Symbol Theory

According to anthropologist Victor Turner, there are 3 properties of a dominant symbol (symbols which refer to self evident values). In order for a symbol to be considered a dominant symbol the symbol must contain condensation, unification of disparte significata and bi polarity. 

       Condensation By "condensation" Turner is referring to the idea that many things or actions must be represented.  He describes dominant symbols as being saturated with meaning. In my post introducing you to the people of Sati I included a few of the many symbols used in their culture. One of those symbols was the leaf.  The leaf in Sati culture is used to symbolize family. This is a powerful expression of the ideas of these people in regards to Family, and it is easy to see why once understands the functions of the vains of a leaf (each vain of the leaf is intended to stand as an individual in  the family unit). Not only do the vains deliver water and nutrients from the soil to the leaves but also carries the products of photosynthesis (glucose and other carbohydrates) and other plant nutrients (protein and fats or oil) back to the stems and trunk to keep them alive. It's a 2-way transport system. In this way the soil is stands in for how earth/god nourishes the family whole, but how each individual in the unit is also responsible for providing nourishment to organism as a whole them self. Therefore we are able to derive many meanings from the symbol of the leaf. A few of these are that the family acts as a single organism, each of the parts brining nourishment to that organism are equal and vital to the survival of that organism, and that nourishment of the unit from earth/nature/a higher power, is critical for the life of the organism.   

        Unification of Disparate significata When Turner speaks of Unification of disparte significata he means something significant interconnected b the virtue of other common possession or analogous qualities. Simply put, it is taking diverse ideas and meanings and uniting them using a symbol as a single analogy. For the people of Sati, the image of a gust of wind as depicted below fits this definition well. The wind in Sati culture embodies their ideas about the people themselves. They feel the wind best represents them presently as well as them as a people in their past. The wind can be strong and destructive as the people once were in the days of the booming mahogany industry when they almost completely wiped out most of the natural resources of the tiny island. It can blow away things valuable and cherished. The wind can also be give refuge and comfort when it is hot, The wind can also bring things valuable and important. This is true of the people as they are today as they are caretakers of the island and not only treat it with respect but help it to thrive. The ides of destruction and belief don't generally go hand and hand but they are united in the symbol of the wind.

     Polarization of Meaning It seems intuitive that a dominant symbol should have sensory that leads the viewer to something ideological. Turner describes this as Polarity of meaning. The sun is a dominant symbol for there ideas about education in Sati culture.  By Turners definition of bipolarity there 's the sensory pole in which meanings closely related to the outward form of the symbol. To use the sun as an example this would be the bright intensity of the sun.  This arouses feelings of desire and and intensity.The second pole is the idealogical pole. Using the same example of the sun this refers to the views and standards for education in this culture. The Sati people believe very intensely in education and they feel education should be driven by a burning desire to learn. The light from ones desire of learning should fuel them to continue. Education illuminates ones life with light and therefore is highly valued.