Final answer:
Sherry B. Ortner's article "On Key Symbols" addresses the importance of symbolism and iconography in cultural systems. She identifies key symbols as central to understanding cultural values, defining them as summarizing and elaborating symbols. Ortner's work aligns with art history resources to aid in interpreting cultural symbols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main concepts in the article "On Key Symbols" by Sherry B. Ortner revolve around the significance of symbolism within cultural contexts. Ortner discusses how key symbols serve as core elements in the understanding of cultural systems, providing insights into the values and structures that define a society. She delves into various forms of symbolism, including the iconography, which is the visual representation of these symbols and how they contribute to the cultural narrative.
In "On Key Symbols", Ortner categorizes symbols into summarizing symbols, which embody a whole system or key aspects of a culture, and elaborating symbols, which are used to sort out complex feelings and ideas within a culture. Understanding the concepts of key symbols and iconography is crucial for interpreting the nuances of cultural communication. To facilitate this understanding, Ortner's work aligns with art history glossaries and resources that explore the connection between symbols and their meanings within cultural expressions.