Red undoubtedly garners the strongest reaction of all the colors. Stimulating enough to physically raise blood pressure and increase respiration, this color is passionate, vibrant, intense, and the strongest of the “warm” colors. Red is most often used to gather attention, whether indicating VIP status on the red carpet or signaling drivers to stop, our brains are wired to pay attention to red.
This is an extremely powerful color, symbolizing at once love (especially at Valentine's Day) and evil (in Western cultures, where the devil is portrayed as being entirely red). Red is also believed to motivate, which is one reason it is the most widely-used color on national flags. This color is also used for propaganda and many well-known advertising symbols. In our society, wearing the color red indicates power. For women, this means utilizing sex appeal and dominating the senses of suitors. Consider, for instance, our cultural associations with Jessica Rabbit, who wears a body-hugging red dress in the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and is often cited as being the male's ideal of the perfect woman. Or, in more realistic terms, examine Christian Louboutin's “sex on heels” shoes, which all feature bright red soles. The flashing red of Louboutin's gorgeous stilettos is a signal that the wearer is sexy and confidant.
For males, red portrays virility and strength. It is often used in “power ties” and is the most popular color for sports cars. Red serves to both attract and warn; which, for humans, is the perfect recipe for lust. For example, think of the popular symbol of the red apple: in Snow White, the apple is tempting, but serves as her downfall. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve are historically believed to have been tempted by the devil to eat of the forbidden fruit, which is typically portrayed as a red apple.
Colors
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