We talked about the importance of symbols in our culture.
Symbols are objects that stand for, represent, or suggest an idea or belief.
Symbols are very common in any culture and everyday we encounter symbols that
we don’t even realize. For example, a wedding ring is a symbol. When people get
married, each person wears a symbolic ring on their left ring finger. In one
situation a ring could just be an ordinary, mundane piece of jewelry with no
significant value, but if you’re married then a ring on your left ring finger
is very sacred. A wedding ring is a symbol of marriage. People do not wear
rings on their left ring finger unless they are married, and most often men do
not wear rings unless they are married. The ring does only symbolize a
marriage, but it is also a symbol of love, faith, commitment, security, partnership,
and loyalty. That is a lot of dept to one little ring. The fact is though, that
these little symbols are everywhere giving depth and meaning to our lives.
Symbols can display cultural differences by distinguishing particular cultural
traditions and values.
The benefit of having symbols is that it unifies a culture
and creates social order. People usually hold the same sort of meaning to
certain symbols within a society, so they can keep us together and functioning
as one. The ring on someone’s finger can tell an outsider he or she is taken.
In the same way, however, there can be risks of the ring. People can become so
fixated on symbols that it starts to loose the original meaning. Some people
want the ring to be labeled as married, to be secure and have a family like
society tells us to, but then forget the true value behind the ring. Many
people rush into marriage and then it fails and it could be because people are
too worried about profane meanings and forget the sacred meaning of symbols.
I think your picture says it all. A lot of people forget that it symbolizes love, trust, and faith and think of their significant other as their property. It would be interesting to look at relationships were men wear rings vs men who don't is their the same kind of trust in the relationship?
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts on the symbols in todays society. I think symbols do bring us together as a society, and can bring a lot of meaning to people. However, with this example of a ring, I feel in todays society we have lost the true meaning of what a ring is. A ring is ment to symbolize a life long commitment to the one person you want to spend your entire life with. I feel as though society has deeply strayed away from that ultimate meaning. I also feel that our society puts too much emphasis on a wedding ring. Trust me I think wedding rings are good because it does signify a lot, but I feel too many men drop too much money on one ring. The women in our society read romantic novels or search on pinterest for the best ring, and then if their "to be" husband does not satisfy that ring fantasy they find themselves disappointed. For my own personal life I would like a simple cheap ring, and for our marriage to not weigh completely one symbol that could easily be lost. Overall good thoughts!
ReplyDeleteA very good post about symbols and what they mean. The symbology of wedding rings from an American (Western) perspective is right on. I wonder if other cultures utilize other symbols for their marriages? Loved the Simpson picture - it does double duty for symbolism and misogony. I like that you added the risks associated with symbols. Sometimes fanaticism is closely related to unhealthy attachment to symbols and their meaning. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that people can become over fixated on symbols and easily forget original meaning. I think your picture does a good job showing that.
ReplyDelete