The color black has long been associated with mystery, power, and the unknown. Throughout history, black clothing, animals, even energy has taken on symbiotic qualities in mythology and culture. But what is a symbiote, and does the color black truly embody symbiotic traits?
A symbiote is an organism that lives in a mutually beneficial relationship with another organism. The two beings depend on each other for survival. In science fiction, notably Marvel comics, a symbiote is often depicted as a sentient alien lifeform that bonds with a host, bestowing special powers. The infamous Venom symbiote that bonds with Spiderman is a perfect example.
In the natural world, symbiotic relationships are everywhere. Bees pollinate flowers, both benefiting in the process. Clownfish protect sea anemones, while the anemones provide food and shelter to the clownfish. But is a color, especially the color black, capable of being a symbiote? Let’s explore this idea further.
The History and Symbolism of the Color Black
Black has long been associated with both negative and positive traits across cultures and civilizations. Here are some of the most common connotations of the color black:
Power – The color black communicates strength, authority, and conviction. Black clothes are often worn by judges to communicate impartiality.
Mystery – Black conceals what lies beneath. The unknown and unseen. It enhances curiosity and fascination.
Elegance – Sophistication and class. Black formalwear has long been a standard.
Evil – Historically, black has represented darkness, death, and evil. Villains often wear black robes or clothing.
Rebellion – Black communicates rebellion against the norm. Counter-culture movements adopted black clothing.
Independence – Wearing black allows people to hide their outward appearance and be anonymous.
As you can see, black has taken on many symbiotic roles with humans over time. But can it actually exhibit symbiotic traits? Keep reading.
Does the Color Black Have Symbiotic Qualities?
At face value, the color black is simply a color – a reflection of light, or lack thereof, interpreted by our eyes and brain. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t capable of symbiotic relationships with living organisms. Here are some examples of how black demonstrates symbiotic qualities:
Camouflage in Animals
Many animals utilize black or dark coloration as camouflage, blending into their surroundings. This helps conceal them from predators and prey. Examples include crows, panthers, bats, and spiders. In this way, the black animal benefits from the black environment.
Energy Absorption
The color black absorbs the full spectrum of visible light. This property allows many black organisms and objects to harness, convert, and utilize various energies and radiation:
- Plants with black foliage can absorb more sunlight for photosynthesis.
- Black solar panels absorb light and convert it to electricity.
- Black clothing absorbs UV rays, protecting skin from damage.
- Black surfaces absorb heat from the sun and warmth from fires.
Intimidation
While black animals utilize camouflage for stealth, the color black can also be intimidating. The stark contrast strikes fear in potential predators or competitors. Flashing black patterns, like those on killer whales, signal “beware”.
Examples of Real and Fictional Black Symbiotes
Now let’s look at some specific examples of black symbiotes in nature, mythology, and fiction:
1. Cookiecutter Shark
This small, cigar-shaped shark inhabits warm, tropical waters and reefs. Its dark brown to black skin allows it to perfectly blend into the dark ocean depths. The cookiecutter shark uses bioluminescent light patterns to attract prey, then uses its powerful suction cup lips to extract circular “cookie cutter” chunks of flesh from much larger animals like tuna, dolphins, and even great white sharks. The bite leaves a unique cookie cutter wound.
2. Black Widow Spider
The infamous black widow spider exhibits a powerful black and red coloring that communicates danger. The female black widow is jet black with a red hourglass shape on its underbelly. This striking coloration warns predators to stay away. The black widow often lives in dark, sheltered areas, blending into its surroundings.
3. Anubis
Anubis is the ancient Egyptian god of the afterlife. He has a jackal head and a jet black body. Anubis helped mummify people when they died and guided their souls to the afterlife. He aided people in their transition from life to death. Anubis was a key symbiote in Egyptian beliefs about the journey to the afterlife.
4. Venom Symbiote
In Marvel comics, the Venom symbiote is an amorphous alien life form that bonds with a host, usually Eddie Brock. Venom ensnares Spiderman, sensing his powers, and attempts to permanently bond with him. When rejected by Spiderman, Venom attaches to Eddie Brock, forming a villain with spider powers. The symbiote craves bonding with powerful hosts, enhancing their abilities.
Is Black Capable of Mutualistic Relationships?
As we have seen, black-colored organisms and objects can certainly exhibit symbiotic traits through camouflage, energy absorption, intimidation, and mythology/fiction. However, black is simply a color – it does not possess thoughts, goals, or agency. The black widow spider benefits from its coloration, but the color black itself is not purposefully symbiotic.
Rather, black is better characterized as being capable of mutualistic relationships. A mutualistic relationship is when two organisms benefit from their interaction and dependence on one another. However, mutualism doesn’t necessarily mean the organisms purposefully help one another. It is mutually beneficial coincidence.
Examples:
- A black leather couch benefits from absorbing heat from the sun and fireplace.
- A black t-shirt provides UV protection for the wearer.
- Sirius, the black “dog star” aided sailors in navigation.
In these examples, the black object or entity provides benefits, but not intentionally. The blackness simply absorbs or reflects helpful wavelengths and energy.
Conclusion
Based on these examples, I believe black is capable of exhibiting symbiotic and mutualistic qualities in certain contexts. However, black is ultimately a color – it does not possess consciousness or agency. Black absorbs and reflects light and energy in ways that living organisms have adapted to capitalize on, through camouflage, intimidation, energy use, and more. But the color itself is not a purposeful symbiote. Humans imbue black with symbiotic meaning through mythology, fiction, and symbolism. But at its core, black is simply an incredibly useful color.