Speak Up Archive: Quipsologies<br>~ Vol. 17 ~

Fancy iPods, Barbara Kruger lookalikes, booming Brooklyn designers and more readable schedules in this edition of Quipsologies.

~ BRYONY ~

Semi-oldie but goodie: What Barry has to say. [Click on the knife party video]

Brooklyn has changed. A lot. But who could foresee which occupations would dominate the borough?

~ M. KINGSLEY ~

Simon Burns, at Wired, on a particular backlash against the color blue.

An exhibition of rarely seen Persian manuscripts at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art has been extended to June 21. Above, a detail depicting the legend of Leyli and Majnun; thought by some to be a precursor of Romeo and Juliet. The correspondence of text, tile pattern and leopard’s spots… glorious. [Via Modern Art Notes]

Apropos last month’s discussion of the DC Comics logo: post-structural interpretations of gender, phalocentrism, and textual play in the American comic tradition at Superdickery. May I suggest starting with the Seduction of the Innocent.

Blast from the past: An insane 16-page brochure for the Mazda Cosmo — designed by the great Tadanori Yokoo (those familiar with his work may recognize the open mouth on the left-hand page). In comparison, the following year saw this brochure for the Ford Mustang; with marginally trippy, mirrored typography on the back cover. [Found on Jalopnik]

Hey! Someone just designed a wine label that resembles Barbara Kruger’s work.
(wink)

~ KEVIN LO ~

Top 10 things NOT to say in a design critique. Funny and nostalgic.

~ JASON A. TSELENTIS ~ LA Times updates its Editorial Pages. Mastermind Kinsley states, ‘Let’s be pie-in-the-sky and throw up any ideas you have about anything.’

It’s all about customization. Apple already has loads of accessories for the iPod, and now fashion designer Marc Ecko is leading a philanthropic initiative. Custom iPods with decor are being sold through Ebay to benefit Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Auction opens June 22 and features cases designed by Carolina Herrera, Betsey Johnson, and Max Azria.

~ ARMIN ~

Noticed: Part of the larger KNOW HIV/AIDS, campaign this poster [PDF] stands out in the rather dark and often piss-smelling 23rd St. stop on the F train.

If you’ve tried to�— and we won’t judge why you would — get to New Jersey from New York using public transportation figuring out the schedules in those leaflety things can be daunting. Two Twelve Associates a “design firm in Manhattan that specializes in conveying complicated information” took on the challenge and met Michael B.’s approval.

As usual, great reports from Speak Up NY.

I don't think it is my imagination that SU is becoming rather Big Apple-centric. Are there any moves afoot that would widen the scope a bit? Maybe some writing from the Heartland of the Homeland? Maybe some intrepid reporting from the unknown wilds that are rumoured to exist outside good ol' US of A?

On Jun.20.2005 at 10:32 AM

Jeff, yes I'm unabashedly NY-centric — I live here. But that doesn't preclude interest in what's happening elsewhere. Note today's links to an exhibition in Tehran, the work of a Japanese designer, a California wine label, and the LA Times (not to mention my ridiculous obsession with France).

There is a great amount of design activity in New York. It is a center for publishing, broadcast, fashion, large multi-nationals and, for for what it's worth, the music industry (RIP). If you know of something interesting happening elsewhere, by all means, let us know.

On Jun.20.2005 at 11:24 AM

Those car brochures are truly awesome. The one for the 1968 Mazda 110S (I didn't even have to go back and check that; after reading the brochure I think I will always remember it's the 110S) is just totally totally excellent. The copy is brilliant!! Well worth the read. Thanks for that.

As for news outside NY, as the one and only Canadian author for Speak Up, I know I am Quipsology remiss. I just don't get out enough (including "out" on the web ... I actually hate surfing the web).

On Jun.20.2005 at 11:56 AM

- Jeff, yes I'm unabashedly NY-centric — I live here.

Mark, I would hate for you to change. You are one of my favourites to read. I was thinking more along the lines of writers who live elsewhere. Different geography often gives different perspective.

- Note today's links to an exhibition in Tehran...

Now if I had actually bothered to read the "Tehran" before the "Musuem of Contemporary Art"...

- the LA Times

A New York Times article on the LA Times.

- There is a great amount of design activity in New York. It is a center for publishing, broadcast, fashion, large multi-nationals and, for for what it's worth, the music industry (RIP)...

Really? You think?

- If you know of something interesting happening elsewhere...

I live in North Wales. Things don't happen here.

Please don't take any of this in a cranky way. I've just noticed the increasing New Yorkness since the Vits moved there (You two seem to be loving it, & that makes me happy.), and I would love to hear from some other, especially non-North American voices.

On Jun.20.2005 at 12:16 PM

There's two kinds of people, New Yorkers and those who want to be New Yorkers.

What about New-Yorkers-who-move-to-LA-and-become-former-New-Yorkers?

On Jun.20.2005 at 01:13 PM

Isn't that a show called Entourage?

On Jun.20.2005 at 11:49 PM

> Please don't take any of this in a cranky way. I've just noticed the increasing New Yorkness since the Vits moved there

Jeff, not taken in a cranky way at all. I have actually been thinking about this. Mainly because one of the biggest complaints about AIGA at one point in its history was that it was too New York centric and many people felt left out. It would be unrealistic to say Pfff, New Yorkness, forget it, you are crazy, where did you get that idea?. Five out of the thirteen or so authors live in New York, it's pretty hard to not let the city influence you so it's been rather unintentional for Speak Up to become a bit NY-heavy. It should be noted that we have a slightly bigger East Coast readership, at least that's what we learned from our survey a year and a half ago.

The Quipsologies have been heavily NY since the most prolific Quipsologers have been Kingsley, Bryony and myself. With Kevin (Toronto), Marian (Vancouver) and Jason (Seattle) chiping in. So, I'll take this opportunity to prod publicly the other authors to submit their own Quips.

Anyway, Jeff, thanks for letting us know. We'll try to broaden the scope.

On Jun.21.2005 at 08:31 AM

Heavens Frank, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, didn't you?

> being in NY for 6 months or a year doesn't make you a NY'er.

OK, let me go get mugged in some dark alley, would it then be correct to call myself a NYer? As far as I can tell, if you pay rent in NY (I do), if you earn wages in NY (I do), if you have a state ID from the state of NY (I do) and if, even, you pay NY state taxes (I do) you could officially be deemed a NYer… Bah, I don't even know why I bother with these baits.

Back to my non-New York lifestyle in New York.

On Jun.21.2005 at 08:24 PM

In a similar vein, how many hairs make a beard?

I grew up near Buffalo, and when I first visited NYC at age 12; my first action after getting out of the car was to buy a copy of the Village Voice.

Mayhaps I was a New Yorker a full decade before moving here.

On Jun.21.2005 at 09:12 PM

...but I have to say, Armin, that I was not trying to bait you, just offering an opinion that I do feel strongly about.

I think it is very easy to be in a place and not of a place.

On Jun.22.2005 at 01:01 AM

And, pray tell, Frank, what makes a New Yorker a New Yorker and not just a person who happens to live in New York?

You do realize that — regardless of how strongly you feel about it — whatever your answer is, it is a tad, say, elitist or derogatory to claim who is or who is not a New Yorker. Don't worry, I won't judge, I do the same thing with some designers, at least with the ones that are hacks. Okay, I'll stop giving Nancy the sound bites that she loves so that she can call me a bafoon [sic].

On Jun.23.2005 at 01:01 PM