I like it too, because it has character, which few pictures do. But the asymmetrical distorted face just bugs me. And the ketchup stains on the collar. And the composition problems (lack of space below the subtitle, timid placement of trees, etc.) For some reason my brain didn’t see them as creative choices, but as mechanical problems that need fixing. Maybe I’m oversensitive.
Stating the obvious: I don’t think those stains are meant to be ketchup. (And maybe “owl with bloodstains” feels scarier than “owl with ketchup stains”.)
Well, if we’re going to be picky, neither does the owl look like an owl. It’s not that sort of picture. But I suggest that “blood” is a more likely answer to “what do those red bits indicate?” than anything like “ketchup”.
But it does. It’s stylised, but it is certainly an owl, not a crow, a hawk, or a tit. As to the reddish brown bits, they match the colour of the pixel droppings in the bottom left of the cover, I think. Hard to say what was in the mind of the graphic designer...
Perhaps I wasn’t clear. The red looks (I think) about as much like a bloodstain as the owl looks like an owl. That is: no one would mistake one for the other, but the resemblance is there and you can certainly take one as an indication of the other.
I strongly dislike this. The head seems too ornate and the outline reminds me of so-called “tribal” tattoos, which seems low status. The body being subtly asymmetrical is a slight annoyance as well and with the owl now being centered in the image I think the subtitle should be too.
There’s the parable of sparrows who raise an owl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rRJ9Ep1Wzs That owl likely made it on the cover.
I don’t think the owl has anything to do with the owls in the study hall ;)
OK, here’s my next attempt with a well-drawn owl that looks scary instead of cute. What do you think?
I actually like Bostrom’s owl. I’ve always thought that Superintelligence has a really good cover illustration.
I like it too, because it has character, which few pictures do. But the asymmetrical distorted face just bugs me. And the ketchup stains on the collar. And the composition problems (lack of space below the subtitle, timid placement of trees, etc.) For some reason my brain didn’t see them as creative choices, but as mechanical problems that need fixing. Maybe I’m oversensitive.
Stating the obvious: I don’t think those stains are meant to be ketchup. (And maybe “owl with bloodstains” feels scarier than “owl with ketchup stains”.)
They don’t look like blood either.
Well, if we’re going to be picky, neither does the owl look like an owl. It’s not that sort of picture. But I suggest that “blood” is a more likely answer to “what do those red bits indicate?” than anything like “ketchup”.
But it does. It’s stylised, but it is certainly an owl, not a crow, a hawk, or a tit. As to the reddish brown bits, they match the colour of the pixel droppings in the bottom left of the cover, I think. Hard to say what was in the mind of the graphic designer...
Perhaps I wasn’t clear. The red looks (I think) about as much like a bloodstain as the owl looks like an owl. That is: no one would mistake one for the other, but the resemblance is there and you can certainly take one as an indication of the other.
That might be meant as a reminder of the inhumanity.
I strongly dislike this. The head seems too ornate and the outline reminds me of so-called “tribal” tattoos, which seems low status. The body being subtly asymmetrical is a slight annoyance as well and with the owl now being centered in the image I think the subtitle should be too.
This looks very good. The feet perched on thin air look a little off.
You should probably check with the presumed copyright holder, although I suspect that she plagiarized the head design.
That looks nice, but I wouldn’t trust my aesthetic judgement too much.