Symbols are one of the world’s oldest means of communication, dating back as far as historically possible. Today, symbols still play a vital role in society, displaying beliefs, values, morality and many other things crucial to civilisation. The social anthropologist Raymond Firth wrote “It is assumed that symbols communicate meanings at levels of reality not accessible through immediate experience or conceptual thought. These meanings are often complex and of different layers.”[1] I intend to focus on exactly that, and how these symbols have gone beyond their original purpose to become something much more.
One of the main examples of this is the symbol used for the Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament, displayed on the right. The reason behind me using this as my primary example is down to previous research on the Glastonbury Festival, an event that was once strongly connected with the CND. Established in 1957 as a result of the increasing testing and development of nuclear weapons in Britian, the CND soon became known as a declaration of peace, the symbol being at the front of this movement. Alongside being the semaphore signals for ‘N’ and ‘D’ (Nuclear Disarmament), originally the designer intended the sign to represent despair, with the image of arms outstretched downwards and the circle representing ‘the unborn child’. By the end of the 60s however, the creator of the symbol came to regret its original meaning. Spreading overseas to the states, the sign soon became known internationally as an antiwar icon, going on to be known as the worldwide peace symbol we know it as today. It is this incredible growth of an ideology through a symbol that shows just how powerful they can be. As I discovered when I asked several of my friends, few people (certainly in my generation) had any idea that the symbol came from the CND. This in my opinion is one of the best examples of symbols developing for the better into worldwide significant icons.Symbols becoming universally recognised and accepted in cultures other than their origins is not uncommon. The Tajitu, symbol for the basis of the Chinese culture of Yin and Yang again represents two opposing factors existing in harmony with one another. This symbol has been adopted comfortably into the western world and similar to the CND sign, is now an icon of peace. Alongside this, there is also Roerich’s banner of peace, a symbol created to protect cultural artefacts such as monuments and buildings, representing the ‘totality of culture’. Throughout the duration of history symbols of peace have always provided strong bases for values and beliefs, growing in that sense the more time passes.
With the idea of yin and yang being two polar opposites, it seems only fitting to talk about the other end of the spectrum. A symbol that, unlike the signs of peace previously mentioned, was and still is feared, powerful and known all over the world; the swastika. Whilst travelling around India, I noticed the symbol on countless buildings and temples, and naively made the quick judgement that this was a result of Nazi occupation. However, just a small amount of research on the matter tells you how far beyond the swastika goes than World War II. The origin of the symbol is more or less unknown due to it being able to be traced back to a multitude of cultures; however it can be pinpointed to civilisations such as ancient Troy and Egypt over 3000 years ago. Pre-Nazism the swastika was indeed used as a religious symbol by both Indian Hinduism and Buddhism. It is partly from India where Hitler apparently based one of the main ideologies of Nazism on; the creation of an Aryan race.
After investigating the swastika, I found myself feeling almost guilty at the fact that I had made such a snap-judgement. I may be generalising, but it would not surprise me if this judgement is not uncommon in the western world, which in my opinion is slightly tragic. Due to the events that transpired in World War II, this symbol is now mainly recognised for its crimes and atrocities, rather than its initial meanings such as wealth and good-fortune, the original word ‘swastika’ actually translating in Sanskrit as ‘good to come’. It seems a shame that one the world’s most ancient symbols is most likely now perceived in such a dark way by modern western society.An interesting psychologist to look at when studying symbols is Carl Jung. He has his own theory on the swastikas creation believing it to be down to his idea of collective unconscious, where the human mind seems to have a natural attraction to the form of the symbol. This may explain why through history it has been used in cultures all over the world independently. Kenneth Burke, an American philosopher, describes man as a “symbol using, symbol making, and symbol misusing animal” [5]. In my opinion this definition provides an effective conclusion. Both the way in which symbols change and have so much meaning in the world today despite being fundamentally so simple is, and will remain throughout the course of humanity, an incredible feat.
References:
1. Symbols and Meaning: A Concise Introduction by Mari Womack, published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc. in the USA in 2005.
3. Lin, Qi and Shu: An Introduction to Science and Civilisation in China by Peng Yoke Ho, published by Dover Publications in the USA in 2000.
Images:
1. http://www.artrepublic.com/prints/14376-cnd-soldiers-silkscreen-signed-limited-edition- of-350.html accessed on the 04/12/11
3. http://flagspot.net/flags/qt-p-ro.html accessed on the 04/12/11
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