Ballad of Orange and Teal

[deckardcanine]

In 21st-century Hollywood flicks,
One prominent pattern persistently sticks
In hopes of achieving an optic appeal.
I speak of the contrast of orange and teal.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) was first
To fully go digital, sparking a burst
Of colorist options to tackle with zeal.
So why have we settled on orange and teal?

The theory maintains that such complements “pop”
In juxtaposition, but red and green stop
With colorblind people. Besides, what is real
More often approximates orange and teal.

Alas, much of cinema takes it too far.
Distortion of skin tone can sure look bizarre.
What’s more, they’re just ugly; well, that’s how I feel
From overexposure to orange and teal.