why magazines are better than books
The most obvious reason? We don't have time to appreciate books anymore. There are too many other things to do in a day. Plus, 2-3 page articles can do more - beautifully structured sentences occur more often and are not padded with extra pages of setting or character description or boring background information to make the story make sense. The author is "allowed" to go off and rant or reflect on his own (isn't that the point to the magazine article?). (*Since this is a blog, I may point out these same reasons may be similar to the reasons the blogosphere has become so popular. Although i realize there may be more to the popularity of blogs since my theory discounts a major motivating factor ("the boring desk job"), where the internet and a keyboard are o' so easily accessible!*)
But there is a functional reason behind the superiority of the magazine: it is much easier to read a magazine on the bus, fit a magazine in your bag, or find a magazine (that you (may) want to read) at a nearby convenience store.
Despite what it seems, this post isn't just a long-winded excuse as to why I can't help but read US Weekly or Vanity Fair. But it is a post reminding people why Radar Magazine was so good and why currently "Details" is my favorite magazine.
Okay, so let's take a look at Details this month - you get takes on life from Augusten Burroughs, Michael Chabon and Anthony Swafford. That's like a modern day dilletants dream come true. it's like a short story anthology without all the story, with all the name dropping, and with all the "newsworthy" stuff we like to get from blogs or the New Yorker or the New York Times. (plus, there is fashion advice if you are a dude). And come on, we've all heard about how King Kong is racist etc. but where else have you read an article like "Jungle Fever: Is King Kong a Raging Queen?"
okay, so this post was *not* really well thought out...but i am going to try & blog again. i'm allowed to be rusty at first expressing my feelings to the whole world.
But there is a functional reason behind the superiority of the magazine: it is much easier to read a magazine on the bus, fit a magazine in your bag, or find a magazine (that you (may) want to read) at a nearby convenience store.
Despite what it seems, this post isn't just a long-winded excuse as to why I can't help but read US Weekly or Vanity Fair. But it is a post reminding people why Radar Magazine was so good and why currently "Details" is my favorite magazine.
Okay, so let's take a look at Details this month - you get takes on life from Augusten Burroughs, Michael Chabon and Anthony Swafford. That's like a modern day dilletants dream come true. it's like a short story anthology without all the story, with all the name dropping, and with all the "newsworthy" stuff we like to get from blogs or the New Yorker or the New York Times. (plus, there is fashion advice if you are a dude). And come on, we've all heard about how King Kong is racist etc. but where else have you read an article like "Jungle Fever: Is King Kong a Raging Queen?"
okay, so this post was *not* really well thought out...but i am going to try & blog again. i'm allowed to be rusty at first expressing my feelings to the whole world.
posted by mjs at
6:02 PM
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