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starwars.com > Community > Message Boards > Community > The Cantina > The (hidden?) significance of popular marketable names and symbols

The (hidden?) significance of popular marketable names and symbols - 74 replies | 5 pages

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DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 08:47 PM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 27, 2009 08:52 PM

This is a topic that has been a long-time curiosity of mine and of interest to me, and something that I am always conscious of even if it does not cross many people's minds. What do you think the significance is of many of the names and symbols that are used for brands, shows, technology, and other products, etc. that can have "additional connotations" in and of themselves? For example a long standing example has been cars that have names related to astronomy (and possibly astrology) such as the Taurus, Saturn, and Mercury all of which are also ancient mythological gods (see here). Also a name like American Idol even gets on my nerves a little bit. Here we are in the twenty first century and supposedly beyond the days of "primitive pagan religion" and here we are marketing terms like "idol" which have a long history and varied connotations.

cont...

DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 08:47 PM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 27, 2009 08:54 PM

Also, since I study ancient middle eastern culture, I have inevitably seen depictions of many ancient gods and - intentional or not - the first thing I think of when I see the Starbucks symbol/lady is of an ancient star godess like Venus - which has ties to other godesses like Ashtoreth, etc. Now why would they pick a symbol like that?

I'm not necessarily saying there is a conspiracy but I don't believe these symbols are naïvely chosen or benign either. They have marketable and propaganda value - for whatever purpose. And they become so common place that we hardly stop to think about how many things have been marketed in such a similar manner.

What are your thoughts about this?

Phil_B_22
Total Posts: 2250
Member Since: 10/01

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 08:54 PM

A guy at work is heavily into this kind of stuff too, we've had some interesting chats.

He said that the shell oil logo could be, yes, a sea shell, but also a setting sun with rays bursting upward. I forget if he said what that would mean, but it was certainly interesting. I think he had a theory for the BP one too.

there's certainly a whole school of thought about them.

Supernus Magister Sith
Total Posts: 34843
Member Since: 12/99

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 08:55 PM

I'm not necessarily saying there is a conspiracy but I don't believe these symbols are naively chosen or benign either. They have marketable and propaganda value - for whatever purpose. And they become so common place that we hardly stop to think about how many things have been marketed in such a similar manner.

Corporate logos and slogans are not chosen by some happenstance. They are designed to program you into mass-consumerism.

Buy. Sell. Consume. Repeat.

DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 09:02 PM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 27, 2009 09:11 PM

Interesting. Yeah, the sun itself has been deified for millenia. Another enigmatic gas station symbol/name is Chevron. A chevron is a V shaped symbol, but which has many manifestations in various cultures. Some norse runes can look like chevrons. It is a symbol that can mean just about anything. The word's etymology is even a little interesting, but I'll let you look that up on your own.

But seriously, the Starbucks logo gets me the most. It so obviously (or so easily - if by chance it was "accidental") can be shown to be parallel with other symbols of godesses from mythology. We worship our singers on American Idol, and we certainly "worship" our coffee at the alter of Starbucks - or people have withdrawals. Its an interesting cultural analogy anyway.

DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 09:08 PM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 27, 2009 09:09 PM

Corporate logos and slogans are not chosen by some happenstance.

I agree.

They are designed to program you into mass-consumerism.

Indeed. Or as Benjamin Barber would call it: "McWorld". Unfettered capitalism - and not only is it consumed but it in turn reciprocally consumes. A marketable product for your soul, as it were.

Buy. Sell. Consume. Repeat.

Worship by any other definition - just couched in financial terms. Now of course I have to be careful because there are basic essentials that capitalism is good at supplying like clothes and food, but the excesses are what taxes the system the most. Barber seems to think democracy is the tempering factor for capitalism.

Supernus Magister Sith
Total Posts: 34843
Member Since: 12/99

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 09:32 PM

But seriously, the Starbucks logo gets me the most. It so obviously (or so easily - if by chance it was "accidental") can be shown to be parallel with other symbols of godesses from mythology. We worship our singers on American Idol, and we certainly "worship" our coffee at the alter of Starbucks - or people have withdrawals. Its an interesting cultural analogy anyway.

Or, it could be a drawing of Dagon

That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die

DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 09:38 PM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 27, 2009 09:41 PM

Yeah, the hands do a look a little strange, like they may be fins. Maybe she's a mermaid. Which brings to mind Sirens, which is appropriate for the alluring call of coffee to the addicted.

Edit: Actually I just looked this up after I thought of that and it seems that some people indeed believe that it is a Siren on the logo (read here):

"The Starbucks logo is often referred to as the "Siren Logo" due to their depiction of a Siren on all their products."

Once again, there is (Greek) mythology in play with the logo.

whistlingnome
Total Posts: 10060
Member Since: 01/05

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 10:17 PM

This message was edited by whistlingnome on Jul 27, 2009 10:18 PM

Also a name like American Idol even gets on my nerves a little bit.
Even driver's licence photos smack of idolatry to some in the Hutterite community.

Corporate logos and slogans are not chosen by some happenstance.
I agree.

Considering the enormous amount of consideration given to the fascinating development of the design of logos--the colours, fonts, how they appear on various different media--no, it is not a bombshell to say they are not chosen frivolously.

Most of us even gave some thought when only choosing our screen names. Except France is Baking; gosh, what was he thinking, poor sucker.

whistlingnome
Total Posts: 10060
Member Since: 01/05

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 10:17 PM

This message was edited by whistlingnome on Jul 27, 2009 10:17 PM

For example a long standing example has been cars that have names related to astronomy (and possibly astrology) such as the Taurus, Saturn, and Mercury all of which are also ancient mythological gods (see here).

Did I assume correctly that this also gets on your nerves?
*sets timer to the ancient Procter & Gamble satanic symbolism charge*

darth franken o'reilly
Total Posts: 11835
Member Since: 07/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 10:49 PM

This message was edited by darth franken o'reilly on Jul 27, 2009 10:50 PM

If the significance is "hidden" then it doesn't mean a DAMN THING. It barely, BARELY means anything if it's completely obvious.

I swear, people could find "significance" in a turd with chocolate sprinkles on it.

darth franken o'reilly
Total Posts: 11835
Member Since: 07/04

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2009 10:58 PM

This message was edited by darth franken o'reilly on Jul 27, 2009 10:59 PM

Most of us even gave some thought when only choosing our screen names. Except France is Baking; gosh, what was he thinking, poor sucker.

He's I.R. Bacon now.

I'm the sucker; I missed the final deadline to pick a permanent name and I've regretted it ever since.

WARNING TO NEW POSTERS: DON"T PICK A TOPICAL SCREENNAME!!!

DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 28, 2009 05:12 AM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 28, 2009 05:18 AM

If the significance is "hidden" then it doesn't mean a DAMN THING. It barely, BARELY means anything if it's completely obvious.

I swear, people could find "significance" in a turd with chocolate sprinkles on it.

To be honest it was American Idol that prompted me to post this thread. I think the title is perhaps a little too casual/accommodating in calling things or people "idols". If you were to translate the show title into other languages, especially say among Hindu peoples, they might have hard time not seeing the name from the perspective of the various idols of their gods, and might not understand how 'idol' could be used in the way it is in "America".

So either we are so fast and loose with our terms as to have names with shallow, faux significance (a kind of mindless using of terms without evaluating them) or we are pulling from them to make some statement about our cultural values. Maybe a mix of both?

DarkSaber *God's Templar*
Total Posts: 3701
Member Since: 10/04

Date Posted: Jul 28, 2009 05:15 AM

This message was edited by DarkSaber *God's Templar* on Jul 28, 2009 05:15 AM

I'm the sucker; I missed the final deadline to pick a permanent name and I've regretted it ever since.

Oh, stop complaining. We all know you have dozens of sock accounts of yourself on these forums.

JayPetey
Total Posts: 10494
Member Since: 02/03

Date Posted: Jul 28, 2009 05:31 AM

Have you ever read any color psychology stuff? It has nothing to do with greek gods or anything, but that most colors chosen in logos are chosen for a reason to specifically make someone feel a certain way or think a certain way.. like how Red and Yellow are colors of hunger or hastiness.. i.e. McDonalds...

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