Symbolism

The ever-dependable John returns again; you may remember him from his many previous appearances. This time, the English class was asked to take out paper and spend a few minutes writing down common instances of symbolism. As always, John's take on the world deviates rather strongly from the norm. Did you know that "khakis" are a symbol of "dorkiness"? Or that "space" is a symbol for "out of this world"? "Green guy", we find, symbolizes "marshian" [sic], and many more!

His handwriting being almost illegible, I recopied his responses in the right-hand column shortly after receiving the piece; a transliteration will nevertheless follow, since both are now rather hard to read on the scan. But let that not dissuade you - some of the best stuff here is pictorial!

[heart] - love
[cross] - death
cigarette - cool being cool
marijuana - drugs
soap - cleanliness
backwards hat - being cool
khakis - dorkiness
space - out of this world
computer - 20th century
light - heali holiness
priest - holiness
monk - homosexuality
fireworks - excitement
kissing - love
the finger - hate
sex - love
church - holiness
yelling - rage
green guy - marshian
surfboard - california
[cycle sign] - recycle
[skull and crossbones] - pirates; death
[Mr. Yuk] - poison
[Pac-Man ghost] - ghost