Lately I’ve switched my reading material from books (Seven Types of Ambiguity by Eliot Perlman, How to Look at Outsider Art, The Periodic Table by Primo Levi…) to magazines. A past issue of The New Yorker was given to me because it had an article that fell within one of my prime areas of interest – neurology. I ended up reading it from front to back and was hooked. Unfortunately, I have to drive 1/2 an hour to the nearest Border’s to buy it. I didn’t think that would end up to be positive. Information junky that I am, on my last trip I picked up three other magazines (plus Seven Types of Ambiguity by William Empson, the original book that inspired Perlman’s novel).
I had never heard of Swindle, a pop culture magazine that is not only beautifully designed, but has readable articles on offbeat topics like israeli hip-hop and the legends of ska. The last issue was the first annual icons issue, packed full of 2-page articles on a icons in a variety of genres.
Juxtapoz is an arts and culture concentrating on the hip-hop culture, chock full of drawings, writing, and accessories for sale.
And one of my long-time favorites, Raw Vision, which keeps up with current and historical art brut, and outsider & visionary art.
Some people say print is going to fade away. I don't believe it. I thoroughly enjoy curling up on my couch to read an article on pages that are designed not only to be read, but to be experienced along with the visuals, the typography, bylines and art or photography credits, without being distracted by animated ads or links that will take me off to reading something else.
Web and print are totally different beasts, to be seen and designed with different intentions.
See the February issue of The Utne Reader for their take on the best magazines of 2006.
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