Google Guilty of Artistic Whitewash
Today is Igor Stravinsky’s birthday.
How do I know this? Is it that I have a penchant for hoarding useless factoids? Perhaps it’s been hardwired into my brain by my old music teacher, who mocked my lack of talent by calling me “Stravinsky Stu”. Or is it because I’ve spent too many hours watching trivia-based quiz shows on TV?
http://www.google.co.uk/
No. None of these. I know it’s Stravinsky’s birthday because Google tell me it is by the fancy artwork (and the caption) incorporated into their homepage logo. This is common practice on notable – and not so notable – anniversaries. And I think it’s a nice touch, often interweaving the day’s theme in subtle and artistically intelligent ways. The resulting logos are both informative and visually appealing.
Barely two weeks ago there passed an anniversary that escaped few people’s notice. So where were you Google? Where was the clever tank, wheels creatively derived from the standard logo? Where was the abstract Tank Man, bags of shopping represented by one ‘O’ in each hand as he confronted a menacing line of armoured vehicles?
Exactly. You knew what day it was. You knew the significance. And you ducked it.
Next year is the Tank Man’s 21st birthday. Call your artwork people now so they’ve got plenty of time to make it as subtle as you need them to. If you can give us Stravinsky, the structure of DNA, and the anniversary of a breakthrough in the understanding of fractional geometry, then you can surely remember something of far greater significance. After all, you have nothing better to offer as a 6/4 anniversary. Because that’s what you did: you offered nothing.
Foolishly perhaps, I expected more from Google.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:15 am
You are unfair to Google, Stuart. They were too busy trying to make a buck:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2056803108_8d35d9f063_o.gif
June 18th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Very good, Neddy. That just about sums them up.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
They’re already in hot water with the government for their massive distribution of porn (right, as if Baidu doesn’t give me all I need!)
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1906133,00.html
One peep about 6/4 is likely to have them closed off forever.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Thanks for dropping by, Michael.
Yeah, it seems that Baidu are giving backhanders to government officials to turn the heat up on their rivals when most porn-related searches on Baidu turn up the same number/type of results. Either that, or it’s the Chinese government’s continued attempts to portray pornography as specifically connected with ‘western’ culture.
Google need to show more moral backbone and refuse further demands to censor search results, as do all companies doing business with China in situations where the CCP interfere with freedom of speech.
I like that line in The West Wing when the president is asked, “if our kids can buy pornography on the street corner for $5, isn’t that too high a price to pay for free speech?” Bartlet replies, “No. On the other hand, I do think $5 is too high a price to pay for pornography.”
January 13th, 2010 at 11:36 am
[...] Let’s hope so. In which case, come June, I might not have to revisit this criticism. [...]