Living Coral, the Brutal Hue of Climate Change and Brand New iPhones

Coral outcrop on Flynn Reef

The color forecasters at Pantone have declared 2019 the year of Living Coral. In the press release, the company describes this orangey pink hue as “vibrant, yet mellow,” providing “warmth,” “buoyancy,” “nourishment,” and “comfort.” Reading the release is a bit disconcerting. According to Pantone, Living Coral can both release us from the grips of “digital technology” while retaining a “lively presence on social media.” This color reminds us equally of snorkeling and scrolling, the company seems to suggest. It’s a natural hue—and a digital one. Pantone calls the color “life-affirming,” a bitterly ironic statement, considering the continued annihilation we’re inflicting on these small animals. 

Coral may be this year’s official color, but its history stretches back to the beginnings of the world. According to Greek mythology, Medusa was once a girl, fair and soft. Her hair did not writhe but rather fell in soft golden waves and her gaze did not turn men to stone, but made them quiver with lust. She was, according to Ovid, “the jealous aspiration of many suitors.” She was lovely as a whole, but