2597
ESL 21A
Essay 1.2
837 words
A symbol is a sign or object that represents something else. On one side are the physical characteristics, and on the other side are the meanings, or what the symbols stand for. There are two type of symbols; a metaphor that an idea that people use to stand for another set of idea, and a metonym that is based on a substitution of one thing for another. In everyday life, people use a lot of symbols that have the different functions in various arenas. The symbol of food, the symbolic and social meaning of space, and the symbols, politics, and authority illustrate the different function of symbols.
First of all, the symbolism of food explainsWChoice the function of symbols. TheArt food, in general, has meaning that people or animals eat. However, the food also shows that different aspect of food from cultural rules. In one side, who eat together defines social unit. When people eatingVForm together, we can see what kind of social links are by what kind of food served. For example, the anthropologist Mary Douglas distinguishes between regular meals, Sunday meals when relative may come, and cocktail parties for acquaintances. The food served defends on who are invited for drinks, to dinner, and to a family meal. Likewise, the type of food symbolizes the guest whom it is eaten.WOrder
In Korea, people eatingVForm special cultural food in New Year day. In the morning of the New Year day in Korea, whole family setWChoice together on the table, and eating that special food, called soup with rice cake. There is transitional meaning when people eating the soup in New Year day, the meaning of getting one year older. Therefore, the eating the soup symbolizes the getting one year older. {***}ChoppyEating symbolizes a married couple, also. In some culture, in Trobriand Islands couple's eating together for the first time means marriage. When couple eating together, that means they are married. In here, the eating food symbolizes the marriage. Other cultural rules have to do with taboos against eating certain things. In some societies, are not allowed to eat the animal or bird that is their totemic ancestor. For example, in India, people do not eat the beef. Since Indian believes a religion of Hindu, they worship the cow, because one of the Hindu's gods appearanceWForm a cow. Therefore, eating the beef means that eating their god who they worship. There is also association between food prohibitions and rank. In India, there is a view between caste and the idea of pollution. Because of the fear of pollution, Brahmans and other high-ranked individuals will not share food with, not eat from the same plate as, and not even accept food from an individual from a low-ranking caste.
Moreover, the symbolic and social meanings of space explain the function of symbols. Arrangements of space make important symbolic statements about social groupings and social relationships. For example, the Nuchanulth floor plan of the house was divided into spaces that were ranked. Therefore, people have the seating by the ranked and by importance. Also in a village in northeastern Thailand, the house is divided to symbolize by rules about marriage. The space that people seating symbolize the people's social ranking.
Finally, the symbols, politics, and authority explain the function of symbols. An entire nation may be represented by an array of symbols. For example, the combat between symbolic animals - the eagle and the bear - was used by political cartoonists to portray the conflict between the United State and the former Soviet Union. Sometimes the objects represent symbols of the office they hold such as officeholder wears a crown, or imperial regalia. Sometimes the officeholder carries a staff, wand, umbrella, or fly whisk. For example, the curved staff of the pharaoh of Egypt was the symbol of office, and so it is seen in the pictures of King Tutankhamen. For another example, when I was 13 years old, I participated in piano tournament. And I finally got a second prize at the end of the tournament and I receive a one trophy. That a trophy symbolized I got a second prize and I won in that piano tournament. If authority is represented by a series of symbols, opposition to that authority is symbolically represented by an inversion of those symbols. For example, during the 17th century, the Cavaliers of King Charles I of England wore their hair long, while those who opposed them, the Puritans led by Oliver Cromwell, wore short hair and were called Roundheads. Political symbols may seem trivial, but in reality, people will die rather than deny them or give them up. People's identity as members of a group is powerfully bound up with such symbols.
In conclusion, the symbolism of food, the symbolic and social meanings of space and symbols, politics, and authority explained several function of the symbol. In the ancient time and in the present time, the symbols are always used in several functions. And symbols can represent the so many things in our society.