Art Homework about Symbols

Symbols in art and in our culture

Ellie Barrett

What is a symbol? A symbol is a sign that shows someone how to do or say something. According to dictionary.com, a symbol is something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign. Like a stop sign or other road signs.

A symbol is a letter, figure, or other character or mark or a combination of letters or the like used to designate something. It is also a word, phrase, image, or the like having a complex of associated meanings and perceived as having inherent value separable from that which is symbolized, as being part of that which is symbolized, and as performing its normal function of standing for or representing that which is symbolized: usually conceived as deriving its meaning chiefly from the structure in which it appears,and generally distinguished from a sign.

All symbols help people understand things better. In fact, there is a whole language for people who can’t speak and/or hear. This language is called Sign Language. People who use sign language have to learn all the signs just like learning how to talk. Sign Language has symbols with using the hands and face.

There are many different kinds of symbols. Symbols are even used in movie theatres! In the previews, there is always a commercial that says something like: Please silence your cell phones, thank you., and shows a symbol like this one:

In airplanes the bathrooms almost always show a “no smoking” symbol that looks like this:

Symbols are even in religious organizations. Every religion has a symbol to represent their belief.

Constellations are basically symbols in the sky. Orion’s symbol is:

because the constellation looks like:

which is also a symbol.

Symbols are literally everywhere. From restaurants, ; to parks, ; to airports, .

Symbols affect us in our daily lives every day. Sometimes it’s for our safety and sometimes it is to help us understand more about what we are doing. For example again, an airport: When a  “turn your electronics off” symbol comes on above your seat, it is because the radio waves from the cell phone or other electronic can interfere with the plane transmissions. If anything interferes with the transmissions, the plane could crash. Also, symbols and signs can help you understand more about what you are doing. Like a handicapped parking sign. If you park in a handicapped parking spot without a permit, your car could be towed and/or you could be charged a fine. So, handicapped signs are a very good symbol to tell you to not park there if you don’t have a handicapped permit.This isn’t just at airports, handicapped parking is found in a lot of different parts of our state. So every single day we follow the orders of symbols around us.

Even in science class or our possible future job we will need to use and understand symbols. If you think this sign means “for consumption”, you would be very dead after drinking that.

Understanding symbols is important for our health and other people’s health.

Symbols are also available in artistic form. Different artists come up with different symbols for their own meaning every day. Every artist has their own interpretation and way of creating things than another artist.

But unlike artistic symbols, road signs and other symbols in your daily life can be hazardous if interpreted wrong.

p.s: Why my art teacher made me do a 3 page essay on symbols for my final is unknown.

p.s.s: You fully have my permission to copyright this essay and use for your homework :P