is guilty by association, or by historical context. For example, the [[KKK]] has, in the past, conducted attacks, while they fly the confederate flag. So do we assume that the KKK has the capacity to alter the meaning of a symbol, or shall we point to other rallies of the same nature by the "White Knights" party where the only flag being flown was that of the [[American flag]]? Thus, a symbol cannot be guilty via association.
-It is, however, not always easy to derive the earliest usage of a symbol, as the symbol may change over time. This is true of the widely used "Christian Icon", the Cross. It has been argued that this symbol has its origins in the Ancient Egyptian "[[Ankh]]", which resembles the christian cross. In such cases the mass usage of the symbol is generally agreed upon.
+===Historical meaning===
-Symbolism can be complicated via the usage of "KevinHa symbolism" as well. Just as we brought up the "Rebel Flag", and its genuine historical meaning, one may well complexify the meaning of this symbol if a large Celtic cross were to be placed over the backdrop of a confederate flag. This would have plain and obvious racist implications, and the true meaning of the symbol, though again, not guilty by association, would become twisted by the presence of this other symbol.
+This [[history]] of a [[symbol]] is one of many factors in determining a particular symbols' apparent meaning.  Old symbols often become reinterpreted given time and new historical context.
+The [[Rebel Flag]] of the [[American South]] contains elements of design which predate the [[American Civil War]].  These design elements were used by some [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[Scottish people|Scottish]] inhabitants of [[The Americas]]. An early variant of the crossed bars can be seen on the [[Scottish Flag]].
+Following the [[American Civil War]], the [[KKK]] founded in part by Confederate general [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] became notorious in the [[American South]] for conducting [[lynching|racially-motivated attacks]].  Its members often associated themselves with the Confederate flag.  This use of the [[Rebel Flag]] has resulted its association with racism in the minds of some and a [[Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America|subsequent dispute]] over whether or not the the flag has racist connotations.
+It may appear that the Christian [[cross]] has its origins in the Ancient Egyptian [[Ankh]], which it greatly resembles.  In the case of the [[cross]], however, its modern symbolism derives from the [[Roman Empire]]'s use of large wooden crosses to [[crucify]] criminals, rather than being directly related to the [[Ankh]] signifying life.
+===Juxtaposition===
+Symbolism can be complicated via [[Juxtaposition]] as well. Alone, the [[cross]] has a specific meaning as a symbol of [[Christianity]].  However, a cross set on fire on a lawn is a symbol used by the [[KKK]], which has racist implications, even though the original [[cross]] may have no such implications.
+==See also==
+*[[Religious symbolism]]
+**[[Christian symbolism]]
+**[[Jewish symbolism]]
+**[[Buddhist symbolism]]
+**[[Solar symbol]]s
+*[[Political symbolism]]
+**[[Anarchist symbolism]]
+**[[Communist symbolism]]
+**[[Nazi symbolism]]
+*[[Symbolism (arts)]]
+**[[Russian Symbolism]]
+*[[Vexillology]]
+*[[Symbolic system]]
+*[[Symbology]]
+Symbolism is how something is represented
+==External links==
+*[http://aras.org/ Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism website]
+*[http://symbolism.wikia.com/ Symbolism Wiki]
+[[Category:Symbolism|*]]
 [[Category:Theories of aesthetics]]
+[[cs:Symbolismus]]
+[[da:Symbolisme]]
+[[de:Symbolismus]]
+[[el:Συμβολισμός]]
+[[es:simbolismo]]
+[[fa:نمادگرایی]]
+[[fr:Symbolisme]]
+[[nl:Symbolisme]]
+[[ja:象徴主義]]
+[[no:Symbolisme]]
+[[pt:Simbolismo]]
+[[ro:Simbolism]]
+[[sk:Symbolizmus]]
+[[zh:象征主义]]
 [[simple:Symbolic]]