I am very pro-advertising but sometimes it's all just a little much: E picked up the "Hollywood" issue of Vanity Fair. Because she's hopping on a plane soon, she thought she might pull out the ads. She pulled out only those pages which have ads on both sides:
Pukedy-puke! It really is getting out of control.
Posted by: Mandy | February 15, 2008 at 06:56 AM
That's why I can only stand to read the "New Yorker" online -- the paper version reads more like a catalogue with actual content placed around ads rather than vice versa.
Posted by: Imani | February 15, 2008 at 08:20 AM
I've heard of pulling those blow in cards, but never the ads. Is it to cut down on carry-on bag weight? The magazine must feel so thin now.
Posted by: Carolyn | February 15, 2008 at 09:28 AM
When I used to teach a class in mass media, I had my students look at the ad content of various magazines. Some of the fashion mags had up to 90% ads. Of course, that's how they pay for the publication.
Posted by: Kootch | February 15, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Can you imagine having to deliver those bloated things around each month? I'd guess that advertising has put more mailcarriers out of commission than yard dogs.
Posted by: | February 15, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Yes, Carolyn, exactly. I fantasize about breezing onto a plane with a magical Mary Poppins bag that contains everything I need to keep me comfortable and amused. Since I am not easily amused -- or easily comforted -- this requires lugging an ungainly accretion of reading material, beverages, snacks, grooming implements, balms, lotions, and a laptop computer loaded with music, movies, and various seasons of various television shows. So yes, this was all about lightening my load, not making a statement. The March issue of VF felt as though it was half its original weight by the time I finished removing the ads.
Posted by: Ellen | February 16, 2008 at 08:14 PM