Studio Life

Every color incites feelings and associations. Red brings up passion, green conveys serenity, yellow symbolizes joy, blue throws you into the sea or the sky. But it seems that no color incites such versatile, ambivalent, and powerful responses such as black. On one hand, it has something dark, scary and rebellious to it. On the other hand the fashion world worships it. It’s elegant, classic, timeless, powerful, rich and full of depth. How is it possible that so many attributes are associated with the color black? Perhaps it’s the fact that it’s so strong, extreme, and darker than them all, or maybe because it fits with anything and brings out the best in everything around it.

1. A black cat, for example, is a special cat. It draws responses and emotions that a cat in another color will never evoke, but it’s not the case everywhere. In England for example black cats used to be given as wedding gifts as they symbolizes happiness for the bride. In Japan, a single woman who owns a black cat is considered more attractive. In many places in the west the color black is a color that represents grief and sadness, but in India and China it’s actually white that is worn in funerals and memorial services.

2. Many artists have the Black Album. Metallica’s black album provided some unforgettable hits in the 90’s, it sold millions and is considered a rock music classic. The Beatles’ black album was a compilation album of pieces that each of the members created separately (and was brought together by the actor Ethan Hawke). When Jay-Z announced his first retirement he released his black album and titled it as such to give it the honor it deserved. Prince’s black album became legendary after he had decided not to release it a week before it was due, as he felt it was too “dark”.

3. In the fashion world, at least since Coco Chanel’s revolution, black represents a timeless classic. Business men wear black suits, a black tie gives anything an elegant touch. Honorable priests and judges wear black uniforms. Tuxedos and bow ties on the red carpet. On one hand, the tough leather jackets of Harley Davidson riders, on the other hand, LBD. In 1926 the legendary designer led a revolution in the fashion world and adopted the color that up until then signified disaster and made it a symbol of elegance. In 1926 she created the “little black dress” (LBD) and made it a household term to the unofficial uniform of women across the world. A timeless classic.

4. Black radiates strength and power. It’s not by chance that the luxury brand Louis Vuitton decided to purchase a huge black diamond (the size of a tennis ball) to hint of a new footing in the diamond market. A black credit card has become a status symbol in the USA, and for a few thousand dollars you can get the desirable card, that will allow you to spend a few thousand more. Why would you need it? The question is, why wouldn’t you? On the same note, the most luxurious credit card in the world is the card that is given to members of the royalty in Dubai. It has no limitations and it’s probably the most valuable piece of plastic in the world.

5. Black evokes nostalgia. TV used to only run in black and white, and some of the most memorable films in cinematic history are in black and white. Old cellphones used to have little black screens, nowadays phone screens can use every color under the sun. Black gives us a taste of the past.

6. Everyone knows what Black Friday is, but the black part of the story started in 1951 in America when on the Friday after Thanksgiving, a phenomenon where employees will call in sick to enjoy a long weekend began. The event was so big that employers called this “Black Friday” referring to the loss in profit due to a lower amount of manufacturing. A decade later the term was adopted by the Philadelphia police when referring to the insane traffic jams and to the thousands of people that flooded the shopping centers. Today, the day after Thanksgiving is given to employees as a day off as is, but the black remained.

7. In the martial arts world a black belt is what you aspire to. Though to contrary belief, the black belt is not the highest level, but it does signify an important step where a warrior has managed to complete all of the basic stages, after he has acquired all the correct skills. You receive this belt after completing a test, and after getting it a student can become a teacher.