Bidoun
Bidoun is a quarterly publication examining the contemporary art, design, and culture of Middle Eastern countries with a declaration of wit so apparent that it often reads as a zine. Printed in English and written primarily from the perspectives of writers located in both the "Mid-East and the Diaspora," the magazine's lush design, photography and content parallel an insiders and an outsiders view of the culture behind the veil.
The photos throughout the magazine completely speak for themselves, offering an authentic and sometimes kitschy view of the contemporary Middle Eastern cultural experience. Additionally, while much of the banter in the New York published magazine still require a pre-existing knowledge of Middle Eastern countries to comprehend the humor, much of its wit speaks universally. For example, the semi-recurring "Bidoun Phrase Book" which outlines "contemporary traveler's indispensable phrases" for travel throughout the mid-east with such gems such as the Beiruti Arabic translation of "A Marxist reading group, every Thursday at Starbucks. That's really neat."
BIDOUN's primary goal is to bring together cultural expressions from a vast and nuanced region. BIDOUN also addresses some of the widespread misconceptions about the region and its Diaspora by inciting readers to take a fresh look at the Middle East and its peoples, too often presented as one-dimensional or stagnant. BIDOUN means 'without' in both Arabic and Farsi. In our contemporary context, it connotes the statelessness in which many of us find ourselves-sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not.
With such a range in content, from recipes to a survey of Middle Eastern architecture, the publication is one of the most important and fulfilling contemporary educations on the Middle East available to the Western world at this time. Read more about Bidoun here, find a copy, subscribe, or read selected back articles here.
Photo Location
Art Prostitute 08 Release Party
Art Prostitute is a cutting-edge and underground art full color magazine. Tonight, they're celebrating their 8th issue with an arty party at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles.
The events kick off at 6pm; Merry Karnowsky Gallery is located at 170 S. La Brea Ave. Arrive early to pick up a copy of the latest issue since fans will be clamoring at the 100 issues available at the release. Those missing out can pre-order a copy of the latest here. Issue 08 features artwork, interviews and 15" flat prints by Mark Ryden, Richard Colman, SWOON, and Erick Swenson.
'Jane Magazine to Help Deflower 29-Year-Old Virgin
A 29-year-old woman says she wants to lose her virginity before she turns 30... and she's asking Jane magazine for help.
Catholic-raised Sarah DiMuro says she "never went all the way before because I didnt feel right." Clearly shes over it. Sarah is trusting Jane magazine to hook her up with a few good men in the hope that one of them will ultimately get to home plate.
"Me, I haven't done so much with my life in terms of social stuff. So this is my adventure - with a kind of scientific method."
Sarah attributes her virginal state to a shy childhood, a pimple-ridden adolescence, and an all-girls' school education.
DiMuro, who says her first kiss with a boy didn't happen till she was 23, won't discuss her sexual experiences at the all-female Smith College ("What happens at Smith stays at Smith"), but has signed a legal document attesting to her chaste condition.
Sarah, who moonlights as a stand-up comic and writer, will chronicle her dating adventures on her blog.
Pressures on, though. Sarah turns 30 on November 7th.
The virginal Sarah
Sneaker Freaker: Issue 8 Releases Today
This week, I spoke at a conference in L.A. along with some really interesting artists, designers and otherwise opinionated creatives. One of the other panelists was Woody (a.k.a. Simon Wood) from Australia, who runs a great magazine called SNEAKER FREAKER (or SNKR FRKR, depending on what point you began subscribing) dedicated to the international love of the sneaker, of course.
In each issue you can expect to find well written and researched stories on all aspects of sneaker culture such as interviews with shoe designers, guides to the best stores in Asia, Europe and the USA, new product reviews, custom sneakers, dozens of fresh styles, rare vintage kicks, skate stuff, performance gear roadtests, news of collabs, artist series and of course, all the super hard to get shit. We cover all the big guys like Nike, Puma, Pony, Onitsuka, New Balance, Vans and adidas, as well as all the obscure Japanese brands and the indies like Creative Rec, RTFT, Feit and Pointer.
Stay tuned for issue 8 release today (release parties in L.A. and Amsterdam), and for those who missed out on the backlog of now sold out issues, pick up a copy of the Sneaker Freaker Book.
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Wednesday "Most Wanted" Drops
Wednesday Literary Quarterly features the newest works from some of Los Angeles brightest writers. The mag is all poetry and fictionno interviews, no reviews, no adswritten within the last three months. The experimental feel of the magazine does not come so much from a specific aesthetic, but from the feeling that each writer is taking a risk on something new.
Wednesday No. 5 Most Wanted drops today. The featured artist is Phillip Martin. His series of paintings, white face on black, are fun, political, heartbreaking and deceptively simple, much like the writing inside. Its the little mag that begs (in Phillip Martins words) Dont put me in a box, man.
Excerpt from "Boiler Room" by Craig Bergman:
IX
Do you find me attractive? she asks, standing over me on the white sofa bed with the giant discoloration on the pillow. The little clumps of ripped carpet come into my focus, the smell of my unwashed armpits intoxicating me. She waits for my answer; her eyes turned downwards, her left index finger twitching. Her kimono from the Pasadena flea market hangs open, exposing her breasts. Guilt and shame course through my brain. Yes, I say, touching her arm, and no.
Release Party tonight, Friday July 21, 2006 , 7:00 pm @ glu gallery, 7424 Beverly Blvd., LA
Outrage Brewing Over Princess Diana Car Crash Photos
Italian magazine Chi recently published goulish photos of a nearly-dead Princess Diana immediately after the accident that took her life. The release of the photos appalled British residents, according to a rep for Dianas memorial foundation.
British tabloids, including The Sun and The Daily Express, have refused to publish the photos, and have voiced their disgust with Chi.
One tabloid newspaper is responding by saying, Shame on you. And another vows not to reprint what it calls a grotesque image.
Business magnate Mohamed al Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the crash, calls it vile.
A rep for Chi defended the publication of the photos, stating "There is nothing voyeuristic or disrespectful in all this. It is just an attempt to get closer to the truth of a drama that is still wrapped in too much mystery and too many lies."
Dianas sons, Princes William and Harry, released a statement on Friday asking other news agencies to not publish the graphic photos.
"We feel deeply saddened that such a low has been reached," the two princes said in a rare statement.
"Despite the support shown to us and our mother's memory by so many people over the last eight years, we feel that, as her sons, we would be failing in our duty to her now if we did not protect her, as she once did us.
"Therefore, we appeal to all forms of media throughout the world to appreciate fully that publishing such material causes great hurt to us, our father, our mother's family and all those who so loved and respected her."
