Line #24 Main/Symbolism


1	-> ''"This is how you solve problems in comics: Here's one guy representing this, and here's one guy representing that, and let' em fight each other and see who wins."''
2	-->-- '''Creator/GrantMorrison''', ''Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle''
3
4	Symbolism is a very old, common and broad trope used to represent an idea, belief, event or other similar things by using a lesser object or event to represent it. For example, the color green will often represent envy and jealousy or red may represent wrath. Objects can symbolize many different things as well: An apple could easily represent temptation, [[AppleOfDiscord conflict]] or knowledge depending on how it's used. In a mundane way, you can even have very common cases like a flag representing a country.
5
6	As such a widespread and useful trope for making a point, symbolism has a massive amount of usage and subtropes, so please do not list examples on this page.
7
8	Compare {{Motifs}}, StockVisualMetaphors, ShapesAndSymbolsTropes, {{Allegory}}.
9	----
10	!! Tropes:
11	[[index]]
12	* ArcSymbol: A symbol appears over and over again, often with no explanation for what it means until much later.
13	* BlueIsHeroic: Blue is associated with calmness, kindness and the heavens, and it's frequently the go-to color for intellectual heroes.
14	* BluebirdOfHappiness: Blue-colored birds are used to symbolize happiness.
15	* ButterflyOfDeathAndRebirth: Because of their famous metamorphosis, butterflies are used to symbolize life and death.
16	* CagedBirdMetaphor: A character is associated with a caged bird to symbolize their sense of confinement and longing for freedom.
17	* CanaryInACoalMine: A canary is often used to determine if a mine is safe or not.
18	* ColorMotif: Colors often represent complex emotions or ideas such as passion, warmth, wisdom or love.
19	* CrucialCross: A cross is used to convey goodness or hope (especially that of a heroic character) in the face of suffering and evil.
20	* CrucifiedHeroShot: A character makes a grave sacrifice and ends up with their body positioned as though it were crucified.
21	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Metaphoric symbolism.
22	* DyingCandle: When a character dies, so does the light.
23	* DyingForSymbolism: Death of a character is death of hope.
24	* EndingByAscending: A character going up a staircase or ladder symbolizes rebirth, rest or new adventures.
25	* EnvironmentalSymbolism: The setting represents the mood.
26	* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: Everything can be seen as religious symbolism.
27	* EveryoneIsSatanInHell: Everything can be accused of having nefarious subtext.
28	* EyeOfHorusMeansEgypt: Where the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Horus Eye Of Horus]]'' is used to symbolize that something's Egyptian.
29	* FauxSymbolism: When a trope seems symbolic, but closer examination reveals that it makes no sense.
30	* TheFlameOfLife: Fire used to symbolize life and vitality.
31	* FreudWasRight: Whatever it is, for a character it represents sex.
32	* GoldAndWhiteAreDivine: Gold and white are precious, rare and valuable and therefore associated with God or the gods.
33	* GoodColorsEvilColors: Certain colors indicate morality and personality.
34	* GoodShapeshiftingEvilShapeshifting: A shapeshifter's morality is revealed by a symbolic choice of forms.
35	* HandshakeOfDoom: A handshake indicating a DealWithTheDevil or similar unwise alliance.
36	* HealingSerpent: Snakes and snake-like entities used to symbolize the healing arts.
37	* HeartOfTheMatter: Something so vital, it is likened to a living heart.
38	* HeavenlyBlue: Divinity or holiness are associated with blue due to the association with the sky.
39	* MadonnaArchetype: She's the Virgin Mary.
40	* MatingDance: Represents sex.
41	* MessianicArchetype: This guy represents Jesus.
42	* MentalMonster: Represents inner struggles.
43	* MosesArchetype: This guy represents Moses.
44	* PelvicThrust: Pelvic thrusts represent sexual intercourse.
45	* PhallicWeapon: Weapons represent penises.
46	* PinkHeroine: Pink is associated with youthful femininity so the heroine of a girl-targeted show is often decked out in pink.
47	* PinkIsErotic: Pink is associated with eroticism and is used to emphasize/symbolize the act of sex.
48	* PopCultureSymbology: Mystical and/or conspirological symbolism in popular culture.
49	* PurpleIsPowerful: Purple is regal, powerful and amazing.
50	* QueerColors: Certain colors are associated with LGBTQ pride and romance.
51	* QueerFlowers: Certain flowers are associated with homosexuality and romance between people of the same-sex.
52	* RedAndBlackTotalitarianism: Red and black are associated with totalitarian political regimes
53	* RedEyesTakeWarning: Red eyes are unnatural and red is a color with a mixed reputation, making red eyes dangerous.
54	* RedIsHeroic: Red is associated with blood, masculinity and power, so action heroes often wear red.
55	* RedIsViolent: Red is associated with blood and fire, a color used to represent violence, anger and rage, worn by both good and evil sides.
56	* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Reptiles are associated with villainy.
57	* RuleOfSymbolism: When symbolism is used in a manner that would otherwise break the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief but is swallowed by the reader because it gets across the real point so well.
58	* ScarySymbolicShapeshifting: A non-shapeshifter symbolically transforms to illustrate their unpleasant nature.
59	* SceneryBasedSocietalBarometer: A single piece of scenery represents the health of a setting.
60	* SeparatedByTheWall: A physical barrier to represent an emotional one.
61	* SerpentOfImmortality: Snakes symbolize immortality, regeneration and rebirth.
62	* SnowGlobeOfInnocence: The snowglobe depicts a time or place of lost joy, serenity, or innocence.
63	* SomethingElseAlsoRises: Something represents an erection or arousal.
64	* StockMonsterSymbolism: Certain monsters represent certain fears like drug addiction or [=STDs=].
65	* SwanBoats: Riding swans, having swan-shaped boats or boats pulled by swans represents love, romance, leisure or art.
66	* SweetsOfTemptation: Candy, cake, and other sweet food is used as symbolism for temptation and hidden danger.
67	* SymbolicallyBrokenObject: A broken object represents the death of a person or destruction of a relationship.
68	* SymbolicBaptism: A character's immersion in water marks the beginning of a new phase in their life.
69	* SymbolicBlood: It's not blood... technically.
70	* SymbolicDistance: Physical distance signifies an emotional seperation or yearning between characters.
71	* SymbolicMutilation: A missing body part or injury reveals something about the character.
72	* SymbolicSereneSubmersion: Floating motionless underwater represents the character's internal state.
73	* SymbolicWings: Imagery of wings is visually evoked for the sake of symbolism.
74	* SymbolMotifClothing: A character's clothing regularly represents something important about them.
75	* TemptingApple: Apples symbolize temptation and desire.
76	* ToolsOfSapience: A nude character (human or non-human) is shown to be sapient by carrying and using artifacts.
77	* VirileStallion: A horse is used to represent a man's masculinity and potency.
78	* WeedingOutImperfections: Bad guys use flowers, weeds, and other plants as metaphors for "desirable" and "undesirable" people.
79	* WhiteIsPure: When a character wears white to reflect how they are morally pure and obsessed with being clean.
80	* WindsOfChange: A change in the wind means a shift in the story.
81	* WorldOfSymbolism: The story is built out of symbolism.
82	* YellowEyesOfSneakiness: A character with yellow eyes is thought to have a sneaky and conniving nature.
83	[[/index]]

Context Main / Symbolism