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Changing Function of Symbolism in Design of Korean Silk Textiles
Author(s) -
Kwon YoonHee
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x7900800102
Subject(s) - motif (music) , silk , stylized fact , structural motif , the symbolic , form and function , art , aesthetics , computer science , psychology , cognitive science , biology , biochemistry , psychoanalysis , economics , macroeconomics , operating system
The focus of this research was to investigate the changing function of symbolism in design of Korean silk fabrics for dress which were woven between 1875 and 1975. Photographs of silk samples were collected according to motif categories from Korean University museums, a private collection, and silk manufacturing companies. These were examined with regard to design changes in the areas of (1) types of motifs, (2) combinations of motifs, (3) configurations of motifs, (4) organization of motifs, and (5) visual importance of motifs, with regard to symbolism. The major findings of the study were as follows: Types and combinations of motifs used in Korean silk fabrics during the 1875–1975 period underwent change from symbolic to non‐symbolic in nature. Naturalistic and stylized configura tions of motifs dominate the Korean silk designs. Motif‐oriented pattern arrangement dominates the organization of motif due to the emphasis placed on the symbolic character of individual motifs, although the number of pattern‐oriented arrangements has increased in recent years. The findings indicate that the concept of design has changed from symbolic to decorative type.