Pink as a Controversial Color. Excerpt from "The Color Code"

Contents:

MYTH Publishing House has released the book "The Color Code," which presents fascinating stories, interesting facts, and myths associated with various colors, such as red, yellow, blue, orange, green, and others. This book will be an indispensable source of information for those who want to deeper understand the meaning of colors in culture and art. "The Color Code" explores how colors influence our perception of the world and emotional state, and also reveals their symbolism in various traditions. Readers will learn how colors shape our environment and how they influence our behavior.

With permission from the publisher, we present excerpts from the chapter "And Boys Wear Pink," which examines a color that has sparked much controversy. This chapter explores the meaning of color and its social perception, as well as the stereotypes associated with it. Pink has traditionally been associated with girls and femininity, but in recent years, these stereotypes have been shifting. We explore how cultural norms influence the perception of color and how boys and men are beginning to embrace pink as part of their individuality. This text will help us understand the complex relationship between color, gender, and societal expectations.

On a summer day in 1952 in Memphis, Bernard Lansky noticed a shy, acne-prone teenager peering intently into the window of his clothing store. Lansky recalled that he rarely saw a white boy come to Beale Street and show interest in what was on display. This moment marked the beginning of an important story related to the culture and fashion of the time.

Lansky ran a successful business specializing in bright yellow suits, pink sport coats, silk shirts, and white shoes. His wares were popular among pimps, gamblers, and entertainers on Beale Street. One day, a young man, attracted by the store's window, caught Lansky's eye, who invited him inside and showed him his wares. "I love all this; it's absolutely fantastic! As soon as I have money, I'll buy everything from you," declared a 17-year-old working part-time at a nearby movie theater. Lansky replied, "Don't think about buying me, just buy from me."

The movie theater worker turned out to be Elvis Presley. He followed Lansky's advice, and on the day of his high school graduation, Lansky dressed him in a pink coat, black pants, and a pink and black belt. This color combination became Presley's favorite for a time. In 1956, Elvis appeared on the Milton Berle show wearing a pink and black bowling shirt. His energetic hip movements to the song "Hound Dog" caused a furor, and one Catholic newspaper even titled its review "Fear Elvis Presley." The moment became a landmark in the musician's career and underscored his influence on 1950s pop culture.

In the conservative American society of the 1950s, Elvis Presley's love of pink shirts, jackets, and Cadillacs raised eyebrows and raised eyebrows. His color preferences, especially the vibrant "shocking pink" reminiscent of the work of designer Elsa Schiaparelli, defied accepted norms. At the time, pink was associated with women and African Americans, which contributed to the misunderstanding among those around him, including his own relatives. Presley's cousin, Billy Smith, expressed bewilderment: "Most of the family thought, 'Why doesn't he just move in and live with them?'" A striking symbol of Elvis's rebellion against moral norms was the pink Cadillac he bought for his mother, Gladys. This car became not only a source of pride, but also an iconic attribute of his unique style and desire for self-expression.

Marilyn Monroe's pink dress, worn when she sang the famous song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in the cult film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," has become a fashion icon thanks to its unique hue. This vibrant color was inspired by a real diamond called the T.te de Belier ("Ram's Head"), which belonged to Daisy Fellowes, heiress to the Singer fortune, famous for its sewing machine manufacturing. Elsa Schiaparelli, a sophisticated designer and close friend of Daisy's, was so impressed by the diamond's brilliance that she created a rich and vibrant shade of purple called "shocking pink." This color was first introduced in her 1937 collection and has become a symbol of the Schiaparelli brand. A significant moment in fashion history occurred on June 11, 2010, when Marilyn Monroe's pink dress sold at auction for an impressive $370,000, highlighting its significance and impact on the fashion industry.

Alice from Lewis Carroll's fairy tale Alice in Wonderland is one of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Since 1911, when Macmillans published the beautifully illustrated book, Alice has been depicted in a blue dress. However, since the 1940s, children's clothing manufacturers and department stores in the United States began to associate pink with girls. Marilyn Reed, a professor at Oregon State University and an expert in children's design, argues that "pink is the color boys like until they're told it's wrong." According to her, "there is a lack of serious research that confirms differences in color perception between boys and girls." However, a number of studies show that both girls and boys generally prefer blue or lilac. Thus, color perception in children's fashion remains a relevant topic for discussion and research.

Translated by M. Batishcheva.

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