The power of cultural symbolism

Wherever we look in society, we see forms of symbolic representation that identify and illustrate our cultural ethos. The symbols we use, unlike signs, have multiple meanings depending on the context and culture in which they appear. A symbol can be a gesture, an object or a ritual that informs, solidifies and influences our social interactions. They are an important and integral element in understanding culture. They reinforce our norms, values ​​and provide an operative in which we can manifest our meanings. Symbols can also evoke emotional responses from us.

Anthropologist Clifford Geertz explained that our symbolic world is used as a vehicle for our concepts; They represent how we conceive our world. The conception of the symbol is its meaning. Another interpretive anthropologist, Victor Turner, believed that symbols are not just vehicles for meaning, but that by their very use they create meaning, understanding, and solidarity in relationships. This is why he saw ritualistic symbolism as harboring core symbols that carried extra weight. Symbols function not only to represent a value or a belief, but their use affects the individual more deeply. This is because, as Turner believed, the central symbols found in ritual had the ability or utility to connect the known with the unknown. In essence, ritual acts and ritual symbolism often involve ethereal ideas that become tangible during the ritual process. Geertz also echoed the importance of ritual symbolism and, in particular, religious symbolism. He asserted that religious symbolic acts or behavior were specific creators of the individual’s mood but also, due to their religious purpose, provided motivation.

However, everyday symbols and symbolic behavior do not always represent something transcendental. They may simply signify an aspect of our cultural norms and, through their use, become effective in reinforcing them. When agents use and interact with these symbols, the values ​​and meanings they represent are encoded. That is why they are an integral part of cultural life. Some widely recognized ritual symbols or behaviors are thousands of years old, such as those that are a distinct part of religious heritage. They have been used to embody and affirm the sacred ideologies they represent and also provide utility in ritual and practice during religious worship. A more mundane symbolism could be the handshake which we can recognize as a common custom, but which can also represent many meanings such as agreement, understanding or a formal but socially courteous greeting. This seems like a very petty form of symbolism and such a mundane example. However, we can recognize the power behind the symbolic gesture when such custom is violated. For example, there may be an occasion where etiquette dictates that a handshake is appropriate, but the hand may be refused. It is then that the true meaning behind the gesture becomes much more apparent.

All symbolic representation has its genesis in the social, ideological and political concepts that define our culture. They form from these, but also inform these. The symbols are not always the same, but they can be transformed through the ages and various processes of cultural adaptation.

Let us consider a national flag as a symbol. Every nation has one and we can assume that every country regards its flag as a symbol of the unity of its people. It represents a specific identification with the ‘nation’ or even with ‘ethnicity’. Above all, it represents a collective, a common affiliation. A great example of the symbolism embedded in national flags and their effect can be drawn from the revolution in Libya. The freedom fighters, along with the new government, re-established the old Libyan flag, the symbol of an independent Libya used before the Colonel. Gaddafi’s rule between 1951 and 1969. At the same time, people carried out a kind of ceremonial and festive burning of the old green flag, which was in place during Gaddafi’s rule. The flag became part of a ritual, with its burning a sign of celebration of freedom from tyranny. We can see from this behavior how loaded with symbolic meaning the flag is. The action was not only cathartic for the participants, but, as a symbolic act, it also spoke volumes for outsiders. So we can see how something as seemingly simple as a national flag can not only represent many meanings, but can have the power to evoke high emotional responses due to the values ​​it represents. Because of this, in all cultures, the way citizens use and treat a flag is of the utmost importance, as it represents a national consciousness that can include pride, patriotism, identity, and in this case, freedom.

What is clear about the power of symbolic representation in society is that while symbols serve the function of representing a concept or idea, they also have the propensity to evoke an emotional and psychological response. In fact, the importance or emotional meaning of the concept is what formulates the symbol in the first place.

Let’s take another worldly symbol, the white dove. This symbol is widely recognizable across cultures. Sometimes it is used alone, and sometimes it is used in conjunction with other symbols. Most of us would say that it represents or is a symbol of peace. Why do we think it represents peace? We have to look at the origins and history of the symbol to understand why.

The symbol of the white dove and the olive branch has its genesis in the biblical story of Noah’s Arch. After the deluge, the dove returns to the Arch with an olive branch indicating that the deluge was over and a new beginning was approaching. So, the symbol of the white dove together with an olive branch has its origin in the Christian story. However, the use of the olive branch symbol within that story already had a previous meaning in history, as it was the early Roman symbol for peace. From this, we can understand why he was carried away by the dove and the reason for his incorporation into the story. After all this time, the symbols of the white dove and the olive branch have been integrated into our cultural system in such a way that they automatically become one of the most recognized symbols of peace. The likely reason for this is probably largely due to the spread of Christian-based education throughout the world over the centuries. However, the symbol has varied over time. We often see, perhaps to promote a more secular tone, the white dove without the olive branch in the logos of various organizations. Its popularity in use is largely based on the fact that it has an immediately recognizable meaning, making it an effective and powerful symbol.

Whether they are sacred or worldly symbols, they form an important part of any cultural fabric. They have the power to transform a concept into a reality, to speak without words and to generate emotional responses in us. Understanding the meaning behind symbolic behavior and the symbols themselves allows us a great understanding of our world and what we consider important and valuable.