When we conceive of a typical arts magazine, we imagine it as a source of art-related news, complete with reviews, gallery information and articles concerned with the reporting and discussion of the arts. This format reflects the classic understanding of what the modern magazine is designed to accomplish: to educate and offer vicarious experience.
But what happens when the arts magazine becomes the gallery and the artist becomes the journalist? When the reader can be the writer and illustrations become the basis for content, instead of the other way around?
The result is an eloquently bound platform for creative expression. An avant-garde journal inspired by unsystematic presentation fittingly titled Dossier, which is French for “file”.
In the words of the editors and founders, Skye Parrott and Katherine Krause, the publication is “an open forum in which to bring together fashion, art, literature, photography, design and food.”
This Brooklyn based, bi-annual magazine issued its first edition this past spring, launching a comprehensive website along side it. And according to Dossierjournal.com, the print version is now distributed to over 22 countries.
Skye says she and Katherine, who have been friends since they were fourteen, dreamt up the idea a long time ago but have only just brought it to life. Upon assembling a faction of artistically diverse people, hand-picked from an already established group of friends, and friends of friends, the editors gave full artistic freedom to the contributors. A rare privilege in the industry, but one that makes for interesting content.
Some might argue that such creative autonomy could potentially lead to a muddled compilation of content devoid of direction. Samir Husni of mr.magazine.com, although gives praise, takes a similar stance when he says in his review of the magazine that:
“While articles and pictures provide for great journalism, the thread uniting all of the content isn't there. This is expected for the first issue. I hope that Dossier will find a better way to organize their files, because it is definitely a filing cabinet to keep.”
But isn’t what gives the journal artistic merit the very fact that it promotes the randomness, the freewheeling nature of art in itself? Where the goal is to break free of the limitations of mainstream journalism, Dossier inspires artists to do what they do best, be unconventional. Isn’t that what most modern art is about in the first place?
Skye told me over the phone that the magazine’s purpose is to provide “real fashion with high-end writing,” solid literary content with interesting visuals. Instead of just reviewing the arts, they seek to involve the arts, showcase them.
We are in an age when the definition of a journalist has been blurred and is constantly shifting, when more and more; the general public demands a voice in the media. The natural progression is to embrace this interaction. Dossier welcomes this concept by encouraging people to participate in their creative process. But beyond that, the magazine embodies a sense of community support, offering up its pages to the everyday artist, the up-and-comer and well as to the practiced. And not just for the photographer or the painter, but the poet, the designer, musician, the creative writer. In essence, Dossier is a sanctuary for quality art that might otherwise not have a home.
2 comments:
That the artists have full artistic freedom makes me want to read it. It seems like a uniting thread that's missing would only affect the narrowness of the readership, something that's up to the magazine creator anyway. I think that's why I like magazines - they're outside of the box.
This blog was inspiring, because the magazine seems so free-flowing, and flexible. Gave me hope that magazines can actually be creative and not bound by so many rules. I'll definitely pick up this magazine when I get the chance.
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