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Colour symbolism

The French language is rich in expressions, enabling speakers to illustrate their points. For this theme, the students took idiomatic expressions literally and transformed them into works of art. It's a colourful workshop!

An idiomatic expression is, by definition, what characterises expressions specific to a language. They are mainly based on comparison or metaphor. What we need to understand is the image that emerges from these expressions. For example, who has never uttered phrases such as “avoir la main verte”, “voir la vie en rose” or “montrer patte blanche”?

Without necessarily realising it, we use them routinely throughout our day. It has become part of our everyday conversation.

We should also bear in mind that colours are also vectors of symbolism and that their use, or choice, is not trivial.

This is the theme that the students from Nantes’ Prépa Entertainment course had to work on: bringing one of these expressions to life!

SUBJECT OF THE EXERCISE

Based on the choice of one of the six main colours (blue, red, green, yellow, black or white) and a well-known expression using the same colour (“to have a green hand”, “to see red”, etc.), the students had to invent a skit illustrating both the symbolism of the colour and the meaning of the chosen expression.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXERCISE

  • Identify a colour and a related expression,
  • The world you create must be dominated by the chosen shade,
  • Make a model in the required dimensions,
  • Illustrate the expression in a single scene or in several panels (in the form of a comic strip),
  • Present a document bringing together all the research.

EDUCATIONAL AIM

Firstly, to get students thinking about the French language and its particularities. To become aware of the language we use every day. Secondly, to illustrate an idiom in an artistic way.

TECHNIQUE(S)

Free