Rainbow Inspirations in Art

Book excerpt: Rainbow Inspirations in Art, written collectively by a group of four expert researchers, focuses on a most intriguing subject: the function of color metaphors in the arts. This book includes conclusive discussions with regards to color metaphors in three domains: poetry, visual art and music. Conclusions are based on theoretical and empirical inquiry in the respective disciplines. Innovative areas of research are included in the book, such as the function of color in children's poetry and color-hearing metaphors (chromaesthesia) among listeners who encounter classical music. This book consists of a prologue, seven chapters, and an epilogue. The prologue explains color metaphor as a cross-disciplinary phenomenon. The chapters are divided into two broad sections: Section A (Chapters One through Four) contains four theoretical studies; Section B (Chapters Five through Seven) presents three empirical studies. The epilogue offers a novel viewpoint of counter-color metaphors (abbreviated CoCoM). Color metaphors are laden with symbolism, signs and cultural connotations that artists use in imaginative ways. In this book, the authors explore color metaphors as they contribute to our understanding of the arts. This book includes a comprehensive, updated literature review, which provides background information and new insights into the meaning of color metaphors in the arts. Academic readers and researchers may find valuable information in this book through the study of color metaphors, bridging the arts.