Comments on: Monocle’s Disappointing Myopia http://magazineer.com/magazine/24 For people who make, and love, magazines. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:23:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: JK http://magazineer.com/magazine/24/comment-page-1#comment-132 JK Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:20:18 +0000 http://magazineer.com/magazine/24#comment-132 I agree with most of Adam Greenfield's points. Monocle seems like a good idea. But it's often too particular when it focuses on topics too narrow, with not much depth at that. And though the Nippophilia is rather obvious, I do enjoy coverage on things Japanese. It balances out the Eurocentrism. I was mostly disappointed that, like most magazines that claim to carry global coverage, it contained hardly any reportage on the South East Asian region. (There were regular reports from Africa, South America, China, India, the States, Australia, but somehow Monocle just couldn't afford a correspondent in SEA.) That disappointed me. Not just because I live in the region, but I'd prefer a more balanced look of the globe, not one weighted upon some culture snob index. I think Tyler Brule has good ideas in terms of concept and design, but when it comes to real substance or having a sense of how people actually live, he falls short of the mark. Call it what you want but it's really a bourgeois rag pretending to care. Nice to buy into the fantasy once in a while, but I wouldn't subscribe to it. I agree with most of Adam Greenfield’s points. Monocle seems like a good idea. But it’s often too particular when it focuses on topics too narrow, with not much depth at that. And though the Nippophilia is rather obvious, I do enjoy coverage on things Japanese. It balances out the Eurocentrism. I was mostly disappointed that, like most magazines that claim to carry global coverage, it contained hardly any reportage on the South East Asian region. (There were regular reports from Africa, South America, China, India, the States, Australia, but somehow Monocle just couldn’t afford a correspondent in SEA.) That disappointed me. Not just because I live in the region, but I’d prefer a more balanced look of the globe, not one weighted upon some culture snob index. I think Tyler Brule has good ideas in terms of concept and design, but when it comes to real substance or having a sense of how people actually live, he falls short of the mark. Call it what you want but it’s really a bourgeois rag pretending to care. Nice to buy into the fantasy once in a while, but I wouldn’t subscribe to it.

]]> By: Bojidar Dobrilovic http://magazineer.com/magazine/24/comment-page-1#comment-108 Bojidar Dobrilovic Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:23:22 +0000 http://magazineer.com/magazine/24#comment-108 Hello, Gentlemen, with all due respect I wholeheartedly disagree with all of you. It is very easy to knock somebody who is trying to rise above the mediocrity of other titles which call themselves " lifestyle bible" of _______ fill in the blank here. Is it hard to be a magazine editor..hmmm, let's ask "editors" of RADAR, or one Stephen Powers a genius behind now defunct ON THE GO MAGAZINE ? ? A quick read through WALLPAPER editions before and after Tyler's departure speaks for itself and I will use the old issue with Claudia Schiffer on the cover to substantiate my point further and dismantle your arguments on fetishism with anything "MADE IN JAPAN" Inside the afore mentioned WALLPAPER issue there are 50 things that are Swiss made and which were somewhat known across the world ( i.e. world's most comfortable underwear)-Patek Philippe watches and Appenzeller cheese notwithstanding. Obsession with things Swiss, not Japanese is what MAY have influenced Tyler thus far in his career, at least quality wise , and I am speculating here since I never met the man. Not yet,anyway. Furthermore, if one reads FT weekend style column these days compared to 2-3 years ago...I have never been to Zurich but from Tyler's writings I know that one of things which I will do is to swim in the lake which he describes with such gusto when visiting that city, or pay attention to inefficiencies at certain European airports. So my Swiss Francs are with Tyler...and I am beting it all at the casino inside Noga Hilton in Geneva ! Kind regards, Bojidar Dobrilovic Ottawa, Canada Hello,

Gentlemen, with all due respect I wholeheartedly disagree with all of you. It is very easy to knock somebody who is trying to rise above the mediocrity of other titles which call themselves ” lifestyle bible” of _______ fill in the blank here. Is it hard to be a magazine editor..hmmm, let’s ask “editors” of RADAR, or one Stephen Powers a genius behind now defunct ON THE GO MAGAZINE ? ?
A quick read through WALLPAPER editions before and after Tyler’s departure speaks for itself and I will use the old issue with Claudia Schiffer on the cover to substantiate my point further and dismantle your arguments on fetishism with anything “MADE IN JAPAN”
Inside the afore mentioned WALLPAPER issue there are 50 things that are Swiss made and which were somewhat known across the world ( i.e. world’s most comfortable underwear)-Patek Philippe watches and Appenzeller cheese notwithstanding.
Obsession with things Swiss, not Japanese is what MAY have influenced Tyler thus far in his career, at least quality wise , and I am speculating here since I never met the man. Not yet,anyway.
Furthermore, if one reads FT weekend style column these days compared to 2-3 years ago…I have never been to Zurich but from Tyler’s writings I know that one of things which I will do is to swim in the lake which he describes with such gusto when visiting that city, or pay attention to inefficiencies at certain European airports.

So my Swiss Francs are with Tyler…and I am beting it all at the casino inside Noga Hilton in Geneva !

Kind regards,

Bojidar Dobrilovic
Ottawa, Canada

]]> By: Juan Caño http://magazineer.com/magazine/24/comment-page-1#comment-25 Juan Caño Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:00:57 +0000 http://magazineer.com/magazine/24#comment-25 I also have been disapointed with Monocle. Find that the visual part is rather sad. Tyler Brûlé had promised original photography (no agencies or library pix) but aren´t there any independent good photographers? Photos are important in magazines and in this one there are not (except for the fashion, perhaps). I also have been disapointed with Monocle. Find that the visual part is rather sad. Tyler Brûlé had promised original photography (no agencies or library pix) but aren´t there any independent good photographers? Photos are important in magazines and in this one there are not (except for the fashion, perhaps).

]]> By: Charles Adler http://magazineer.com/magazine/24/comment-page-1#comment-21 Charles Adler Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:39:09 +0000 http://magazineer.com/magazine/24#comment-21 Adam, great post. I've only picked up 3 issues of Monacle from the newstands. The size, design, and content was always something that stood out, yet you bring up some truly spot on points. Being that I've now picked up 3 issues, why not more? Why not subscribe? Likely because many of your points are true. Ultimately I could live without it. That said, it still stands out for me on the newstand, and I'll likely snag a copy from time to time. Adam, great post. I’ve only picked up 3 issues of Monacle from the newstands. The size, design, and content was always something that stood out, yet you bring up some truly spot on points. Being that I’ve now picked up 3 issues, why not more? Why not subscribe? Likely because many of your points are true. Ultimately I could live without it.

That said, it still stands out for me on the newstand, and I’ll likely snag a copy from time to time.

]]> By: Luca Conti http://magazineer.com/magazine/24/comment-page-1#comment-11 Luca Conti Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:52:20 +0000 http://magazineer.com/magazine/24#comment-11 Great post. I appreciate your blog really a lot. Great post. I appreciate your blog really a lot.

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