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Some of you might have noticed that CR4 has recently changed
its layout and color scheme. Those who have are still actively
throwing in their two cents on the
matter. As this blog deals with art and science (or in this case
pseudoscience), I thought it would be pertinent to explore chromotherapy and
how colors elicit feelings and other emotional effects.
The psychological and supposedly physical effects of color have
been documented since the 11th century. Today, color therapy (or
chromotherapy) is best known as an integral part of Ayurveda, a traditional
medicine native to India. Ayurvedic medicine holds that the body is governed by
seven chakras, each of which is associated with a different color. Taking our
CR4 color scheme change as an example, red is associated with the first chakra,
the one responsible for grounding and survival, at the base of the spine. Blue,
on the other hand, corresponds to the fifth chakra, the one involving spiritual
and physical communication, in the throat.
Based on the Ayurveda and other generally-held beliefs about
color psychology, red - CR4's former shell - is regarded as a stimulant or
irritant, and it often represents temper, anger, danger, or destruction. It's
known to give people a sense of power. On the more positive side, red also
represents warmth, love, and comfort.
Blue promotes solitude, meditation, and peace. It's known as
one of the most soothing colors and tends to lower pulse and blood pressure.
Blue colors stimulate creativity and have been known to enhance
productivity. It also promotes sadness and aloofness, as evidenced by the
use of the title phrase of this post.
Exploring the basic psychological effects of color is fairly
benign considering the vast amounts of information about treating diseases,
from apoplexy to whooping cough, using exposure to colors. Ayurvedic and New
Age texts are very specific as to which ailments can be treated using specific
colors. For example, because of blue's depressing effects it should never be
used to treat colds or paralysis, while it is regarded as effective against
insomnia, epilepsy, and colic. I'm personally going to stick to traditional
medicine, but chromotherapy is interesting to consider, especially when
something as simple as a color change is liable to result in near panic.
(Image credit: colorglasses.com)
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Re: Feelin' Blue?
