Topic: Flower Symbolism in Kojima's Art

[Flame]

One more thing.
there are 4 of the white flowers,which might correspond to the 4 girls. They are pure and innocent, just like the flowers.

You're pretty good at this.

[narkolepsi]

Very good analysis GreySun. I always felt so bad for the poor virgin. She was just lying there, so beautiful, never hurt anyone...then in goes the sword. That cutscene gives me the shivers, it was so brilliant...

The numerological symbolism of the number four can also be taken into consideration...four is a number of solidarity and security. Four points on a cross, four seasons, four quarters, etc. Richter is trying to restore balance to the world, and he does so by saving the four girls and killing Dracula to seal the deal.

[Pentagram-cracker]

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the game because it's based on European mythology, but in Japan four is also the number of death and it's extremly taboo to have things arranged in fours.

Also here's another flower symbolism from The Dracula X Chronicles I thought of. This was from the cover of the game:



It shows the three main character Dracula, Richter, and Maria. Maria is standing at the bottom surrounded by four flowers and holding a small cross. The cross I think is symbolic of her dove weapons, as doves are a symbol of God in Christianity. The four flowers, like the bouque she holds in her full body sketch, represent the four animals she has control over: the cardinals, the cat, the turtle, and the dragon. I think the white flowers represent the cat (which is actually a baby white tiger), the red flowers represent the cardinals, the blue flowers represent the turtle, and the black flowers represent the dragon. These four animals are actually based on Chinese Constellations, and I'm sure each one is represented by it's own element. I'm pretty sure that the cardinals are fire (as they can turn into a pheonix and shoot fireballs), and the turtle is water. The tiger is most likely earth because it's a land animal and the dragon might be air because it has wings and flies.

[Munchy]

oops wrong thread

[danceofgold]

Wow, this has to be one of the most interesting threads I've ever read! I've never looked closely at Kojima's artwork before I read these analyses. Now I realize there're so many details I've overlooked...

[Pentagram-cracker]

Thank you. I may not be an artist myself, but I think I have a good understanding of art and can see hidden symbolism and such. Kojima definetly uses a lot of symbolism with flowers which I think is very cool of her. She uses flowers to represent the personality of the female characters who hold them and she uses flowers to describe the general theme of a game by drawing them around all the main characters.

[danceofgold]

Thank you. I may not be an artist myself, but I think I have a good understanding of art and can see hidden symbolism and such. Kojima definetly uses a lot of symbolism with flowers which I think is very cool of her. She uses flowers to represent the personality of the female characters who hold them and she uses flowers to describe the general theme of a game by drawing them around all the main characters.

Are you studying literature or art history or something like that? Or is this just your personal interest

[Pentagram-cracker]

It's just a personal interest.