5326

Essay 1.2

ESL 21A

802 words

Symbols and Our Dairy Lives

Symbol is combined from two things whose meanings are different from each other. However by using symbols, our way to expression is getting clearer and deeper. We learned symbols in our dairy lives. The article "San Francisco Legislator Pushed Feng Shui Building Codes", "Symbolic Systems and Meanings" and "The Anthropological View of Religion" give some examples of symbol and tell how they relate with our dairy lives each other. Moreover it is telling us why it is important or essential for us.

First article, "San Francisco Legislator Pushed Feng Shui Building Codes" is about Feng Shui from China. It is about symbols according to direction of building, arrangement of furniture, color and numbers are how influence upon us. For example, "The structure of a building can affect a person's mood" (5). As it says it affect person's behavior or personal relationship. Sometimes it would give positive energy. Some people believe it and do as that says, but in fact it is made by many superstitions. "such as avoiding unlucky numbers, keeping toilet lids down to prevent chi from going down the drain, and placing mirrors at strategic points to deflect negative energy (5)"By believing those kinds of things, people get a great sense of inward security. When it worked people think it happened because of feng shui. On the other hand when nothing happened, people forget about even they did that. It is like a placebo effect. Amulet is one of good example. For driving, many people have that. However there is no guarantee not to have accident any more. If it is not superstition, at least people have that, nobody has car accident now. In fact, amulet is just a paper at all. It doesn't care what we have. Way to think is important. It is going to have different results. Too much believing doesn't have good result. Behavior without scientific evidence is bad for us.

Second article, "Symbolic Systems and Meanings" is about many kinds of symbols in food, space and politic and authority. One of example in "the symbolic and social meanings of space", it says "Arrangement of space also make important symbolic statements about social grouping and social relationship." (14) Japan also has this symbol, and we should know about that kind of symbol before we would be an adult. As this article says, each country has different symbols. Almost of all, are not known. However we can see the culture through those symbols. In this article, it tells about culture by giving some examples of symbols. To ask what is your country's symbol is easiest way to know the country's culture to know the symbols. Because symbols mean its country's characteristic. People tend to have stereotypes for other country from media such as TV, radio and newspaper. And we misunderstand about it. Because almost of symbols are from that kinds of media. It is hard to classify which is correct or not. Therefore we should know correct background information. We can't say symbol is always correct, but it has worth to thinking why the symbol is there in the country. May be we can know about the country over 80%.

Third article, "The Anthropological View of Religion" is about "what is religion and why is it important" (23). There are many kinds of religions in the world. In fact, both of people who have religion and believe exist of god, and people who don't have religion are living well. It is not problem believe in god or not. I can really agree with these sentences, "Symbolism is important because "the human mind comprehends ideas better when they area expressed in visual auditory symbols." and "Abstract ideas such as fear, hope, values, and goals are easier to feel and understand when there are gods, objects, and rituals to connect with."(24). Religion or god was just subject made by humans' hands for aim to pray. Cross is symbol for Christ, joining palms together is symbol of Buddhism, turban is symbol of Islam. Such as this, we can recognize those easily. In fact, there are many religions, but the goal is same. It is to thank to something. Name, shape, feature are completely different each religion, but aim is same. By appreciate to something, people try to get ease.

Therefore symbols are always being in side on our dairy life. Sometimes it is good, but on the other hand, if we mistake to way to use. It is going go be bad. Symbols are abstract thing, but it makes our life more interesting. Psychologically, women tend to like that kind of thing more than men. I am one of them. Feng shui are fortunetellings are my favorite. I am not person to believe those too much but I think symbol is essential thing in our dairy life to be better.