What is Purple?
Where has purple been? I know this question has definitely been consuming your thoughts lately. Even if it hasn’t, purple has certainly been on my mind. Which prompts me to write extensively about this shade. Maybe Justin Bieber ruined this color for you, maybe you have a purple water bottle, maybe you’ve read the book “The Color Purple” (if you haven’t, you should), or maybe you associate purple with absolutely nothing at all. It’s somewhat obvious that purple seldom makes the top of anyone’s favorite color list. Its general lack of popularity is what makes this underdog of the color wheel all the more powerful. What does purple mean to people? Even more important than what the color purple represents to all of humanity, why does it call to us here at Season Three?
Accessible
Today, you can outfit yourself in the fine color purple with a CustomInk t-shirt for under three bucks. But, it wasn’t always so easy to wear. Purple dye has been the most regulated color in the history of the universe until the invention of cheap, synthetic purple dye in 1856. Even purple’s origination myth can attest to its extreme rarity. According to Greek mythology, the color was discovered while Hercules and his dog were going for a leisurely stroll on the beach. As dogs do, Hercules’ dog tried (and probably immediately regretted) to eat a sea snail. Hercules watched, astounded, as his dog’s drool turned an alarming deep purple. Here, in the jaws of Hercules’ dog, the symbol of extravagant wealth and power was born. Despite its discovery in earthly elements, purple’s story with a heroic, unearthly man remains a marker of the color’s historic exclusivity. This “Tyrion” purple was incredibly expensive to produce until the 1800s, as it could only be extracted from the mucus of sea snails in the city of Tyre. From the togas of Roman Emperors to the garb of elite warriors, purple subsisted at the hands of the world’s few divine leaders, until today.
If you’re into physics you may be familiar with purple’s “on the fringes” reputation. Purple seems to subtly appear in nature, just as it would looking around a city. Purple is the last, smallest arch in the rainbow, it’s at the end of the visible color spectrum, and it’s the most challenging shade for the human eye to discern. On the outskirts of both science and society, purple is unlike most other colors in that it is not widely known for conjuring a certain emotion. The feelings tied to other hues are almost universal: yellow is happiness, black is evil, etc. Purple is a misfit. There isn’t one universal emotion we can draw from it, it speaks to everyone differently. On the periphery, purple has yet to see its time in the limelight. But as the odd-ball, we’re still rooting for it.
Eager
Maybe purple has never been able to establish itself as a popular favorite because it’s seen so rarely in the wild. Often, it emerges only for a short moment in minute elements like soft lavender, the northern lights, instagrammable sunsets, and in the reflection of delicate light on a mountain range. In its scarcity, we are filled with giddy sense of excitement when we do catch a glimpse of its fleeting beauty. It evokes the desire to escape and reimagine the realms of our reality. The subtle ways purple dawns in nature ignites our urge to explore these ethereal elements. Beckoning us to plunge into the unknown, we can harness this energy to transform the bounds of our everyday.
Purple’s sense of exploration plays an imperative role in the iconic children’s book, Harold and the Purple Crayon. Dissatisfied with his reality, Harold sets out to discover what’s beyond his everyday life and draws his entire environment with a purple crayon. Harold and his crayon physically unite his imagination and reality, providing Harold with a better understanding of himself. Similar to Harold, purple offers us a sense of freedom from earthly expectations and provides access to what’s beyond our reality. Purple invents the understanding that we can be consumed by our dreams and that these desires can flourish freely in our lives.
Utilitarian
Despite its mystical qualities, purple also has a utilitarian function. Purple’s heroism and adaptability in the face of hardship show in its affiliation with the Purple Heart, an award given to members of the Armed Forces who were wounded or killed. Though this medal is not the most desired, for obvious reasons, its recipients are known for their bravery in the face of chaos and their ability to perform under pressure. In embodying the spirit of Purple’s freedom and courageous nature, we can integrate the courage that the color brings with an unparalleled zealous spirit.
Yin & Yang
Purple brings a yin & yang vibe to the color wheel by hybridizing two primary colors. In merging the aggression and vigor of red with the elegance and tranquility of blue, purple regally embraces the connotations of both colors. The unique integration of opposing forces in purple is invaluable in society today. Ever heard of a purple state? A purple state is essentially a more fun name for swing states in election cycles. Purple states are a political blend of red and blue, a coexistence of “yin & yang” opinions, backgrounds, and beliefs. Purple’s association with commingling ideals embodies how important aspects on both sides of an issue can be used to establish unique solutions. Here at Season Three, we refer to this effective combination of yin and yang elements as productive conflict and see purple as an emblem of this rich medley.
In progressing through our everyday lives with the ethos of purple, we strive to conduct ourselves in the manner that purple does — in creating opportunities accessible to everyone, nurturing an intrinsic eagerness to explore the unknown, committing to utilitarian spirit through bravery and adaptation, and blending yin & yang with a reminder to engage in productive conflict. In weaving our ideals and thoughts with others in what purple stands for, we try to implement aspects of the unexplored into our reality.
