RubySoho
Winston
The New York Times Asks: Is Obama a Mac and Clinton a PC?
May 26th 2008 02:47
I thought this article in the The New York Times was pretty funny. It seems that "experts" covering the Democratic race have likened Obama to a flash stylish, Mac and relegated poor Clinton to a dowdy old PC.
Read Noam Cohen article:
Is Obama a Mac and Clinton a PC?
STYLES make fights — or so goes the boxing cliché. In 2008, they make presidential campaigns, too.
This is especially true for the two remaining Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Reporters covering the candidates have already resorted to traditional analysis of style — fashion choices, manner of speaking, even the way they laugh. Yet, according to design experts, the candidates have left a clear blueprint of their personal style — perhaps even a window into their souls — through the Web sites they have created to raise money, recruit volunteers and generally meet-and-greet online.
On one thing, the experts seem to agree. The differences between hillaryclinton.com and barackobama.com can be summed up this way: Barack Obama is a Mac, and Hillary Clinton is a PC.
That is, Mr. Obama’s site is more harmonious, with plenty of white space and a soft blue palette. Its task bar is reminiscent of the one used at Apple’s iTunes site. It signals in myriad ways that it was designed with a younger, more tech-savvy audience in mind — using branding techniques similar to the ones that have made the iPod so popular.
“With Obama’s site, all the features and elements are seamlessly integrated, just like the experience of using a program on a Macintosh computer,” said Alice Twemlow, chairwoman of the M.F.A. program in design criticism at the School of Visual Arts (who is a Mac user).
It is designed, she said, even down to the playful logos that illustrate choices like, Volunteer or Register to Vote. She likened those touches to the elaborate, painstaking packaging Apple uses to woo its customers.
The linking of Mr. Obama with Mac and Mrs. Clinton with PCs has already become something of a theme during the primary. Early in the campaign, a popular YouTube parody of Apple’s “1984” Super Bowl ad made Mrs. Clinton the face of oppression. This week on The Huffington Post, Douglas T. Kendall, the founder of the Community Rights Counsel, a public interest law firm, made the connection more explicit.
But the designers believe the comparisons — but not perhaps the Orwellian overtones — are apt. In contrast to barackobama.com, Mrs. Clinton’s site uses a more traditional color scheme of dark blue, has sharper lines dividing content and employs cookie-cutter icons next to its buttons for volunteering, and the like.
“Hillary’s is way more hectic, it’s got all these, what look like parody ads,” said Ms. Twemlow, who is not a citizen and cannot vote in the election.
Jason Santa Maria, creative director of Happy Cog Studios, which designs Web sites, detected a basic breach of netiquette. “Hillary’s text is all caps, like shouting,” he said. There are “many messages vying for attention,” he said, adding, “Candidates are building a brand and it should be consistent.”
But Emily Chang, the cofounder of Ideacodes, a Web designing and consulting firm, detected consistent messages, and summed them up: “His site is more youthful and hers more regal.”
Mr. Obama’s site is almost universally praised. Even Martin Avila, the general manager of the company responsible for the Republican Ron Paul’s Web site, said simply, “Barack’s site is amazing.”
How does Hillary cope with the media? As if being called:
-a psycho ex-girlfriend.
-a monster.
-a ball breaker.
-a white bitch.
-a fatty.
isn't bad enough. She needs to be compared to a crusty old PC too? What does a woman have to do for a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Take it away Aretha!
Ruby
Read Noam Cohen article:
Is Obama a Mac and Clinton a PC?
Illustration by The New York Times
STYLES make fights — or so goes the boxing cliché. In 2008, they make presidential campaigns, too.
This is especially true for the two remaining Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Reporters covering the candidates have already resorted to traditional analysis of style — fashion choices, manner of speaking, even the way they laugh. Yet, according to design experts, the candidates have left a clear blueprint of their personal style — perhaps even a window into their souls — through the Web sites they have created to raise money, recruit volunteers and generally meet-and-greet online.
On one thing, the experts seem to agree. The differences between hillaryclinton.com and barackobama.com can be summed up this way: Barack Obama is a Mac, and Hillary Clinton is a PC.
That is, Mr. Obama’s site is more harmonious, with plenty of white space and a soft blue palette. Its task bar is reminiscent of the one used at Apple’s iTunes site. It signals in myriad ways that it was designed with a younger, more tech-savvy audience in mind — using branding techniques similar to the ones that have made the iPod so popular.
“With Obama’s site, all the features and elements are seamlessly integrated, just like the experience of using a program on a Macintosh computer,” said Alice Twemlow, chairwoman of the M.F.A. program in design criticism at the School of Visual Arts (who is a Mac user).
It is designed, she said, even down to the playful logos that illustrate choices like, Volunteer or Register to Vote. She likened those touches to the elaborate, painstaking packaging Apple uses to woo its customers.
The linking of Mr. Obama with Mac and Mrs. Clinton with PCs has already become something of a theme during the primary. Early in the campaign, a popular YouTube parody of Apple’s “1984” Super Bowl ad made Mrs. Clinton the face of oppression. This week on The Huffington Post, Douglas T. Kendall, the founder of the Community Rights Counsel, a public interest law firm, made the connection more explicit.
But the designers believe the comparisons — but not perhaps the Orwellian overtones — are apt. In contrast to barackobama.com, Mrs. Clinton’s site uses a more traditional color scheme of dark blue, has sharper lines dividing content and employs cookie-cutter icons next to its buttons for volunteering, and the like.
“Hillary’s is way more hectic, it’s got all these, what look like parody ads,” said Ms. Twemlow, who is not a citizen and cannot vote in the election.
Jason Santa Maria, creative director of Happy Cog Studios, which designs Web sites, detected a basic breach of netiquette. “Hillary’s text is all caps, like shouting,” he said. There are “many messages vying for attention,” he said, adding, “Candidates are building a brand and it should be consistent.”
But Emily Chang, the cofounder of Ideacodes, a Web designing and consulting firm, detected consistent messages, and summed them up: “His site is more youthful and hers more regal.”
Mr. Obama’s site is almost universally praised. Even Martin Avila, the general manager of the company responsible for the Republican Ron Paul’s Web site, said simply, “Barack’s site is amazing.”
How does Hillary cope with the media? As if being called:
-a psycho ex-girlfriend.
-a monster.
-a ball breaker.
-a white bitch.
-a fatty.
isn't bad enough. She needs to be compared to a crusty old PC too? What does a woman have to do for a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Take it away Aretha!
Ruby
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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i think Kevin Rudd is a Mac but from what ive seen of Obama i dont think hes a Mac
wheres Ahmed, he will tell you how deceptive Macs are haha
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
so are you saying the ruddster is deceptive? hmmm. he hasn't done anything to really put me off him yet.
i just find the article amusing in a disturbing way- just another ploy by the media to undermine Hillary's image. Everyone knows PC's are so uncool- right Ahmed?
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thats how howard stayed in power so long, he was reliable, predictable and stable . . . people (right or wrong) tend to only accept small graduated changes . . . if we (as a community) accepted political change at the same rate of social change then Bob Brown would be the prime minister!
even though it is a compliment to be more progressive i think it is indicative of what will probably hold obama back . . . he really really hillary on that same bill to appear "reliable"
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
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It's hard to say though, what the mood is in America at the moment from all the way over here. I'm sure some people are ready for a change but are there enough of them?
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I'm just glad that people are less likely to assume Hillary was subconsciously thinking about "the unthinkable" now that she's expressed her dismay over her comments being taken in that context.
I do feel sorry for her, I think she's a strong candidate. But I believe BO is stronger.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
I....just.....want.....the... ..whole.....thing.....to..... END
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Yeah, that's why she needs a better deodorant.
Winston, I'm so with you. And then when this race is over, the bigger, badder, uglier one starts. How are you coping with it all anyway?
Oh, I see, you have split your own head wide open....i guess that answers my question.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Hahaha, I was wondering when someone was going to make a body odour joke!
Comment by OnlineWriter
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An Abacus I think.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by RubySoho
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
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PolyKicks
Hillary is all looks (i.e. the clinton name), does very little actual good and what good it does do can be done on the PC much more efficiently.
I can't comment on web designs.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Hey have you kissed the feet of a US soldier yet?
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
I've come to realize that conservatives tend to come from rural communities, it's like that isolation makes them paranoid. The smaller the town they live in the more insane they are.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
And there was a protest march for the Jena 6 with lots of angry but non-violent blacks and an old white couple watching and the old lady says:
"I never thought I'd see something like this in Jena....our blacks are good!"
What can you possibly say to that?