Symbolism

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 mass usage, 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 and 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.

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.