Out of the Blues
A light look at color association and mood modulation
It’s ironic that we live on a planet with a massive cerulean presence, yet describe sadness (in English) as “feeling blue” or “having the blues.” Our two most expansive environments — the sea and the sky — often appear blue to human eyes and bring more joy than the wintry grays that contribute to seasonal affective disorder. On a smaller scale, it’s hard to imagine any blue object that, without specific sentimental attachment, could induce sadness. Not jeans, nor gems, nor blue ballpoint pens. Blue is also the world’s favorite color and a popular primary color for corporations, partially for its sense of calm, clarity and stability. Even a recent study showed that blue can have happier associations than yellow. So why the emotional hue miscue?
The origin of blue’s sometime-association with down-time is a matter of mystery. Various intriguing but possibly etymythological theories include:
- The association of rain with the tears of deities, including those of Zeus from ancient Greek religions
- A naval practice of displaying a blue flag, or painting a ship’s hull blue, to mourn deceased officers when returning to their home port
- A West African bereavement tradition involving dyeing clothes with the indigo plant, and the plantation songs sung by slaves forced to harvest it along with other crops
- ‘Blue devil’ hallucinations brought on by severe alcohol withdrawal — a theory about music’s blues genre but not necessarily describing the state of sadness itself
- People turning bluish when ill or injured
Regardless of root, so-called ‘blue periods’ affect us all at times. When I’m feeling chromatically murky, I might consider the perspective of someone who’s always blue:
- Captain Planet: With the help of Gaia and The Planeteers, this syndicated superhero throws himself into environmental action with his ring-garnered powers
- Doctor Manhattan: His transition to a metaphysical being is traumatic and detaches him from humanity, but he eventually reconstructs himself, becomes godlike and changes his environment
- Dory: She’s a regal tang fish with short-term memory loss, but is helpful despite her condition, always managing to find the bright side of every situation
- Genie: Stuck in a cramped lamp for 10,000 years, this joking jinn emerges with a song, dance, shapeshifting abilities and a generous soul
- Gonzo: He may be a one-and-only, unidentifiable species, but this Muppet is a well-regarded performance artist, daredevil and life of the party — they don’t call him ‘The Great’ for nothing
- Mystique: Much like our moods, this mimicking mutant can change from one form to another — though she can do it at will, with precision
- Neytiri: Even while her homeland is crumbling around her, this Na’vi warrior finds the strength to save her planet and culture from destruction at the hands of greedy extractivists
- Road Runner: Constantly chased by a cunning coyote, this lovable bird beep-beeps its way out of every wily temptation
- Smurfette: It’s tough being the only one of your kind, but she makes do by volunteering for adventures and organizing spectacular events
Like the variety of saturation, value and lightness in a single hue, there are many ways to feel blue — and just as many ways to make do. I azure you.
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The above post is not medical advice. It is only intended as a bit of helpful humor for a temporarily downtrodden spirit. If you are chronically depressed, please reach to out to someone who can help you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
