Problems of colour

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33423, 3 January 1974, Page 4

Problems of colour

Colour television is new to New Zealand, but although it has been in use for some time overseas, it still brings problems to the people producing the programmes. These problems are multiplied when the programme is, intended for w-orld-wide dis-j tribution. That is because [ I different colours mean dif-

i ferent things to different! i cultures. For instance, Italian! , viewers were aghast when ! Fleur in “The Forsyte Saga”; ' was married in dazzling l ■ white; in parts of Italy white i is associated with death,; . mourning and austerity. [ ■ ' The American C.B.S. net-1 I work relies so strongly on I the influence of colour that ! jit commissioned a team of! ’! psychologists to investigate • I the effects of colour on I (viewers. Among the results were findings that purple: •produced a feeling of tenderiness, green was associated! ilwith lightheartedness, and I red with vigour. Even “Coronation Street” I was not without its probi lems. After 10 years of pro-; [ jecting an image of grey shabbiness in black and, ■white, it went to colour and; jithen the trouble started.! j Colour made everything apipear too bright and prosperous, so bright tablecloths, ■ curtains and wallpapers had Ito be changed to ones which had obviously seen better I; days. Paintwork had to be scratched and rubbed down, [to look old, a shiny kettle [was given a coat of grime and grease and even the I glasses in the Rover’s Return were toned down with a [coating of hair spray. I The last word on the • change to colour for the | “Street” can characteristically be left to Ena Sharpies who said, “It’s making the ‘Street’ look pretty, and there’s a danger that people I will pay more attention to ; what we’re wearing than to; .the story." ?