...how could you use symbolism to make a statue unique? Isn't it more the thoughts associated with a particular thing, like for example the connotations behind a cross? In a parallel universe most cultures, just randomly put together wood. HereTo a specific religion, a sign of martyrdom and holiness.
FTFY.
This pretty much says it all. Your symbolic tattoo is art to nobody but yourself and the people it relates to, and don't expect anybody else to get the symbolism.
Yes, but having symbolism that not everyone gets isn't somehow an affront or an assault on them. It's not an effort to bullshit or subjugate them. I don't get why the idea of symbolism itself suddenly seems so offensive.
I don't think it's symbolism, more the symbol I chose to demonstrate my point. Of course, despite being of a different culture from me and, unless they're agnostic, a different religion (or lack thereof) They still understood exactly what I meant. My point was that there are universal symbols. The first that came to mind was the cross. Another is the First Aid Cross. Another the Star of David, and yet another the white flag. Some symbolism relates to everyone (Except, of course, some very remote forest tribes, but they're numerically almost insignifant (At least, I assume so, though I haven't seen a population graph for them)
Really, if you get a tattoo with the cross on it, the star of David or (For whatever reason
) the white flag, you may safely assume that everyone you meet will understand at least to some extent the connotations. It's different if it's something like MZ's avatar, as it isn't universal, but some things are.