The word yellowalk first came about following reflection on some of my most basic interests while walking through, over, and across this city I live in, Vancouver, B.C. Those interests were first my feet, legs, and hips, and second the colour yellow. At least on this walk they were. About fifteen years ago I became increasingly drawn to the color - this first manifest in an expanding collection of yellow T-shirts, and grew to encompass many other mainly consumer goods in my world, the color yellow.
Looking up some of the history and etymology of the color yellow one might be struck by the bad rap its gotten through history. In the English language it is sometimes associated with fear, and has been traditionally associated with jaundice. The color is often associated with caution especially as the yellow light on stop lights. Yellow has also been used as a derogatory slang term for both Asians and light skinned African-Americans.
"Yellow" (“giallo”), in Italy, refers to crime stories, both fictional and real. The term "yellow movie" (黃色電影) can refer to films of pornographic nature in Chinese culture, and is analogous to the English "blue movie". It has also been associated with sensational journalistic practices, or yellow journalism.
Not quite the historical definitions one might hope to find to describe a color that is not only their favorite but one they’ve been drawn to for many many years nontheless.
However one could also see these definitions as subjective, and even as those sentiments used to describe the ever present other that is often subject to a marginalised position in a class and race heirarchy, in order to maintain that hierarchy.
However pure and bright yellow is the easiest color to see. People who are blind to other colors can usually see yellow and it is full of creative and intellectual energy.
Other more contemporary takes on meaning held within the color yellow are that yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow are considered to carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow advances from surrounding colors and can instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thought.
It is considered a color that stimulates the nervous system, activates memory and stimulates the mind and encourages communication.
Yellow is maybe a color to represent both the sunshine that sustains us and the creative hopes of myself and those I love.
