Line #36 Main/EnvironmentalSymbolism


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4	One way for authors to subtly (or overtly) convey and reinforce the mood of a scene, episode, or even the genre of the work is to make the environment symbolize it. Much like a character with an AstonishinglyAppropriateAppearance, a setting can be made rife with {{symbolism}} to play up the emotional theme at work.
5
6	Generally, the whole setting itself will reflect the overall mood of the show, while a special location for a given scene will display the current mood of the characters.
7
8	'''This can include manipulation of the following:'''
9	* Color: ColorMotif, DeliberatelyMonochrome
10	* Lighting: DarkWorld
11	* Space: Claustrophobia, Agoraphobia
12	* Time: DecadeDissonance, {{Zeerust}}, TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture
13	* Cleanliness: SinisterSubway, CrapsackWorld, CrystalSpiresAndTogas, and of course CreepyCleanliness.
14	* Construction Era: {{Zeerust}}, DecadeDissonance, TheFutureIsNoir, AsceticAesthetic
15	* Inhabitants: The kind of plants, animals and people present, or their ''[[GhostCity absence]]''.
16	* Weather: EmpathicEnvironment, WeatherAndEnvironment
17
18	Note that the setting itself will not [[EmpathicEnvironment actively or supernaturally change]] unless the characters change it. Whether it's urban renewal to uplift or massive battle damage and craters depends on what the author wants. "Natural" changes such as the lights going dead or a fire breaking out do count towards this trope, however.
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20	See also PosterGalleryBedroom, where the character's in-universe design choices for their living space reflect their personality.
21
22	Related tropes are FisherKing, GeniusLoci, and basically everything in {{Settings}}.
23
24	----
25	!!Examples
26	[[foldercontrol]]
27
28	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
29	* Pretty common for the theatrics in ''Manga/DeathNote;'' a death always carries a grittier or grainier air, and some stuff glows more than it should (like open doors, police floodlights, and windows).
30	* Planet Gunsmoke in ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' is a drought-stricken, Old West-ish place. Vash The Stampede is a depressive, Old West-ish guy. When he [[spoiler: and Knives land on the planet and he cries over Rem's death, his tears are echoed by the falling debris of the SEEDS ship]], and when he [[spoiler: defeats his brother in the last episode]], the nearby townsfolk who've been drilling a well finally strike water.
31	* The Soul Rooms in both the ''Manga/YuGiOh'' manga and [[Anime/YuGiOh anime]] reflect the psychological state of their owners.
32	* The first of ''Literature/TheGardenOfSinners'' films has quite a few beautifully detailed buildings as the scenery... but most of them are in some form of decay and/or abandoned, reflecting the despair in the story and the crumbling of the human condition. It also represents Japan's economic crisis in the late 1990s, when the film takes place.
33	* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' likes to use this to emphasize some of the character's tragic {{Back Stor\|y}}ies; series lead Negi's [[DoomedHomeTown home village]] [[SnowMeansDeath in the snow]], [[WhoWantsToLiveForever immortal]] [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] Evangeline's war-torn battlefields in the 1400's, Asuna's colossal, [[TronLines rune covered]] tower at dusk in which she was the tower's BarrierMaiden. Akamatsu loves his characterization (expect CherryBlossoms during [[Manga/LoveHina happy scenes]]).
34	* {{Exaggerated}} in the Other World segments in ''Anime/BlackRockShooter''. Let's just say that the symbolism ''is'' the environment [[spoiler: especially if you subscribe to the BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind theory]]. Some of the symbolism also spill into the real world.
35	* In ''Anime/LupinIIIDeadOrAlive'', the general decay that we see in establishing shots of Zufu hint to the suffering of the people under General Headhunter's rule.
36	* In the ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', there is background symbolism in the movie we didn't see in the Anime. In the alley scene where Madoka and Kyouko are talking, you can see [[http://images.puella-magi.net/7/74/Blu_ray_mermaid_unicorn_ep_9.jpg?20110825104426 wind chimes of a unicorn and a mermaid]]. The unicorn has its horn pointed to the mermaid, which is [[spoiler: symbolic of Sayaka as the mermaid and Kyouko as the unicorn - think of their witch forms. That the horn is pointed to the mermaid refers to Kyouko attacking Oktavia]].
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Comic Books]]
40	* Gotham City from ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'', to reflect the nature of Batman and his more noir-ish adventures, is usually depicted as a dark, grimy, cramped and gothic urban nightmare of a city, usually seen at night; Metropolis from ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' is more often depicted as an almost-futuristic steel-and-glass environment, usually a bit more open and clean and is more often seen during the day to reflect Superman's more optimistic nature. Frank Miller said that Metropolis is New York in the day, while Gotham is New York at night. This is actually taken to real issues when the superheroes switch haunts every now and then -- not only are they both dealing with unfamiliar territory, but Batman complains that the smooth buildings of Metropolis have no catches for his grappling hooks or hiding places, while Superman's X-ray vision is impaired by lead in Gotham's older buildings. The crooks in both cities sure are caught by surprise though.
41	* Every single realm of the Endless in ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989''. When Orpheus visits Death, this leads to some confusion, and when [[FisherKing Morpheus]] is imprisoned outside his realm it falls into chaos.
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
45	* ''Fanfic/BackgroundPony'''s story arc is parallel to the seasonal progression from summer to winter. It opens just before the summer solstice on a note of optimism. As the seasons progress toward the winter solstice, the protagonist's prospects become more hopeless and she undergoes a downward spiral into darkness. (Both the environment and her life gradually grow colder and darker.) In the early winter, she makes a {{heroic sacrifice}}. The last chapter begins in mid-winter (when the land is covered in snow) and fast-forwards through the rest of her life.
46	* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Princess Celestia's]] garden dream in ''Fanfic/{{Composure}}'' is so chock full of symbolism that it is harder to find a non-symbolic object than a symbolic one. Exemplified by the fact that there is not one, but three different interpretations for one fruit from one tree in one dream, all of which are different and could have drastic effects on the story's conclusion. In fact, the characters' different interpretations of what exactly the tree symbolizes is a plot point!
47	* [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/kalash93 Kalash93]] is everywhere with this trope, having it appear [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/72998/1/last-one-standing/last-one-standing in]] [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/85411/1/reflections/solace all]] [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/90939/1/shell-shock/the-tower of]]] [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/1/racer-and-the-geek/predawn his]] [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/88520/welcome-to-the-brothel/1/das-laufhaus stories ]][[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/100083/1/blissful-dream/blissful-dream yet.]] And the symbolism gets deeper and meaningful as his work progresses.
48	** ''FanFic/LastOneStanding'' uses the day and height of the sun as metaphors for life. The final location being on a hill outside Ponyville is symbolic for the smallness of the individual and their life.
49	** [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/85411/1/reflections/solace Reflections]] does a similar thing in reverse. The tone of the story grows considerably more hopeful and upbeat as the sun rises. The story takes place on a lonely hilltop to symbolize the isolation and loneliness and elevation that comes with being an immortal goddess princess.
50	** [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/90939/1/shell-shock/the-tower Shell Shock]] Takes place in a ruined school which was once a monastery. This symbolizes the loss of innocence and fall from grace that has happened in the war. From this vantage point, fields and parts of a ruined town are visible. The weather is rainy as if to mourn the death and destruction wrought. The wether is initially overcast, but then gradually clears away as the young soldier's innocence and naivety are stripped away and gradually replaced with horrific awareness and then complicity in the crimes. The fields full of grain symbolize life and vitality in contrast to the death and emptiness of the soldiers.
51	** ''FanFic/RacerAndTheGeek'' is just so chock full of symbolism that it would take paragraphs to explain all of it, especially in the [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/1/racer-and-the-geek/predawn more recent chapters.]]
52	** [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/88520/1/welcome-to-the-brothel/das-laufhaus Welcome To The Brothel]] is another highly symbolic story about the loss of innocence. Consider the author's usage of light, darkness, and color.
53	** [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/106068/1/relax/intimacy Relax]] is lighter in this regard than his usual fare. However, consider that the only two characters in the story are together in a room with a bed and only dim red mood lighting...
54	* In ''Fanfic/CrownsOfTheKingdom'', compare the location of each crown to the type and quality of the light when Mickey finds it.
55	* The titular rain and the weather in general seem to reflect Satsuki's overall mood and depression in the aftermath of her sister's death in the fanfic ''Raindrops''. Naturally, the raindrops are also compared to falling tears at the end, at the same time, she notes how it never seems to be sunny. In the sequel, ''Sunshine'', the sunny weather serves a juxtaposition between weather that seems cheerful and somber days, as Satsuki announces she is terminally ill and later on dies both on sunny days.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
59	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'', the Insuricare offices are soul-crushingly drab, to better convey how much Bob Parr hates that job. Contrast that with the gorgeous jungle and RaygunGothic architecture of Syndrome's island to see how much Bob loves being a superhero. The Parr home, with its Googie architecture, falls somewhere in the middle since Bob doesn't appreciate his family until it's almost too late. And Mirage points out the link between the brilliant-but-unstable Syndrome and his [[VolcanoLair chosen home]]:
60	-->'''Mr. Incredible:''' I've been meaning to ask you. Of all places to settle down, why...\
61	'''Mirage:''' A volcano? My employer is attracted to power. As am I. It's a ''weakness'' we both share.\
62	'''Mr. Incredible:''' Seems a little... unstable.\
63	'''Mirage:''' I prefer to think of it as misunderstood.\
64	'''Mr. Incredible:''' Aren't we all? \
65	'''Mirage:''' Volcanic soil is among the most fertile in the world. Everything [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine at this table]] was grown right here on this island.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
69	* ''Literature/RequiemForADream'' depicts several characters' downward spiral into drug addiction and the associated destructive effects. It progresses from summer to autumn to winter -- so clearly, in fact, that there is a title card before each act that states explicitly which season is to follow.
70	* ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''. See Literature.
71	* The Graveyard from the infamous showdown scene at the end of ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' emphasised the finality of the paths of the three principle characters. Sergio Leone had so brilliantly set up a situation where all three men couldn't possibly leave alive.
72	** Not to mention it was designed to look like a Roman circus, as if the graves of the dead were watching the three men fight.
73	** Most of the bits of architecture in the film resemble gallows, a running theme of the film.
74	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
75	** A blatant example is ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' with Anakin and Obi-Wan's duel on Mustafar, a ''lava planet''! The eruptions are about Anakin's state of mind and him bursting into flames was about his final transformation. And when he is defeated, he is cast down into the flames.
76	** Yoda and Palpatine's final duel takes place in the grand Senate Chamber. The battle for the fate of the galaxy takes place at its heart; and many of the senator's pods (the very symbol of democracy) are smashed in the duel.
77	** Tatooine in ''Film/ANewHope'' is a barren wasteland to emphasize that Luke really has nothing to live for on this planet, relatives notwithstanding. The base where the Rebels plan their counterattack, Yavin IV, has lush foliage to show that this is a place of peace.
78	** The Battle of Hoth in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' comes with a heavy dose of SnowMeansDeath, as the Rebels narrowly effect a TacticalWithdrawal in the face of an Imperial assault on the frozen planet they have hidden out on. Cloud City, as its name implies, hovers over the clouds as a symbolic gesture that they consider themselves above the machinations of the Empire.
79	** The battle in the Emperor's throne room in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' featured severely muted colors, and twisted if angular structures. The only splashes of colors, the red Royal Guard, were pointedly sent away. The only colors in the fight are the lightsabers and Luke's face. The moon of Endor where the shield generator is destroyed is a lush forest with Imperial installations. The base, the Death Star II and the empire as a whole are defeated because they neglected to see what threat a tribe of nature loving locals can be.
80	** The Original Trilogy employs an environmental contrast between the Good Guy and Bad Guy areas. Imperial ships and facilities are clean to the point of sterility, with everything being neatly polished and regimented, while Rebel ships and bases tend to be grungy examples of UsedFuture. One exception to this is Princess Leia's ship, the ''Tantine IV'' with it's clean white corridors, which only featured in the very start of the first film, and was overrun by Darth Vader's troops, symbolizing the Emperor's decision to dissolve the Imperial Senate, the last vestige of the Galactic Republic.
81	* ''{{Film/Pet}}'' is about a woman held captive by her StalkerWithACrush in the basement of the animal shelter where he works.
82	* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers''. While King Théoden is under Saruman's control, his hall is dark and colorless. After he regains his right mind, the lanterns and fires in his hall are lit.
83	* ''Film/BlackSwan'' has a case of the protagonist interacting with the symbolism. When we first see it, Nina's bedroom is decorated like a five-year-old's: stuffed animals, satiny comforter, pink everywhere. When the strain of trying to be darker and more sensual for Tomas while remaining pure and naive for her mother starts getting to her, she stuffs the teddy bears in a bag and throws them into the incinerator. Her last line in the climactic GrewASpine scene is ''"I'M MOVING OUT"''.
84	* The whole ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise. Rarely is there a setting that doesn't seem artificial and futuristic and coldly systematic or wasteland-y or fascist-y in some way in order to show how easily we could slip into the robo-endtimes or scenes that are similar to how humans will fight robots in the future. There are quite a few settings to choose from: Corporate megaliths, computer stores, cement and steel everywhere, hospitals, police stations, deserts, ghettos, construction equipment, factories, warehouses, video game arcades, robot shows, etcetera. Even [[spoiler:[[Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines Sarah's offscreen death by cancer]], most likely due to environmental reasons]] shows what living in a toxic, artificial world can do.
85	* The town in ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'' is a bright and cheerful, if slightly [[StepfordSuburbia off]] '50s suburbia, and thus has lots of bright pastels. The Professor's/Edward's castle, by contrast, is dark, empty and mechanical, in black and white. Since the whole thing is ([[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory possibly]]) about mental illness, the emptiness of it may symbolize Edward's loneliness, as well.
86	* As tempers rise over the course of ''Film/TwelveAngryMen'', the room seems to get more and more claustrophobic; that's not an effect: the actual walls were gradually moved closer in as the film goes on, making the room smaller and smaller.
87	* ''Film/{{Inception}}'': Limbo is a barren wasteland, representing Cobb's lifelessness and apathy due to his obsession with his wife's death. Level one of the Fischer job is wet and rainy, literally because the dreamer went to sleep needing to piss.
88	* Franchise/MonsterVerse: A recurring but not universal motif due to the [[{{Kaiju}} Titans]]' FisherKing effects on their surroundings, as well as GreenAesop and ClimateChangeAllegory shenanigans.
89	** Benevolent Titans like Mothra and Kong are associated with lush, untamed jungles, while Godzilla is associated with both storms and the sea- rough and untamed, but necessary and important.
90	** The [=MUTOs=] are associated with, (somewhat contradictorily) both rainy, overcast skies and the desert: not preferable to humans, but still capable of sustaining rich ecosystems, reflecting their nature as [[NonMaliciousMonster Non Malicious Monsters]].
91	** Ghidorah is associated with the icy wasteland of MysteriousAntarctica, and also with hurricanes, lightning, thick and choking fog and clouds, and storm surges.
92	** [[spoiler: Mechagodzilla]] is associated with the harsh, angular, cold, and entirely artificial interior of [[spoiler: Apex Cybernetics’s labs and HQ.]]
93	* ''Film/PacificRim'': Bad weather persists for almost all of the film, especially whenever a {{Kaiju}} is on-screen, which in turn leads to a lot of BattleInTheRain. [[spoiler: Only once the Breach is sealed and the {{Kaiju}} are stopped for good does the weather clear to a blue sky with puffy white clouds]]. Pretty fitting for a ClimateChangeAllegory.
94	** Trespasser makes landfall in San Francisco through [[OminousFog thick white fog]], obscuring its approach until it's too late.
95	** Knifehead surfaces off the coast of Anchorage during a fierce thunderstorm. The morning after, we see the weather conditions have turned to a [[SnowMeansDeath snowstorm]].
96	** It's also snowing when we see Raliegh working on the Wall and during [[spoiler: Mako's memories of the Tokyo attack]].
97	** Almost all the scenes in Hong Kong are set during rainfall, be it a drizzle or a downpour.
98	** During the final flight out to the Breach, the skies are a flat, uniform grey.
99	* ''Film/TheHungerGames'': The sun sets almost instantly in the forest as the Muttations attack, and immediately rises after [[spoiler:Cato dies]], reinforcing the fact that it's the endgame. The Gamemakers control literally everything inside the Arena.
100	* ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': Nina's bedroom lamp is on to reflect the joy and warmth of her interaction with her father Erik. In contrast, Jean Grey's room is bathed in darkness because she's frightened by her apocalyptic "nightmare," and her emotional ties to her surrogate father Charles are based on their mutual struggles with telepathy.
101	* ''Film/EasyRider:'' The film starts in the open landscape of the south west USA. Our hippy biker heroes get hassled by the cops, but they also meet friendly and cooperative people. Then the action moves to the DeepSouth, the horizon gets a lot closer, and the threat level gets a lot higher.
102	* ''Film/DeadlyHarvest'' uses the bleak Canadian winter with its harsh yellow and brown color palette to portray the disintegration of both society and the natural environment as a result of the EndlessWinter brought on by ClimateChange.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Literature]]
106	%%* ''Literature/HouseOfLeaves'' %%A title of a work alone doesn't explain what makes it an example.
107	* In Creator/ChinaMieville's ''Literature/TheScar'', the city of Armada is a congealed mass of ships, which is perfectly appropriate given that [[{{Pirate}} its inhabitants]] steal almost everything they need. Additionally, the vampire who rules one section lives in a freakish-looking ship that sails on moonlight.
108	* ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''. Kansas is described as "grey". This is reflected in [[Film/TheWizardOfOz the 1939 film]], too.
109	* ''Literature/TheExpanse'' novella "Auberon" takes place on the eponymous extrasolar planet, which has an obnoxious, omnipresent odour, yet draws many human colonist with its promising interactions with Earth's biosphere. And where humans amass, organized crime's sure to appear as well. The protagonist, the new governor appointed by [[TheEmpire Laconia]], is initially repulsed by the stench, but eventually gets used to it [[spoiler:which foreshadows his own corruption]].
110	* In ''Literature/ImThinkingOfEndingThings'', over the course of the night, the narrator notices numerous creepy, small details about the places around her (such as the lock on the inside of the basement door and one of the girls at Dairy Queen missing a fingernail). These symbolize [[spoiler:that Jake's dream is deteriorating and become more nightmarish as he gets closer to death]].
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
114	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
115	** Angel’s statue of Kwan Yin in Season 1 – like a true Bodhisattva, Angel will delay his own enlightenment to ease the suffering of others.
116	** A sign saying BEWARE OF DOG is shown behind Spike on several occasions.
117	** At the end of "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E2TheHarvest The Harvest]]", Angel is shown next to a sign that appears to say "WATCH YOU", symbolizing his role as MysteriousWatcher. When he walks away we see the sign actually reads 'WATCH YOUR STEP' [[spoiler:providing inadvertent foreshadowing for Angel's FaceHeelTurn in Season 2.]]
118	** When Buffy gives in to her feelings for Spike and they have sex for the first time, it happens within a broken house that gets destroyed as they do it. This meaning is two-fold, as her walls have metaphorically come down and that their DestructiveRomance will not make a good home and destroy them both.
119	* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', the eponymous town is always in brighter, warmer colours while Metropolis is colder and has a blue tone to it.
120	* The TARDIS console room "desktop" in ''Series/DoctorWho'', starting with [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie the movie]], tends to reflect the mood of the current Doctor incarnation and/or era:
121	** The first major redesign is introduced with the movie, becoming a sprawling, ornate room full of candles and Victorian furniture. This fits with the dandy-like Eight Doctor who makes his debut in the same movie.
122	** The War Doctor's console room (seen in "[[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor The Day of the Doctor]]") has the white, roundel walls like the "classic" incarnations with the coral support beams and the console later used by the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, reflecting this Doctor's status as a transitional incarnation.
123	** The coral-based design used by the Ninth and Tenth Doctors is supposed to show that [=TARDISes=] are organically grown. It also reflects the age of the ship and the MacGyvering repairs.
124	** The first Eleventh Doctor console room is asymmetrical and bathed in a warm copper colour, reflecting this Doctor's whimsical personality.
125	** After the Eleventh Doctor is forced to say goodbye to Amy and Rory, he switches to a stark, clinical metal room lit in cold aqua tones, more apt to his newfound morose mood. The same room is later redesigned by the Twelfth Doctor who adds orange lightning, bookshelves, a blackboard and more furniture, reflecting his "teacher/scholar" characterisation.
126	** The Thirteenth Doctor's relatively dark "crystal" console rooms seems to be a subversion, but it appears to be an EmpathicEnvironment as it affects a cooler blue lighting when the Doctor's in a bad mood. To note, the actual console regains several whimsical controls and implements which the Doctor often plays with.
127	* More properly, ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' used this in both the design of each character's room (in Kaylee's case the engine room as well, since we saw her there more often) and the kitchen/dining room, which had wooden chairs and crafty decorations to give it a homey feel.
128	** Also, the Alliance ships and buildings are sterile grey and blue, to fully emphasise the difference between them and the warm and friendly ''Serenity'' and the dry, earthy planets on the Outer Rim.
129	* ''Series/PushingDaisies'' is set in a [[RetroUniverse Retro World]] full of bright and cheery colors. The fish-eye perspective and high color saturation convey the MagicalRealism of the setting.
130	* In the ''Series/WithoutATrace'' episode "Silent Partner", two agents leave chilly New York City and the VictimOfTheWeek's equally frosty wife to travel to warm and sunny Los Angeles (where he was last seen), where they meet his equally warm ''other'' wife.
131	* The ''Franchise/StarTrek'' ships.
132	** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' had a solid wood arch bending around the command seats. It was put there because Creator/GeneRoddenberry wanted the ship to have a homely, organic feel as an exploratory ship, not a war ship.
133	** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' put them on an uninviting alien space station to demonstrate the difficulty and frustrations with working with another culture. As a note, the Defiant was given a very utilitarian and minimalistic set-up to look like a Federation-style war ship.
134	** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' scaled-down all of the sets to show a small crew that were really out on their own.
135	** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' openly exposed the bolts and screws used to hold the sets together, giving it a ZeeRust appearance and submarine feel.
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Video Games]]
139	* Norman Jayden's ARI screen in ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'' changes from a peaceful, sunny meadow to a sunset to withering trees in a storm as [[spoiler: his brain deteriorates from ARI abuse]]
140	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'':
141	** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'', Dante's first battle with Vergil is on the top of the Temen-ni-gru tower in the moonlight and rain. It's obvious since the sun isn't rising any time soon and the rain isn't stopping either, Dante won't be winning. Their second fight is in a much grimmer and dingier area because neither is going to win. Their final battle in a river of the Underworld is completely climactic ([[OminousLatinChanting Orchestra and Latin music is playing in the background too]]) as the losing twin [[spoiler:Vergil]] decides to [[spoiler:dive down from atop the "waterfall"]].
142	** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', all of Nero's battles with Dante take place in some classy room to show how those aren't completely serious fights, and Dante isn't serious about killing Nero; more like [[JustToyingWithThem toying him]] instead. By comparison, the [[spoiler:final battle in The Savior's heart is much darker in terms of the arena's appearance, and more climactic in terms of the tone]].
143	** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' the battles with Urizen[[spoiler:/Vergil]] have clear symbolism related to how much we know and feel about him. The first is in a blood soaked throne made of vines as he appears to the world and the protagonists as a demon king come to drink the world's blood dry for power. The second area is in a warped recreation of Dante [[spoiler:and Vergil's]] childhood home, through which the demon realm continuously bleeds through as the battle progresses. [[spoiler:A reflection of how they have been isolated and split from each other on the day Mundus' demons attacked and killed their mother.]] The final battle takes place on top of the Quiloth tree in the midst of the sky. While intense it shows that there aren't actually a whole lot of stakes involved, [[spoiler:as Vergil intends to do what Dante wants with the Yamato regardless of the fights outcome. It also represents that the two are finally free to put aside their rivalry for something new, which Nero shows up to knock into them.]]
144	* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'': While there are many different side areas to discover there are five basic areas of gameplay that absolutely must be crossed that all roughly show the birth and death of the world.
145	** Limgrave is a verdant but harsh place where greenery is abundant. Many quests begin here and a lot of npc's can be found here.
146	** Liurnia is a water covered and rocky area presided over by a massive school for sorcery in the middle. Knowledge about the state of the world and for spells to learn is abundant but there are many obstacles to acquiring it that can stifle your progress. Many side quests are brought into full swing here.
147	** Altus Plateau is very unique for having yellows and browns as its dominant colors. Most side quests end here and your journey to the capital city of Leyndall ends.
148	** The Mountaintop of Giants is a snow covered zone where life is few and far between. The only side quest npc's is one who advocates for the end of the world by fire and one that professes the gods should be held accountable for their actions and his befuddled assistant.
149	** Leyndall, Ashen Capital is the final area that you must go through to complete the game. The center of the world is now burning and you go through the capitals ash covered remains, the only side quest npc's found are a dead man with a final gift and his rambling assistant if he followed him.
150	* ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUsPartII'': The three main areas of gameplay have clear symbolism.
151	** Jackson and the area around it are in the winter covered in snow, giving the clear feeling of incoming death. Not surprisingly the infected are the most plot critical here as their relentless assault [[spoiler:on Abby, Joel and Tommy gives Abby the opening to exact her revenge on Joel.]]
152	** Seattle is a water logged city, half covered in ocean and with rainstorms every other day. The protagonists are bogged down in their problems that will not end as long as they are in this city.
153	** Santa Barbara is a sun drenched city. Here the protagonists sins are finally burned off in a final battle. While they leave injured they do so ready and willing to let go of all the pain that they had before.
154	* This is a ''huge'' part of the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series.
155	* ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' has each battlefield and the city itself reflect the characters... [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory maybe]].
156	* The ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' games are a reflection of this. ''Hot Pursuit 2'', for example, has shiny glass-and-steel cities, lush forests and heavenly sunsets in a tropical island to match its laidback arcade racing with supercars. ''Underground'' has a shiny metropolis with glowing streetlights and ''Underground 2'' also has a graphic filter that highlights neon, paint and street lights to highlight the ''Fast & Furious''-style glamour of the street racing scene. ''Most Wanted'', meanwhile, went for a glass-and-steel metropolis under the glowing daylight [[RealIsBrown with a brown filter]] to give it a gritty city feel, while ''Carbon'' replaced the gritty brown with modern, cutting-edge blue to emphasize how much of a SeriousBusiness is street racing in Palmont.
157	* This is why the first stages in the laidback, fun-loving ''Outrun 2006'' are Miami and San Diego.
158	* The DarkWorld from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' is the embodiment of this trope, being a twisted mirror image of Hyrule and at the same time a reflection of Ganon's Dark heart as he wished upon the triforce.
159	* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'': You start off in a creepy mansion, then move into an underground laboratory. As soon as this happens, the creatures start getting weirder and more freakish.
160	* In ''The Lost Crown'', most scenes are black-and-white, with highlights of color used to set the mood of times or locations (e.g. colorful flowers near Nanny Noah's house; deep blue skies on May Day). ''Lots'' of subtler symbolism is also worked into the scenery; light passing through the train depot's ornamental fretwork creates a row of tombstone-shaped shadows, in a particularly elegant example.
161	* All of the dungeons in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' are reflections on how the characters see their reality [[spoiler:like Naoto's secret base representing her childish side, Yukiko's castle reflecting how she feels like a princess waiting to be rescued from her prison, Rise's strip club representing how she feels like she's being turned into a piece of meat, Kanji's bathhouse connected with his hidden sexual desires that have gone to a huge extreme, Kubo's game dungeon representing his growing madness and disconnect from reality in favor of illusion, Adachi's twisted realm, the liquor store being run down, Nanako's childish vision of heaven, Izanami's foggy world and even the hub area representing how all of the town's interest in the murders]]. The shadows even count, [[spoiler:representing various things in media]].
162	* Depending on what actions you take in ''VideoGame/Bioshock2'', the lighthouse at the end will either have a sunset (good ending), a darkening sky (not-so-good, but not-really-bad ending), to a raging hurricane (bad ending).
163	* In ''VideoGame/TheSaboteur'', Nazi-occupied areas are gloomy and DeliberatelyMonochrome except for small splashes of primary colours (yellow lights, red blood and swastikas, and the occasional blue [[LaResistance French Resistance]] emblem), but as you liberate an area the colour saturation gradually rises until the area is full coloured and cheerful looking, indicating that its entirely free of Nazis (except those that wander in from neighboring occupied areas, most likely because they're chasing after you)
164	* In ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'', the heroes are transported to another dimension from a lush green park with a golden statue of Superman lifting up a globe, set to a blue sky. When Batman and Joker appear in the Regime world, it is within a grey urban district near a silver statue of Superman standing atop the globe, all under a dusk-toned sky.
165	* In ''VideoGame/{{Unpacking}}'', the protagonist's long term belongings appear more damaged when she's going through the rougher parts of her life, and when she starts getting better they get repaired.
166	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
167	** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'' begins in the tropical GreenHillZone and steadily gets more industrial until it becomes a Blade Runneresque polluted wasteland, showing how Eggman's machines are destroying the ecosystem.
168	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' contrasts the gameplay and locations of the Hero and Dark missions to show each sides conflicting ideologies. Sonic's first mission is in a sunlit city as he evades pursuers, culminating in a boss fight at night. Shadow's first mission is a boss fight and than he gets a level at night were he breaks through Gun's defences.
169	** ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' has the first level in a city under attack, where Shadow can take a side in the fight or take the Chaos Emerald for himself. Seeing as most first levels are lush hills, it readily shows how different this game will be.
170	** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'': The first levels of all three main hedgehogs is reflective of their outlooks. Sonic has a sunny beach, showing his carefree and determined mindset. Shadow goes through a snow covered fortress, an emblem of his drive to find his goals regardless of the risks. Silver's is a fire burnt city, displaying his desperate objective to find a peaceful future.
171	** ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'' rolls out the first three islands in rough order of an ongoing war. The first is a homely green and peaceful island that was once home to an ancient civilization. The second is a desert, bordered by rocks, showing how the civilization barricaded themselves to fight for their lives. The third is a desolate volcano, symbolic of a desperate final stand.
172	** ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'': The first zone of Golden Capital is a lush palace as you collect rings and go through the level easily, not coincidently the last zone allowed Super forms to be unlockable so all the rings are an easy boon. The second is a molten fortress where industrial machines pour flowing metals that you have to avoid, [[spoiler:which is doubly dangerous because Fang stole the chaos emeralds taking away all your special abilities]]. It culminates in a ClimaxBoss with Fang as you face his full firepower in a lengthy battle.
173	[[/folder]]
174
175	[[folder:WebAnimation]]
176	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': The four main areas of human civilization have clear symbolism in how they relate to the teams story.
177	** Beacon is a lovely area bordered with lush foliage. While inviting, it also gives an air of complacency as the main focus is the animal-like Grimm that thrive in the woods. A world shaking event destroys Beacon when an attack is levelled from the unseen areas of the world.
178	** Haven is more rocky and bordered by ocean, showing that life is harder but nonetheless flourishes in spite of its difficulties. Here the heroes face great challenges but prevail in spite of the odds.
179	** Atlas is a floating city of military technology situated in the middle of a frozen wasteland hovering over the industrial town of Mantle. The elite of Atlas toil on their equipment while the common people below unendingly work for their benefit. Notably, from the view from Atlas Mantle cannot be seen at all. Team RWBY has to work to remind Atlas of the trials of Mantle while helping them complete a project to reunite the world. When Atlas decides to abandon its post, they have to keep them in place while sending a message warning the world of the threat.
180	** Vacuo is in a desert region. The heroes must prove the resiliency of humanity in the face of unending assault with minimal resources.
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Webcomics]]
184	* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': The eponymous Court is massive and maze-like, with a muted color scheme and many dark corners. It fits well with the story's focus on the mysterious and the (slightly) macabre.
185	[[/folder]]
186
187	[[folder:Real Life]]
188	* Fast-food restaurants use bright colors like yellow and bright green so that patrons will eat and leave quickly, while sit-down restaurants use warm colors like red and brown to make people feel comfortable.
189	* It might be accidental or deliberate, but [[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4878 this slideshow]] shows an eerie match between Pyongyang's drab, mass-manufactured looks and the stark, oppressive dictatorship of North Korea.
190	* Creator/BillSimmons said that with few exceptions, only cold-weather cities applied for [[http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100129&sportCat=nfl officially tortured sports teams]]:
191	->"You're already bitter about getting crushed, and then you wake up and it's 9 degrees outside, the skies are gray and you have to scrape ice off your windshield as your ears slowly freeze. [[EmpathicEnvironment It's almost like a background for your mood".]]
192	* In business facilities where the architectural design makes everything look pretty much the same, written color-coded labels are used so employees can easily tell where everything is.
193	[[/folder]]

Context Main / EnvironmentalSymbolism