Expression through Symbolism

meridiantoo · 03-02-2013, 04:46 AM

I am attracted to Japanese/Chinese characters to express concepts and abstract ideas.

Ginger · 03-02-2013, 09:23 AM

Interesting thread and I'm thinking about it. It's a tough question for me because I take symbolism very, very seriously. It's a challenge to first identify one's essential traits, then abstract them into a visual symbol. I'll subscribe to this thread and see if other people's responses help me figure it out!

Boots13 · 03-02-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meridiantoo

I am attracted to Japanese/Chinese characters to express concepts and abstract ideas.

Yes, I love Kanji. The PNW has a large Asian community and Kanji
is prevailant in tattoos, marketing, literature, etc. I it interesting that its so disciplined...down to the stroke order of its presentation !

Sweet Bliss · 03-11-2013, 11:10 AM

I use Kanji in my clay work.

Eastern thought and design is my draw to the arts and my enjoyment of living. It finds it way into every aspect of my life. My clothing preferences all the way to the food I choose to eat, my outlook and my humor.

Interesting thread Boots13, thanks.

Semantics · 03-12-2013, 07:41 AM

I'm sure that anyone here would research kanji and any form of symbolism taken from other cultures before using them, but not everyone does. When we even consider taking something from another culture we have a responsibility to make sure it's used in a respectful and appropriate manner.

I've seen some very offensive and ignorant kanji symbols tattooed on Westerners. A friend of mine, who is Chinese and also an anthropology professor, sometimes has her students visit local tattoo parlors and take cell phone pictures of the hanzi and kanji symbols displayed in their idea books. I can't remember the exact percentage of them that were wrong but I think it was like 40%. Those aren't great odds when it comes to getting something permanent put on your body.

There's a funny blog called Hanzi Smatter that is dedicated to the misuse of Chinese and Japanese characters, mostly portrayed in tattoos.

It's a busy site, but someone was nice enough to pick out some real gems:
That Tattoo Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

A good NYT article on this issue:

Cool Tat, Too Bad It's Gibberish

What an great thread. I'm always interested in anything to do with how people express themselves. I have a patch on my messenger bag that depicts the Hegelian Dialectic's Thesis/ Antithesis/ Synthesis. From far away it looks like a cross made out of two arrows, and I've had people approach me and want to discuss religion because of it. Symbols can be tricky.

Boots13 · 03-13-2013, 07:31 PM

Can appropriation go either way? I believe it can …. It may be an honor or it can endanger a marginalized group…and yes, the responsibility lies in who is appropriating and in the context of the representation.

Appropriation has occurred throughout history but if a dominant culture is appropriating it then has the potential to become an unequal relationship and at that point smacks of “assimilation or annhilation” .

I’d like to explore your statement
" When we even consider taking something from another culture we have a responsibility to make sure its used in a respectful and appropriate manner”
But what is the baseline for respectful and appropriate? And where do we draw the line ? Art? Literature? Tattoos? Politics? Ritualistic application?

As a personal illustration, I have a Native American styled tattoo, but I am not Native. I am respectful representing this as a cognitive symbol of my external reality/history. Its an abstract symbol with First Nations tones. Have I committed an infraction by doing this?

I appreciate, greatly , your response and I would love to hear other opinions on this. I don’t know what respectful or responsible looks like (unless of course it is an overt act of violence or hatred) when an individual is appropriating a symbol for use as expression, identification or to parlay a fluid concept.

I do agree symbols can be tricky within the context of perception. Thank you, Semantics, for your post !

Ginger · 03-14-2013, 05:25 AM

I keep returning to this thread but I come up with nothing, when I try to let whatever is my symbol rise to the surface of my consciousness.

I identify more with color, I think. I've always had colors that felt like they were "mine." Maybe I'll start there.

jac · 03-14-2013, 07:05 AM

Nice topic....

I have used symbolism throughout in order to express the person that I am. The Pisces sign both the fish and the other little sign that kind of looks like an H. I find great connection with... mostly because it's my sign and it represents me well. I want a tattoo with two mermaids that have their tails twisted together. Eventually I will get this.... So, here lately, mermaids are playing a role in a symbolic meaning for me.

More often though I tend to use totems. My longest lasting of them and the one that represents me the most is the turtle. More importantly the sea turtle is the one I find myslef more attracted to. The sea turtle tends to dive deep as an escape to find solace. I tend to need my quiet alone space every now and then in order to regroup. As well, I move slow and steady and I am always home wherever I go. I rescently learned through feng shui studies that the turtle is placed to the backside of a room, property, etc, because it is the protector of the space. The shell representing as such. That I found interesting because I have always been considered a protector. So again, turtle is it.

The Pisces fish, the mermaids, and the turtle are mine for now... all water related... Hmmmmm..............

03-02-2013, 04:46 AM	#1
meridiantoo Member How Do You Identify?: A Speck in the Milky Way Preferred Pronoun?: Her, She Relationship Status: Monogamous relationship Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: The Milky Way Posts: 1,441 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,806 Thanked 2,297 Times in 889 Posts Rep Power: 16305605	I am attracted to Japanese/Chinese characters to express concepts and abstract ideas. __________________ “Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.” ― Wallace Stevens

03-02-2013, 09:23 AM	#2
Ginger Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Femme lesbian Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East coast Posts: 2,416 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,829 Thanked 12,298 Times in 2,057 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Interesting thread and I'm thinking about it. It's a tough question for me because I take symbolism very, very seriously. It's a challenge to first identify one's essential traits, then abstract them into a visual symbol. I'll subscribe to this thread and see if other people's responses help me figure it out! __________________ Reach out.

03-13-2013, 07:31 PM	#6
Boots13 Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: No Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: PNW Posts: 823 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,387 Thanked 2,314 Times in 428 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	expression and authenticity... Can appropriation go either way? I believe it can …. It may be an honor or it can endanger a marginalized group…and yes, the responsibility lies in who is appropriating and in the context of the representation. Appropriation has occurred throughout history but if a dominant culture is appropriating it then has the potential to become an unequal relationship and at that point smacks of “assimilation or annhilation” . I’d like to explore your statement " When we even consider taking something from another culture we have a responsibility to make sure its used in a respectful and appropriate manner” But what is the baseline for respectful and appropriate? And where do we draw the line ? Art? Literature? Tattoos? Politics? Ritualistic application? As a personal illustration, I have a Native American styled tattoo, but I am not Native. I am respectful representing this as a cognitive symbol of my external reality/history. Its an abstract symbol with First Nations tones. Have I committed an infraction by doing this? I appreciate, greatly , your response and I would love to hear other opinions on this. I don’t know what respectful or responsible looks like (unless of course it is an overt act of violence or hatred) when an individual is appropriating a symbol for use as expression, identification or to parlay a fluid concept. I do agree symbols can be tricky within the context of perception. Thank you, Semantics, for your post !

03-14-2013, 05:25 AM	#7
Ginger Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Femme lesbian Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East coast Posts: 2,416 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,829 Thanked 12,298 Times in 2,057 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	I keep returning to this thread but I come up with nothing, when I try to let whatever is my symbol rise to the surface of my consciousness. I identify more with color, I think. I've always had colors that felt like they were "mine." Maybe I'll start there. __________________ Reach out.

03-11-2013, 11:10 AM	#4
Sweet Bliss Senior Member How Do You Identify?: I Am Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: the Beach, Pacific side Posts: 4,160 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,354 Thanked 7,268 Times in 2,159 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I use Kanji in my clay work. Eastern thought and design is my draw to the arts and my enjoyment of living. It finds it way into every aspect of my life. My clothing preferences all the way to the food I choose to eat, my outlook and my humor. Interesting thread Boots13, thanks.

03-12-2013, 07:41 AM	#5
Semantics Senior Member How Do You Identify?: malapropist Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: single Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New England Posts: 2,169 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,367 Thanked 3,968 Times in 1,201 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	I'm sure that anyone here would research kanji and any form of symbolism taken from other cultures before using them, but not everyone does. When we even consider taking something from another culture we have a responsibility to make sure it's used in a respectful and appropriate manner. I've seen some very offensive and ignorant kanji symbols tattooed on Westerners. A friend of mine, who is Chinese and also an anthropology professor, sometimes has her students visit local tattoo parlors and take cell phone pictures of the hanzi and kanji symbols displayed in their idea books. I can't remember the exact percentage of them that were wrong but I think it was like 40%. Those aren't great odds when it comes to getting something permanent put on your body. There's a funny blog called Hanzi Smatter that is dedicated to the misuse of Chinese and Japanese characters, mostly portrayed in tattoos. It's a busy site, but someone was nice enough to pick out some real gems: That Tattoo Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means A good NYT article on this issue: Cool Tat, Too Bad It's Gibberish What an great thread. I'm always interested in anything to do with how people express themselves. I have a patch on my messenger bag that depicts the Hegelian Dialectic's Thesis/ Antithesis/ Synthesis. From far away it looks like a cross made out of two arrows, and I've had people approach me and want to discuss religion because of it. Symbols can be tricky.

03-14-2013, 07:05 AM	#8
jac Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: butch stone Preferred Pronoun?: masculine ones work best... Relationship Status: ♥ engaged to spritz ♥ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: bangor, maine Posts: 3,344 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 20,720 Thanked 16,492 Times in 2,972 Posts Rep Power: 0	Nice topic.... I have used symbolism throughout in order to express the person that I am. The Pisces sign both the fish and the other little sign that kind of looks like an H. I find great connection with... mostly because it's my sign and it represents me well. I want a tattoo with two mermaids that have their tails twisted together. Eventually I will get this.... So, here lately, mermaids are playing a role in a symbolic meaning for me. More often though I tend to use totems. My longest lasting of them and the one that represents me the most is the turtle. More importantly the sea turtle is the one I find myslef more attracted to. The sea turtle tends to dive deep as an escape to find solace. I tend to need my quiet alone space every now and then in order to regroup. As well, I move slow and steady and I am always home wherever I go. I rescently learned through feng shui studies that the turtle is placed to the backside of a room, property, etc, because it is the protector of the space. The shell representing as such. That I found interesting because I have always been considered a protector. So again, turtle is it. The Pisces fish, the mermaids, and the turtle are mine for now... all water related... Hmmmmm..............