ART/WINTER  2002                                                                                                                                                                                              ISSUE 4


                                                                                                                                     by VSGal
   Depending on which country you are from, or which religion you are, RED can mean good luck, security, danger, or many other meanings.  RED  is the chief color in many herbs and medicines having a heating and stimulating effect, such as cayenne, cloves or musk.  We drink RED wine with dinner.  RED chili warms and nourishes our bodies. RED  is the color of the planet Mars.  RED-haired people are said to have a violent temper or to be easily excited. RED is a color within fire, which we use to warm ourselves in winter. 

     The warm blood in our veins is RED; hence, RED can also mean joy, desire, eroticism, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, femininity and love. (Think about the “Moulin ROUGE,” i.e., the RED Mill).  RED is the primary color for Valentine’s Day.  Such is the purpose of this holiday, to express these meanings.  To "paint the town RED" is to celebrate; on Valentine’s Day we celebrate our love for one another.

     Many women dress up as harlots, seductive women, sexy imps, hookers, queens, or princesses in RED during Halloween.  Some say that to "see RED" is to be angry.  We also dress up as angry creatures, such as devils, ghouls, goblins, vampires, and the like.
   RED is used often in fashion!  RED can be used to make a bold statement, such as a power suit for court. RED can be a subtle hint of color for a neutral outfit.  In China, RED is a wedding color.  How opposite the meaning can be in our culture, where the bride who wears RED is sometimes seen as tainted or impure?

     Remember the “REDcoats” in the Revolutionary war?  Think of Little RED Riding Hood.  Think about Snow White’s RED lips and cape.  Native Americans wear RED war paint.  In India, RED is a symbol of a soldier.  Romans used a RED flag in battle.  We wear RED for Christmas and for the Fourth of July as well.  The pope even wears RED.  In poetry, such as “The Highwayman,” by Alfred Noyes, Bess wears a RED love knot in her hair, while her lover wears a coat of claret velvet.  Ah, but this color can also be deceiving!  A “RED herring” refers to a misleading clue in a mystery novel.  

Much like the “Lady in RED” distracts Neo in the movie The Matrix, written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers.
FIONA JOHNSON from "The Matrix"

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