Symbol Theory

This symbol of authoritarian dictatorship ran by Izel is an example of condensation in Turner’s 3 properties of dominant symbols. To the Loba tribe, this symbol represents many things. It means protection from the outside word and wisdom to live our life of secrecy. This is the basis of our social status and cohesion. Izel is the adopted name of the Loba matriarch and means “leader of the Lobas” in the ancient Loba language. Children who are born on a solar eclipse on the hundredth year are born with the possibility of becoming the new Loba leader. Once they reach the age of 16, these children go into a fight-to-the-death battle to become leader. The last one standing will become Izel. Izel is treated like a princess once she gains her rein but she is also a warrior and will go into battle if there is a threat to the Loba society. Lobas never die of natural causes, it is always another Loba that will kill her. Most Lobas do not want to risk trying to overthrow Izel but sometimes it does happen. If Izel is killed, the new Loba leader will be crowned. This is why Izel resembles strength and wisdom. She had to train herself to become leader and she also needs to fight other Lobas who are trying to rule the tribe.

Unification of disparate significata is demonstrated in the symbol for family. The fetus in space symbolizes the virtue of family and closeness within the Loba community. It also symbolizes the fact that each Loba is born a human at first. The children become Lobas after a ritual called Extraer Sangre, which means to “draw blood” in Spanish. The Lobas cut the children with a special clovis point then pour the extracted blood into a fire. If the children can have a serious and somber demeanor then they become Lobas. This symbol for family also brings to mind the idea of childbirth. Childbirth is a very celebrated occasion in Loba tradition because it makes our Loba pack stronger by adding a new edition to our family. A Loba pack is just another word for family but it also refers to when we hunt for men. The meaning of the moon in our world is also thought up when we see the family symbol. Since we get our food at night when the moon is out we think about how it helps our family survive. 

The third and final property of Turner’s 3 properties of a dominant symbol is Polarization of Meaning and is seen in our symbol for the complexity and dichotomy of our lifestyle. The first element to this property is the sensory pole and this could be demonstrated in the actual physical transformation Lobas undergo. From seductress to Loba, the physical transformation brings feelings of strength and power. It also brings emotions of closeness to our community and ancestors. The physical transformation awakens physiological feelings. The other part to this property is the ideological pole which can be seen in the moral standing of not falling in love with a human male. If this occurs the whole social order with be compromised. Our lifestyle symbol reminds us that we have to be silent about our life and we cannot interact with outsiders. Another ideological standpoint shown in this symbol is that the Loba community needs to follow our leader, Izel. She exemplifies our lifestyle symbol the most because she authorizes the ideals of our community.