#001 - I Heart Magazines | Culture | Feature | Issue | Media
After 2 long months of waiting, the package is finally here. He picks up the plastic wrapped publication and peels open the packaging, unravelling the bound matter and pulling it out of its sheath. As he gently strokes the surface of the thick artcard cover, a rush of emotions fill him. Feeling the Die-cut, UV spot printing, metallic inks and all the embellishments that makes the cover more than just a pretty packaging to look at, he stares at the cover photo, searching for meaning in the image. He asks himself, “What’s that expression on the model’s face? What is it saying? Why is his body positioned that way?” He starts to feel that the wardrobe selection is strange but definitely a taste that’s slowly acquired.
The cover, such a powerful device, hints at what is inside the depths of the bound publication. He scans the headlines that teases him about what lies within. He ponders for a moment about how he shall navigate the magazine. “Should I read it cover to cover? Or shall I flip through the page until I chance onto a page with such arresting images and headlines that will stop me in my tracks? Or shall I just randomly flip and let the imperfections in the binding process decide my browsing fate? Or perhaps I should flip to the back of the magazine and hope that it gives a hint to what lies within.”
Holding up the magazine, he brings it to a nice distance away from his body and starts to flip the pages with his thumb. The other hand holding firmly onto the spine of the publication, the pages fluttered past, fanning the smell of the ink and paper into the air. He caught a whiff of that distinctive aroma of freshly printed paper, ahhh…
As the pages flashed past, a full page spread caught his eye. He sticks a finger into the pages to stop it from flipping past and parts the bound object open. The magazine spread presents itself fully in its full-bleed glory with the central dent due to its binding. He stares at the image, observing every detail of it. He brings the pages a little closer to his face to get a better look, before pulling away and then continuing browsing through the pages.
After a few flips which included a couple of stops for further examination, he then flips the magazine back to its front cover and starts to turn the pages, one at a time. Taking care with each page, ensuring that he is not too rough with the pages, he examines the grid and typography on each page, stopping to read the blurb in greater detail and immersing himself in the copy.
Unfortunately, the time has come for him to run some errands. He closes the magazine and slots it into his bag. A whole magazine experience being rolled up and brought around to be continued at another location, at another time.
Credits
Text: Adib Jalal
Images: Adib Jalal