With the environment on the agenda of most people, the color green is now synonymous with ecological awareness and responsibility. In fact, "green" has become the most powerful symbol of our planet.
We pause now and ask how did green beat out blue? Is green truly the dominant color in nature - and on our planet? Not really. Seventy percent of the planet is covered in ocean. Furthermore, when you consider all the planets orbiting the sun, Earth is clearly the "water planet."
Let's take a closer look and compare how we see and experience these two colors on Earth.
Blue is the intangible vastness of the sky, the inviting color of the sea, and the icy coldness of the glaciers. Green surrounds us as the color of leaves, of grass, of fruits and vegetables, of many other forms of vegetation. (Note: When green surrounds us, it indicates the presence of water.)
The next step is a comparison of the symbolic meanings that have evolved over time. As is the case with all colors, both blue and green pack positive and negative symbolism.
Green is fruitful and lucky - but can be envious, sickly, and immature.
Blue is calming and trustworthy - but can be sad, cold, and aloof.
There’s something else . . . and it's a scientific fact about blue: Even those with color blindness are most likely able to enjoy blue skies, since blue/yellow color blindness is extremely rare -- only 1% of color-blind people have it. On the other hand, approximately 7-8% of men are color blind in the green/red range.
At this point, you might say that you could make more of a case for blue. But wait, there's a counter argument that we offer.
For the most part, we experience green in a tangible way. You can touch a leaf, cut the grass, and make a green salad.
Blue is different. The blue sky is intangible. Its blueness is the result of the scattering of light as well. (On a clear cloudless day, the sky is blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light.) As for water, all the water on the planet isn't really blue. There's a wide range of greens, browns and many other colors as well. Furthermore, the perceived color of water - for example blue - is caused by selective absorption and scattering of the light spectrum. Impurities dissolved or suspended in water may also give water a different colored appearance. In conclusion, we can’t scoop up a cup of blue water, or extract an ounce of sky to hold in our hands. In spite of the existence of blue flowers, berries, and a few blue potatoes, the quantity of blue vegetation is minuscule compared to green.
Another thing to consider: Some say that blue is the color of the mind. It affects us mentally, rather than the physical reaction we have to green. Perhaps.
In the final analysis, maybe it was the excessive use of blue as the default color for web sites, logos (and many other forms of brand identity) that left it out of the running. Along this same line of reasoning, maybe the color blue (as in "Big Blue") is so entrenched in the corporate identity of big business and technology that a new identity is impossible. Save it for the 22nd century.
In conclusion, thank goodness you can stick to saying that you are "greenifying" your life.
Visit the new Color Matters Blog and read more about green.
If you have any questions or want to continue to contribute your thoughts on any of the topics in this newsletter, please do so at the Color Matters bulletin board.
