What is RED?

By Aaron Malkin, Senior Literary Fellow

Over the past few months, I have returned to the question Mark Rothko poses to his assistant early in John Logan's Red:

What is RED?

Taken at face value, there's a simple answer: 

As the play continues, however, it becomes clear that red is far more than the primary color we learn it to be in childhood.  First, and most obviously, there are tint and hue variations: maroon, pink, red-orange, etc., etc., etc.  But second, and more interestingly, red has countless associations which evoke personal and societal emotions and memories. If you want to learn more about the role color plays in both the personal and societal consciousness, check out our Sub/Text article "What is RED?!"

Red is particularly culturally relevant this week as it is the color of luck in Lunar New Year parades which are happening around the world. The Washington Post reports on red here and includes a stunning photo gallery that illuminates the incredible complexity of red here.

What does red mean to you?