What is the symbolism of the color gray? What does the color gray do
to the brain or what is its impact on human psychology and mood?

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Request for Question Clarification by hammer-ga on 29 May 2003 12:40 PDT

In which culture?

- Hammer

Dear shikibobo-ga;

Cool question. Thanks for bringing it to us.

While many colors, such as red, blue and yellow, are known to evoke
certain emotions and feelings in humans, gray appears to be one of
those earthy neutrals that does not have this type of effect (taupe is
another one). According to cultural significance, certain colors can
promote certain thoughts and emotions. Black, in American culture for
example, is traditionally a color of mourning  (it is also associated
with the mysterious, foreboding and often associated with the
unknown). In some Asian cultures on the other hand, white is symbolic
of mourning. Each culture differs largely with the exception of
neutral colors, also called “earth tones”. Check out these pages to
read more about the neutrality of the color gray:

ALL ABOUT GRAY, SILVER “ELEGANT NEUTRAL”
http://desktoppub.about.com/library/weekly/blcsgray.htm

“Gray is a neutral, balanced color. It is a cool, conservative color
that seldom evokes strong emotion although it can be seen as a cloudy
or moody color.”

COLOR SYMBOLISM CHART
http://www.wired4success.com/colorsymbolism.htm

According to this interpretation, gray evokes these feelings and
emotions: “Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty,
dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness,
boring”

I hope you find that that my research exceeds your expectations. If
you have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga



INFORMATION SOURCES

WHAT COLORS MEAN
http://desktoppub.about.com/library/weekly/aa103000a.htm

ALL ABOUT GRAY, SILVER “ELEGANT NEUTRAL”
http://desktoppub.about.com/library/weekly/blcsgray.htm




SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

SYMBOLISM OF THE COLOR GRAY

EMOTION COLOR GRAY EVOKES

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 31 May 2003 07:56 PDT

A survey of all continental cultures conducted by Purdue School of
Engineering and Technology indicated that the color gray narrowly
beats out the color brown as being most representative of that which
is "dull".

"Purdue School of Engineering and Technology" 
http://www.engr.iupui.edu/~williams/Color_Symbolism_Survey_Results_files/slide11-1.html

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Not much to work with but what do I want for $2?

The neutrality or ambiguity of gray is related symbolically to its
formulation as a mixture of "binary" colors black and white. 
Psychologists speak of "black and white thinking" for
oversimplification of complex issues.

Another sort of symbolism for the color gray is associated with the
American Civil War.  Blue was the color of the Union forces and gray
the color of the Confederacy.

Finally there is a practical value to the color gray that may affect
its symbolism.  Pure white fabric or paint emphasizes the presence of
dust or other "grime", so a light gray or other off-white color (such
as beige) will often be used instead to effect a "cleaner" look.

regards, mathtalk-ga