The liquid crystal(LC) display is the most promising technology of the flat panel displays covering all applications from small mobile to large television applications. To understand the operating principles and improve the performances of the various LC displays, one should grasp the anisotropic nature of the LC and the propagation of light in the anisotropic media. Basic formulas governing the distribution of the LC molecules, directly related to the electro-optic effects of the LC devices, are described in view of the macroscopic interaction. Based on the matrix representation, the polarization analysis for the LC devices is also presented.