Color Connotations

Lesson One: Understanding Color Connotations

Names for Red? Rosy Sienna Brick-red Fire engine red…

Red  How would readers or listeners react to these color names?  What associations will they make?

What’s in a Name? What would you expect from a can of paint named after these colors? A nail polish? Why would a paint company use one of these names for their products? Why would Crayola NOT use some of the names OPI would use? What kind of buyer would they be trying to attract?

Connotation/Denotation Connotation = Associations people make with a word Denotation = Literal Meaning

1.Red 2.Blue 3.Green 4.Yellow 5.Purple 6.Orange 7.White 8.Black Eight Groups Research Cultural Connotations of Color Present findings to class. Prepare poster for display.

Tonight’s Homework Brainstorm where you’ve seen your color. –Example: Red—fire engine, stop sign, stop light, Santa… Make a list and bring to next class.

Lesson Two: Finding the Meaning Behind the Color

Color Connotation Project Research your color. –Access the Exercise 1 link on Wiki.Exercise 1 –Decide who will visit which sites (omit Benjamin Moore site). –Explore each site to discover the cultural connotations of your assigned color. –Complete and print the graphic organizer.

Collaborate & Create – Share your findings with your group. – Create a poster that explains the cultural connotations of your color. – Prepare a 3-5 minute presentation to explain your color’s cultural connotations.

Present –In a 3-5 presentation, explain the cultural connotations of your group’s color. –Be sure each group member contributes equally in the presentation.

Lesson Three: Seeing Color Imagery in a Text

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost ( ) Journal Assignment Write about Frost’s use of color imagery. How does the imagery relate to the color research we’ve conducted? Try to use the terms connotation and denotation in your entry.

Fitzgerald relies on color imagery to reveal details about the character, plot, and setting in his novel.

Color Journals We’ll use 4-column journals to track Fitzgerald’s use of color throughout the novel. Page #Passage from Text Related Characters Connotations & Comments 6Windows “reflected gold” Tom & Daisy (their home) Gold=money. They’re rich. “Reflected”— like a mirror— do they like to show-off their wealth?