Entertain - Perceptible - Colors

Black: Color, its lack or the invisible?

Part 11 — The Color of the Fascinating Abyss, a Paradox of Perception… Or a Gate to Infinity?

So far, I have “walked through” some “summary” information about colors, without making a “certain” delimitation regarding the “technical catalogs” of the various scientific specialties.

Which “classifies” colors into what would represent the primary colors, represented by red, blue, and green, or what would represent the secondary colors, represented by orange, green and violet…

From a physical point of view, the color black… It is not a color, at most it can be a “non-color”, along with the “color white” … It is the absence of visible light, the absorption of visible light, which becomes perceptible by the human eye and brain as the color black.

When light “hits” (I used the term “hit” because light is made up of particles, called photons — see the note below — that “illuminate”, by “meeting” a surface) one or another “something”, so that part of the “light” is absorbed, part is reflected, and part is transmitted.

And the color we “see” is determined by the wavelengths of reflected light, as they are “interpreted” by the receptors in the retina of the human eye.

Well, a “black” object absorbs all wavelengths of visible light and reflects no light, so that’s why we perceive it as black, like “black holes” that absorb light as well.

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Note: Well, the name of the elementary particle of light was proposed by Albert Einstein in 1926 and thus adopted by the scientific community… Although in the same year Gilbert N. Lewis proposed the term “luminon”, but the scientific community “accepted” the second “conventional” proposition, and thus most people “discuss” the photon.

And with the photon or “luminon” there are quite a few statements… What is the first in “considerations” would be that the electromagnetic radiation formed by photons has a dual nature, “particle — wave” …

A “complex” matter of quantum mechanics that describes at the atomic and subatomic level the fundamental nature of light…

Which is both a particle of light that can be applied to other particles that carry electromagnetic energy, such as gluons, and a quantum of light, which suggests that the photon is a discrete unit of energy, and why not, so is the ray of light , suggesting that the photon is a vibration of an unknown medium, a “something” that has no mass and is still moving at the maximum speed of the currently known universe.

To be as “scientific” as possible, you can “resort” to the statements below…

The claim that the photon is both a particle and a wave is a consequence of wave-particle dualism, a fundamental theory of quantum mechanics, which “tells” us that quantum entities, such as the photon, can simultaneously exhibit properties of both waves, as well as of the particles.

The fact that the photon has a “wavy” character is “proven” by its behavior, photons having the ability to diffract, that is, they can “bend” around obstacles, just like water waves, they can interfere with each other, creating patterns of light and dark, like sound waves, or finally, they can be polarized, that is, their electrical vibration can be oriented in a certain direction, like electromagnetic waves.

The “particle” behavior part is “proven” by the photoelectric effect, by which photons can hit electrons in metals, knocking them out of the atom, the Compton effect, by which photons can be scattered by electrons, changing their energy and direction, and the fact that photons can be “counted” by using a “photo detector” where it can be observed that “light” (photons, whatever) arrives as discrete packets of energy, like individual particles.

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So, in the color approach, we are obviously mainly dealing with “something” that “has a wavelength”.

That’s why the visible spectrum is “bounded” by wavelength, from the invisible with “high” vibration, gamma rays (wavelength less than 0.01 nm), X-rays (0.01 nm — 10 nm) , ultraviolet radiation (10–380 nm), to the visible with wavelengths of approximately 380 nm (violet: 380–430 nm) to 780 nm (red: 700–780 nm), from here passing back into the invisible, infrared radiation (780nm — 1 mm), microwaves (1 mm — 1m) and radio radiation (1 m — 100 m).

Do you think it is not “seeable” with these “waves”? Do you think the “something” that is well over 99% of the “discrete bundles of energy” is colorless?

I guarantee you that the universe is full of the colors of the fascinating invisible, no matter which gate of infinity you are trying to visualize! Maybe that’s why there is also the perception that 99% of the universe is an abyss, void, darkness, blah, blah…

May I remind you of gamma rays used in nuclear medicine to diagnose cancer, or are they used in scientific research to “visualize” and study the structure of matter and discover information about the universe?

Or by “X” radiation used to create images of the inside of the human body, useful for diagnosing various medical conditions, or in security where they are used to inspect luggage and other objects to detect weapons and other dangerous materials, including in scientific research where they are used in various scientific experiments to study the structure of matter and discover information about the universe.

Or microwaves, which are not only used in microwave ovens but also in radar “imaging”, which uses microwaves to detect moving objects such as planes, ships and vehicles and creates images, obviously.

Such as the famous “Face of God” by the COsmic Background Explorer (COBE) and Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) probes that used microwave-sensitive detectors to create a picture of the cosmic background radiation, a weak electromagnetic radiation believed to originate from the Big Bang, an image that provided a unique insight into the formation and evolution of the universe.

Do you notice that even the invisible face of God was “seen”?

Or by “infrared vision” used for night vision by using special sensors that detect infrared radiation emitted by objects, allowing people to see in low light conditions or even in the dark, or in thermography, which detects infrared radiation emitted by objects to create images based on their temperature, useful in fields such as construction, medicine and security, or in modern telescopes that can observe cosmic objects that are too cold or too distant to be detected in the visible spectrum.

Let me remind you in the case of “infrared” that insects like bees or wasps see this way, of mako or tiger sharks that can hunt in “poor” light areas this way, of vampire bats that “visualize” blood vessels, or of the famous snakes? to forget the fact that, for example, even deer perceive poorly in infrared.

Even with ultraviolet there are uses like the above and not necessarily the “famous” ultraviolet lamp that visualizes security features invisible to the naked eye but detectable under ultraviolet light.

And we could continue… But let’s move on to the color perceived by us, humans!

There are several “contextual situations” in which one can speak of a “mixture of colors” that will result in the “color black” through the phenomenon of light absorption. And these “mixtures” can be made:

In pigment mixing: When you mix pigments of distinct colors, such as black, blue, and red, in equal proportions, you can get a very dark shade of gray that looks almost black, which is because the pigments absorb a lot of visible light, reflecting a small amount of light.

In the mixture of light: In the theory of light, the mixture of red, green, and blue light in equal proportions can produce white light, especially if different “interference factors” are used, the mixture becoming darker and darker and will reach the last to black.

In color perception: color perception is a complex process that involves the receptors of the human eye, but also the brain which, under certain conditions, can interpret a combination of colors as black, even if it is not a total absence of light.

Interpretation of the “preference” for the color black

And this “black” is the basis of the main “psychological” characteristics of this color, or of people who prefer this color, characteristics represented by:

Mental strength and depth: It is the color of people who can be resistant to stress and able to face challenges, who can be deep thinkers, concerned with the meaning of life and existential issues. But, in certain “forms” of manifestation, these people can be critical, cynical, and distrustful of others.
Power, independence, and/or rebellion: It is a color associated with power, authority, and control. but, in contrast, it can also be associated with rebellion, non-conformity and protest, people who prefer this color can be independent, autonomous, and self-confident. So, it can create a sense of power and authority but also feelings of direct conflict with authority (depending on the meaning of use).
Elegance and sophistication: can be associated with elegance, refinement, and sophistication, related to luxury and exclusivity, people who prefer black having the “ability” to appreciate refinement, sophistication, and simplicity.
Formality, mystery and isolation: it is a color associated, first of all, with formality, solemnity and professionalism, but also with mystery, the unknown and secrecy, being used to create feelings of “direct relationship”, people who “love” black having , usually a mysterious, enigmatic and introspective “side” which, when “accentuated”, may prefer isolation and solitude, avoiding social contact.
Death, pessimism, and depression: can be associated with death, mourning and sadness and, by “induction”, can be associated with negativity, pessimism, and hopelessness, being a clear signal of sentimental manifestations in this sense. “Additionally,”, people who prefer black may have a pessimistic outlook on life and a tendency toward melancholy, or an excessive preference for black may be associated with depression or other mental health problems.

The equal or the absolute opposite of the white color, the black color can be located at the extremes of the chromatic range both as a limit of warm and cold colors, as it is matte or bright, becoming the sum or absence of the other colors, as a negation or as a synthesis of all colors.

Black can be considered to result from the combination of all colors, from their absorption, representing all or nothing, becoming everything that can be embodied in a universe of the known and the unknown.

This is why it will suggest the unknown, the occult, the esoteric, fate, mystery, secrecy, mourning, death, shadow, evil, fear, darkness, negativity, sickness, lack of compassion and depression. It is also associated with bad mood or bad souls, bad people, bad fate.

Due to the absorption tint it is easy to understand why it is interpreted as the perception of the denial of the color or, simply, the denial, this being easy to perceive through a permanent and obvious tendency (sensing the barriers raised by the people who “adopt” this color for those around them being relatively easy) of “not being touched” under the conditions in which they have the right to any gesture, protecting their forces and emotions.

No isolationist tendency should be understood from this. Just delimitation, like a “presence” statement. Their true conception is that you cannot live alone, but it is necessary to take protective measures either for yourself or to protect those around you from their errors.

Thus, anyone who likes black is a person truly outraged by his fate, ready to give in or ready to act without any thought of consequences or self-interest.

Such a placement also suggests a strong inclination to give something in return to escape from the existing situation, an exchange that goes as far as creating beliefs that no longer consider one’s own person or the surrounding individuals. Many times, this also gives rise to surrender to and for God, Allah, etc.

Black will also describe individuals inclined towards statistics and the accumulation of all data about others (the other colors) to be constantly ready to use this information according to the needs of their own or group interests.

In this sense it is good to restrain oneself in spontaneous actions because they always complete what they set out to do regardless of the apparent obstacles to the start of the given action or the justice of the action from the point of view of those around them (under the action, object of the action). Often, they come to love detecting the errors/mistakes of those around them with a tenacity characteristic only of “black lovers”.

People who “dislike” the color black can be “associated” with the following characteristics:

Need for Security: People who dislike black may have a strong need for security and stability.
Optimism: I can have an optimistic outlook on life and a positive attitude.
Extraversion: They can be sociable, open, and energetic.
Conformity: May be eager to conform to social norms and avoid conflict.
Superficiality: In extreme cases, excessive dislike of black can be associated with shallowness and a lack of emotional depth.

The less pleasant this color is, the more it increases the perception of control over the factors of one’s life, of destiny, suggesting a balanced or, at least, constant activity. In fact, color is also perceived as a form of protection, delimitation, as a warning that commands respect and protects by its very presence.

The less pleasant the black is, the more we have to do with a casual person, ready to act regardless of conditions and considerations, totally in control of his powers and who does not feel the need to protect himself or submit to unnecessary protocols or who they keep things moving.

A “strange” determinism of the pleasure towards black is the one related to the association with yellow which, if it precedes black in the individual “tastes” is associated with the obvious change.

The “cultural-historical” interpretation (the starting point of the considerations)

Symbolically, black is most often understood under its cold, negative aspect, being associated with primordial darkness, original non-differentiation, recalling the meaning of neutral white (empty white).

In a kind of antithesis, we can remember the fact that white is associated in the representations of the world with the east-west axis, of departures and disguises, while black is associated with the north-south axis considered to be the axis of absolute transcendence, rains, and blizzards.

This interpretation can also be found (with strict peculiarities) among the Aztecs, Algonquins or Chinese who “see” the north in black color, the Mayans attribute this color to the south, and the Pueblo Indians consider black (the nadir) to be the base of the world’s axis.

Moreover, placing the color black at the base of the world or below it is universally valid.

This placement expressed absolute passivity, the state of complete and invariant death, accepted due to the superimposition of the perceived darkness upon closing the eyes (definitive) and the almost instinctive fear born of imperception and darkness.

This association gave birth to the equivalence black — mourning where, compared to white, the sensation is much more overwhelming, more definitive, hopeless (white mourning has something messianic in it, indicating a temporary absence, a provisional lack, being the mourning color of kings and of the gods who are destined to be reborn).

Through black everything becomes a nothingness without possibilities, a dead nothingness after the sun has died, an eternal silence without a future, black mourning being the definitive loss, the eternal collapse into nothingness (this perception is often accentuated by the feelings born of the black cloak of mourning but and the color of the priestly vestments worn at commemoration services or on Good Friday).

An undoubted example of this is the Mawlawi (Whirling Dervish of Islam) who wears a black cloak representing the tombstone that he will discard by remaining clothed in white when he begins to spin in place, a ritual through which he symbolizes rebirth into Godhood, the True Reality, even though the trumpets of judgment will be sounded.

That is why black will also be perceived as the color of the fertile earth, the receptacle of the words of the Gospel (if the seed does not die). Also, black reminds us of the abyssal depths, the ocean knees, on a bottomless sea on a moonless night, being the “initiation” of the perception of the main feelings related to it.

In the Far East, the duality of black — white is the duality of light — shadow, night — day, ignorance — knowledge, yin — yang, Earth — Sky.

In Hindus, it translates the tendencies of tamas (descent or scattering) and sattva (ascension and cohesion) or the relationship between the shudra caste and that of the Brahmins (white being usually the color of the priesthood).

However, Shiva (tamas) is white, and Vishnu (sattva) is black, the explanation coming from the outward manifestation of the white principle appearing in contrast with black and vice versa, as perception is overturned by its reflection in the mirror of the Waters.

We must not forget that in the Bhagava — Gita, Krishna, the immortal, is dark, while Arjuna, the mortal, is white, constituting themselves as perspective images of the universal Self and the individual self. Taoist symbolic embryology raises the wet principle from the darkness of the abyss — black, Kan — and then unites it with the igneous principle, so that the Golden Flower blossoms — white being the color of gold.

Here it is good to remember that black corresponds to the feminine principle yin, terrestrial, instinctual, maternal, and therefore many goddesses “Mother”, “Virgo”, etc. they will be black or depicted in black.

Conceptually, this is how the association of the color black with condemnation and punishment seems to have been born. In ancient Egypt, the hieroglyph of the widowed woman is the black dove considered to be punishment, frustrated eroticism, denial of life.

In ancient Greece, the ship with black sails is the symbol of fatality, often independent of the divine will. In Zoroastrianism, the first humans, deceived by Ahriman, clothe themselves in black when they are cast out of heaven.

For Christians (and not only), death and the knights of punishment are clothed in black (the color attributed even to the horse of the Apocalypse knight who comes to share the fruits of the fertile land of the Great Mother World) without forgetting the fact that Satan (also called the prince of darkness) enthrones in a black world where the only flashes of color are the flames of punishment, of burning souls.

These associations went as far as to associate the color black with Judas, whose aura is often depicted in black, and it goes as far as to use this color for the clothes of Jesus when he is tempted by the unclean (in the idea of suggesting temptation).

For the Chinese, the word “hei” evokes both the color black but also perversion or repentance, the ritual blackening of the face being a sign of humility, meant to ask for the forgiveness of mistakes. In contrast, black is also the color of renouncing the vanity of the world, like a protest associated with the desire to progress, to climb towards divinity and new.

Thus, black cloaks come to constitute a proclamation of faith in Christianity and Islam. Also, Malkut is the second He of God’s tetragrammaton. Elongated and tormented, this letter, of normal size, shrinks until it remains a small black dot that evokes the shape of the letter yad, the smallest of the Hebrew alphabet.

In heraldic language, the black color is called “sable”, expressing its affinities with the barren land but also prudence, wisdom, and steadfastness in times of hardship.

This interpretation is quickly “adapted” to other perceptions related to the earth and the generality that is born from it, the black color giving perceptions of warm and bright black through the sum of the colors embodied in it, originating “initiatively” from red.

In the thinking of Muslim mystics, black became Divine Light, par excellence. For whirling dervishes, the stages of the Sufi’s inner journey to bliss are compared to a chromatic scale.

It starts from white, which embodies the Book of the Koranic Law, the starting value, passive, because it precedes the dervish’s commitment to the path of perfection) and, passing through red, reaches the color black, the absolute color, the fullness of all the other colors that the mystic ascends, precisely like steps, up to the supreme stage of ecstasy, when the Godhead appears to him, blinding him with her brilliance.

The association between black and red is also common among other peoples. In a short enumeration we can mention the black raven of the stallions from the Russian folklore tradition (a shiny black color with reddish reflections) symbolizing the ardor and power of youth, in Gabon the sanctuaries where the skulls of the ancestors are kept are guarded by black statuettes with reflections red, etc.

Red easily becomes a color that complements or replaces black. “Found” in the pastels of Hell, in the horses of the Dioscuri (one black and one red), the costume of the great psychopomp of the Etruscans (with red body and wings, black shoes and tunic), in the colors of death in the 13th arcanum of the tarot he will be “used” also in antithesis (north — south axis is a black — red opposition), tarot death colors indicating an initiatory death, prelude to a true birth, mowing the black landscape of apparent reality, landscape of perishing illusions, with a red scythe used for the annulment of illusory life, becoming the instrument by which death declares its true victim — nothingness, etc.).

Black, in general, is the color of the universal Substance (Prakriti), of that “prime matter,” of primordial undifferentiation, of primordial chaos, of primordial virginity, of the lower waters, of the north, and of death.

As an evocation of nothingness, chaos, confusion and disorder, the blackness of the darkness of origins precedes creation in all religions.

For the Bible, before there was light, the earth was unformed and empty, and darkness was over the deep.

For Greek and Latin mythology, the primordial state of the world was chaos, from which was born Night (Nyx), who married her brother, Erebus (the primordial god of darkness), giving birth to a son, Air or Ether (Aether). Thus, out of night and chaos the light of creation begins to emerge. Meanwhile, Night had given birth to Sleep, Death and all the misfortunes of the world (poverty, disease, old age, etc.).

However, despite the anxiety caused by the darkness, the Greeks called the night Euphrone, that is, the Mother who gives good advice, an interpretation that was taken over in the form “the night is a good counselor” or “For indeed, especially at night we can progress, benefiting from the warnings given by dreams”, as the Bible or the Koran teach us.

The association of black with the womb of the earth has not only satanic but also fecund overtones, here the regeneration of the diurnal world takes place, black easily becoming a symbol of fecundity — in ancient Egypt or North Africa it is the color of the fertile earth and the rain-bringing clouds.

Like the earth, fecundity will also be attributed to the black, dark depths of the waters, this color ending up closing in it immense fecund potentials, becoming the reservoir of all that is (Homer sees the black ocean, the goddesses of fertility are often black, the black maidens continue the traditions of the many Isis, Athon, Demeter, Cybele or black Aphrodite).

In the same idea, the earth which, thanks to the graves in it becomes a land of the dead, is also the one that will prepare their rebirth. This is why the ancient ceremonies of the cult of Pluto, the god of the underworld, included sacrifices of black animals, decorated with ribbons of the same color.

The connection between black and evil has many “origins”, the most descriptive being the perception of the Hindus for whom black is connected to everything that hinders or delays the plan of evolution intended by God, evoking ignorance, Jung’s shadow, the diabolical mythological Dragon Serpent, on which we must overcome ourselves to ensure our own transformation, but which betrays us at the same time.

This black associated with evil can be found in expressions like to have dark thoughts, to be black before the eyes, a black man at heart, he has dark days, he has dark days, I see things in black, we get ideas black, dark humor, etc.

From a psychological point of view, black gives a sensation of opacity, thickening, heaviness, reaching paradoxes such as the weight of black color that seems heavier than it is.

In day or night dreams, as in waking sensory perceptions, black is the absence of any color, the absence of light, black absorbing light without letting it out.

He evokes chaos, nothingness, the night sky, the terrestrial darkness of the night, evil, anguish, sadness, unconsciousness, and death.

In addition, the appearance of black animals or black (or very dark) characters in dreams shows that we are meeting our own “Primitive Instinctive Universe”, which needs to be enlightened and tamed and whose forces we need to channel towards our goals taller.

Practical interpretation — neuromarketing

From a neuromarketing perspective, black, a non-color, is psychologically and emotionally associated with:

Power: evokes feelings of power, authority, and control, fueling the “associated” manifestations, being often used in marketing to promote luxury, premium or exclusive products and services, black being frequently used in marketing campaigns to evoke feelings of power, luxury, and mystery.

Elegance and Sophistication: It symbolizes elegance, sophistication, and sophistication, fueling “perceptions” of elegant and sophisticated atmosphere, which is why the logos of many luxury brands, car companies, fashion brands and advertising agencies use black. Also, stores of luxury clothes and accessories often use black to create an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere.

Focus: has the effect of stimulating focus and attention, being an attention-grabbing color to create a strong visual impact, especially thanks to the contrast ‘touches’.

Mystery: It is associated with mystery, the unknown and intrigue, evoking feelings of mystery and intrigue, contributing to the perception of such an atmosphere.

Rebellion: Can be associated with rebellion, non-conformity, and independence, often addressing rebellious and non-conformist audiences.

Death: In some cultures, black is associated with death and mourning.

However, black can be an overwhelming and tiring color on the eyes, so it is important to use it sparingly, as too much black can be perceived as cold and unfriendly.

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

Note: Images are created by me, Merticaru Dorin Nicolae, using Microsoft Bing Image Creator.

Dorin, Merticaru (05.15, 2002 - 2024)