Everyone has different methods of passing the time; some of us read, some of us watch tele, some of us even venture outside and do things like walking. As I’ve mentioned before, I like to read. Subsequently in a personal crusade to save [both myself and] print media as more and more of my book loving friends are falling for the kindle and such likes, one of the challenges I have set myself this year is to buy at least 80% of the books on my ‘NEED’ list from actual bookshops with bonus points for using independent ones. This is also partially because Amazon is a) addictive, b) makes outside optional and c) really bad for my bank account.
Now for a little history… Bear with me with my American based stats here, they are easier to find than their English counterparts but carry the same weight nonetheless. Having flourished in the 1970s and early 1980s independent bookshops soon began to appear less frequently as chain stores such as Borders and Barnes and Noble began emerging across America (Waterstones in the UK), undercutting the independent retailers. This, accompanied with the introduction of Amazon in 1995, has resulted in a sizable loss of the independent retailer with figures in the early 1990s of around 6,000 bookshops dropping to a meagre approximation of 2,200 across America today.
Luckily I’m not the only one concerned about the decline in print media. Bookshop’s and technology aside, you may remember the ‘save the libraries’ push here in the UK last year in the budget cuts. (I listened to one radio discussion on whether funding libraries or public toilets was more important…) So in honor of print media I present you with a mini homage to books from artists around the world.
This video is the creation of Toronto based marketing agency Lowe Roche’s creative director Sean Ohlenkamp; inspired by a shorter video he created at home whilst organising his bookshelf Ohlenkamp along with a team of 15 volunteers spent 4 nights organising and shooting to create the video. Released this January (2012) entitled The Joy of Books, the work is a hat tip both to books themselves and the shops that sell them.
Following on with the ‘thank you books’ theme I give you the anonymous book sculptor who left 10 numbered gifts, each with a little gift tag with a note addressed to the various locations they were found at around Edinburgh over the course of a few months last year (2011). Find the rest here.
At the Scottish Poetry Library : "It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree.… … We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)"
At the UNESCO Edinburgh City of Literature : "To @edincityoflit ‘A gift’ LOST (albeit in a good book) This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. “No infant has the power of deciding….. by what circumstances (they) shall be surrounded.. Robert Owen"
Next up is a video celebrating the 25th Anniversary (in 2009) of publishing house 4th Estates (an imprint of Harper Collins). This is where we live was produced by Apt and Asylum Films.
And finally, if you’re still here… in 2009 the New Zealand Book Council teamed up with creative agency Colenso BBDO and video makers (amongst other things) Andersen M Studio who together came up with this salute to the distinguished fiction writer Maurice Gee, a native New Zealander. (here.)
Hope you enjoyed this superb little creations as much as I have, now go read a proper book.
