Sunglasses

Definition:

Sunglasses are protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that are colored, polarized, or darkened.

Etymology:

Sun comes from Old English “sunne,” meaning the sun, which itself derives from the Proto-Germanic “sunnōn” and the Proto-Indo-European “sóh₂wl̥,” both meaning sun. Glasses comes from the Old English “glæs,” meaning glass or a transparent substance, which is from the Proto-Germanic “glasam” and the Proto-Indo-European “gʰel-” meaning to shine or be bright.

The earliest use of sunglasses as a term dates back to the early 20th century.

Symbolism:

Sunglasses are a symbol for filtering light, which symbolically means to filter illusions. For example:

In the film series “The Matrix,” the Matrix is a simulated reality created by intelligent machines to subdue the human population while their bodies’ energy is harvested. The majority of humanity is unaware that they are living in a simulation, believing the artificial reality to be their actual world. In the film series, sunglasses play a significant symbolic role, as they help characters distinguish between the Matrix and reality. Sunglasses are worn by many of the main characters, including Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, and Agent Smith.


Agent Smith takes off his sunglasses.
Agent Smith puts on his sunglasses.
Neo puts on his sunglasses.
Neo removes his sunglasses while looking at a woman.
Trinity puts on her sunglasses, wearing black gloves.
Morpheus smiles while wearing sunglasses.
Reflection of Neo in Morpheus' sunglasses, holding a red and a blue pill in each hand.
Three agents, including Agent Smith, wearing sunglasses and suits.
Agent Smith looks serious with one of the lenses of his sunglasses broken.
Neo and Trinity, both wearing sunglasses and black leather outfits, walk confidently through a building lobby holding guns, with smoke and debris in the background.
Agent Smith takes off his sunglasses. Agent Smith puts on his sunglasses. Neo puts on his sunglasses. Neo removes his sunglasses while looking at a woman. Trinity puts on her sunglasses, wearing black gloves. Morpheus smiles while wearing sunglasses. Reflection of Neo in Morpheus' sunglasses, holding a red and a blue pill in each hand. Three agents, including Agent Smith, wearing sunglasses and suits. Agent Smith looks serious with one of the lenses of his sunglasses broken. Neo and Trinity, both wearing sunglasses and black leather outfits, walk confidently through a building lobby holding guns, with smoke and debris in the background.

The movie “They Live” follows the protagonist John Nada, a drifter who discovers a pair of sunglasses that reveal a hidden reality. When Nada puts on the sunglasses, he sees that the world is controlled by alien creatures who use subliminal messages to manipulate humanity.


In colors, a billboard on the side of a building showing a computer-themed advertisement with the text "WE'RE CREATING THE transparent COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT" and the logo of Control Data.
In colors, the male character John Nada wearing a plaid shirt puts on black sunglasses, looking thoughtful.
In black and white, the same billboard from the first image now appears in black and white with the single word "OBEY" in bold letters.
In colors, a billboard featuring a woman in a red bikini lounging on a beach with the text "come to the... CARIBBEAN."
In colors, the male character John Nada wearing a plaid shirt puts on black sunglasses, looking thoughtful.
In black and white, the same billboard from the fourth image now appears in black and white with the text "MARRY AND REPRODUCE."
In colors, a wooden store sign reading "Armisi's MEN'S APPAREL" in elegant script.
In colors, the male character John Nada in the plaid shirt, putting the sunglasses back on, looking upwards.
In black and white, the same store sign from the seventh image now appears in black and white with the text "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT."
In colors, a store window sign reading "Close Out SALE" in red letters.
In black and white, the same store window sign from image 10, now in black and white with the word "CONSUME" in bold letters
In black and white, a cityscape view in black and white, showing various signs with subliminal messages such as "WORK 8 HOURS," "SLEEP 8 HOURS," "PLAY 8 HOURS," "CONFORM," "OBEY," "SUBMIT," "WATCH TV," and "BUY."
In black and white, shelves filled with white magazines with black text, each labeled with subliminal messages such as "DOUBT HUMANITY," "SUBMIT," "FOLLOW," "STAY ASLEEP," "CONSUME," "NO IDEAS," "WATCH TV," "SURRENDER," "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT," "OBEY AUTHORITY," and "MARRY AND REPRODUCE." A large "BUY" sign is visible on the wall.
In black and white, another view of a magazine salesman by the cash register, surrounded by shelves of products and magazines. Prominent messages include "STAY ASLEEP," "NO THOUGHT," "SUBMIT," "OBEY," and "WATCH TV." The words "NO THOUGHT" are prominently displayed in large letters above the shelves.
In black and white, another view of a magazine salesman by the cash register, surrounded by shelves of products and magazines with uniformly white packaging. Each product has a subliminal message like "OBEY AUTHORITY," "DOUBT HUMANITY," "FOLLOW," "SUBMIT," and "NO IDEAS."
In black and white, shelves in a store with products labeled with subliminal messages like "SUBMIT," "STAY ASLEEP," "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT," and "BUY."
In colors, the male character John Nada wearing a plaid shirt and sunglasses, browsing through a magazine rack filled with various colorful magazines.
In black and white, a close-up of a magazine, now shown in black and white, with the pages displaying the messages "STAY ASLEEP" and "OBEY."
In black and white, another close-up of a magazine in black and white, with the pages displaying the messages "BUY" and "DO NOT QUESTION AUTHORITY."
In colors, a close-up of a hand holding a stack of U.S. dollar bills.
In colors, the male character John Nada in the plaid shirt adjusts his black sunglasses while standing in front of a magazine rack.
In black and white, the same hand from image 20, now shown in black and white, holding a stack of U.S. dollar bills with the message "THIS IS YOUR GOD" visible on one of the bills.
In colors, a billboard on the side of a building showing a computer-themed advertisement with the text "WE'RE CREATING THE transparent COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT" and the logo of Control Data. In colors, the male character John Nada wearing a plaid shirt puts on black sunglasses, looking thoughtful. In black and white, the same billboard from the first image now appears in black and white with the single word "OBEY" in bold letters. In colors, a billboard featuring a woman in a red bikini lounging on a beach with the text "come to the... CARIBBEAN." In colors, the male character John Nada wearing a plaid shirt puts on black sunglasses, looking thoughtful. In black and white, the same billboard from the fourth image now appears in black and white with the text "MARRY AND REPRODUCE." In colors, a wooden store sign reading "Armisi's MEN'S APPAREL" in elegant script. In colors, the male character John Nada in the plaid shirt, putting the sunglasses back on, looking upwards. In black and white, the same store sign from the seventh image now appears in black and white with the text "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT." In colors, a store window sign reading "Close Out SALE" in red letters. In black and white, the same store window sign from image 10, now in black and white with the word "CONSUME" in bold letters In black and white, a cityscape view in black and white, showing various signs with subliminal messages such as "WORK 8 HOURS," "SLEEP 8 HOURS," "PLAY 8 HOURS," "CONFORM," "OBEY," "SUBMIT," "WATCH TV," and "BUY." In black and white, shelves filled with white magazines with black text, each labeled with subliminal messages such as "DOUBT HUMANITY," "SUBMIT," "FOLLOW," "STAY ASLEEP," "CONSUME," "NO IDEAS," "WATCH TV," "SURRENDER," "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT," "OBEY AUTHORITY," and "MARRY AND REPRODUCE." A large "BUY" sign is visible on the wall. In black and white, another view of a magazine salesman by the cash register, surrounded by shelves of products and magazines. Prominent messages include "STAY ASLEEP," "NO THOUGHT," "SUBMIT," "OBEY," and "WATCH TV." The words "NO THOUGHT" are prominently displayed in large letters above the shelves. In black and white, another view of a magazine salesman by the cash register, surrounded by shelves of products and magazines with uniformly white packaging. Each product has a subliminal message like "OBEY AUTHORITY," "DOUBT HUMANITY," "FOLLOW," "SUBMIT," and "NO IDEAS." In black and white, shelves in a store with products labeled with subliminal messages like "SUBMIT," "STAY ASLEEP," "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT," and "BUY." In colors, the male character John Nada wearing a plaid shirt and sunglasses, browsing through a magazine rack filled with various colorful magazines. In black and white, a close-up of a magazine, now shown in black and white, with the pages displaying the messages "STAY ASLEEP" and "OBEY." In black and white, another close-up of a magazine in black and white, with the pages displaying the messages "BUY" and "DO NOT QUESTION AUTHORITY." In colors, a close-up of a hand holding a stack of U.S. dollar bills. In colors, the male character John Nada in the plaid shirt adjusts his black sunglasses while standing in front of a magazine rack. In black and white, the same hand from image 20, now shown in black and white, holding a stack of U.S. dollar bills with the message "THIS IS YOUR GOD" visible on one of the bills.