Editing Color theory (section)

== Color symbolism ==
{{Main|Color symbolism}}

A major underpinning of traditional color theory is that colors carry significant cultural symbolism, or even have immutable, universal meaning. As early as the ancient Greek philosophers, many theorists have devised color associations and linked particular connotative meanings to specific colors.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Benson|first=J. L. |date=2000 |title=Greek Color Theory and the Four Elements |url=https://scholarworks.umass.edu/art_jbgc/1 |language=en}} Full text, not including figures.</ref> However, connotative color associations and color symbolism tends to be culture-bound and may also vary across different contexts and circumstances. For example, red has many different connotative and symbolic meanings from exciting, arousing, sensual, romantic, and feminine; to a symbol of good luck; and also acts as a signal of danger. Such color associations tend to be learned and do not necessarily hold irrespective of individual and cultural differences or contextual, temporal or perceptual factors.<ref>{{cite book|title=If it's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die|first=Patti|last=Bellantoni|publisher=[[Elsevier]], [[Focal Press]]|year=2005|isbn=0-240-80688-3}}</ref> It is important to note that while color symbolism and color associations exist, their existence does not provide evidential support for [[color psychology]] or claims that color has therapeutic properties.<ref>O'Connor, Z. (2010). "Colour psychology and color therapy: Caveat emptor". ''Color Research and Application''</ref>