Marks
A mark or character used to represent a culture such as the Christian cross.Graphic Design
A graphic design such as a national flag, seal, crest or logo.
Colors
Colors associated with a culture. For example, the color black is symbolic of several music subcultures including metal, punk and goth.
Music
Songs, anthems, instruments or musical traditions. For example, Highland Bagpipes as a symbol of Scottish culture.Language
Language such as a word, phrase, principle or slogan. For example, "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence that may be considered symbolic of American culture.Fashion
Fashion such as traditional kimono that are symbolic of Japanese culture.Architecture
Architecture such as Big Ben as a symbol of British culture.Food & Beverages
Food and beverages associated with a traditional or modern culture. For example, sake is symbolic of Japan.Animals
It is common for nations to have a national animal such as the giant panda of China.Mythical Creatures
Mythical creatures such as the unicorn as a symbol of Scottish culture.Plants
Plants such as the maple tree as a symbol of Canada.Products
Products such as wine as a symbol of France.Documents
Documents such as the Constitution of the United States.Individuals
Individuals such as Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of India.Personification
Some nations are represented by an allegoric figure who's considered a personification of the nation. For example, Marianne is a manifestation of the Goddess of Liberty who is symbolic of France.
Institutions
Institutions such as Cambridge and Oxford as symbols of British culture.Holidays
Holidays are often important symbols of a nation or religion. For example, Independence Day in the United States.Pastimes
Pastimes such as a sport or game that are representative of a local or national culture. For example, sumo as a symbol of Japanese culture or surfing as a symbol of Hawaiian culture.Art
Artworks such as American Gothic as a symbol of the culture of the United States.
Traditions
Traditions such as the traditional performers of Japan known as Geiko and Geisha.Places
Places such as Sunset Beach and nearby Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii as symbols of surfing subculture.Other
Any tangible or intangible entity can be symbolic of a culture, super culture or subculture. For example:Companies | Craft |
Dances | Festivals |
Historical Events | Inventions |
Memorials | Myths |
Performance Art | Relics |
Rites of Passage | Stories |
Technologies |
Overview
Cultural symbols are entities that represent a culture or its inherent characteristics. These can be visual or non-visual symbols that are widely recognized by the members of the culture.
Summary
A cultural symbol is a representation that has strong and widely recognized meaning within a culture. This may represent the culture itself such as a flag that represents a nation. Alternatively, a cultural symbol may represent a concept that is important to a culture such as Marianne, a personification of liberty and reason in French culture.
