Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual  and Literary Works

Dr. Asma Qadri; Amina Cheema

کھوج, Vol # 43, Issue # 1
Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works

Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works

Dr. Asma Qadri/
Amina Cheema/
September 27, 2022

Keywords

Punjab, Red, Land scape, Colors, Punjabi Poets, Illustration, metaphor, Visual, Folk genre

Abstract

The paper investigates the potential of color red as a symbol/metaphor and in the ways it is being manifested in some visual and literary works. The examples are selected from art history, verses of Punjabi folk and of classical poets e.g. Faridudin Masud, Guru Nanak, Shah Hussain, Bulleh Shah, Sultan Bahoo, Damodar. Elaborating the use of red as a symbol/ metaphor in those examples sheds light on how a particular color is deployed to convey complexed emotions and layered meanings and the role those works and words have played in the interpretation and establishment and continuation of meaning of red color. The study also helps to discern the somatic and conceptual preposition of red color with love, compassion, revolution, unity, change, fertility etc. Significant application of color in Punjabi poetry is yet to be explored in depth. Very few critics have laid out studies that are systematic also and deal with the use of color more so over color red, in the words of Punjabi poets. In this paper an attempt has also been made to understand that how poets have deployed this color in their particular way and used it to convey their deepest emotions and compound thoughts. The qualitative method is used to collect empirical data.

References

* Associate Professor, Institute of Punjabi & Cultural Studies, Punjab University, Lahore

** College of Art & Design, University of the Punjab, Lahore

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How to cite

Asma Qadri, D., & Cheema, A. (2022). Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works. کھوج, 43(1). http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page

Retrieved from http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page

More citation formats

ACM SIG Proceedings

[1]Asma Qadri, D. and Cheema, A. 2022. Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works. کھوج. 43, 1 (Oct. 2022).

ACS Nano

(1)Asma Qadri, D.; Cheema, A. Color in Context: Red As Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works. کھوج 2022, 43 (1).

ABNT

ASMA QADRI, Dr.; CHEEMA, Amina. Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works. کھوج, v. 43, n. 1, 6 Oct.2022.

Chicago (author-date)

Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Asma Qadri, D. and Cheema, A. (2022) “Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works”, کھوج, 43(1). Available at: http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page (Accessed: 25 August 2026).

IEEE

[1]D. Asma Qadri and A. Cheema, “Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works”, کھوج, vol. 43, no. 1, Oct. 2022, Accessed: Aug. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page

MLA

Asma Qadri, Dr., and Amina Cheema. “Color in Context: Red As Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works”. کھوج, vols. 43, no. 1, Oct. 2022, http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page.

Turabian (full note bibliography)

Asma Qadri, Dr., and Amina Cheema. “Color in Context: Red As Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works”. کھوج 43, no. 1 (October 6, 2022). Accessed August 25, 2026. http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page.

Vancouver

1.Asma Qadri D, Cheema A. Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works. کھوج [Internet]. 2022 Oct. 6 [cited 2026 Aug. 25];43(1). Available from: http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page

AMA

1.Asma Qadri D, Cheema A. Color in Context: Red as Metaphor in Visual and Literary Works. کھوج. 2022;43(1). Accessed August 25, 2026. http://khoj.ipcs.edu.pk/website/journal/article/633e6e7e15eef/page

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