Seeking Sight and Sound Magazine
February 3, 2023 10:48 AM Subscribe
I am seeking copies of the latest issue of the British film magazine Sight and Sound (Winter 2022-23, Volume 33, Issue 1).
Since 1952, every 10 years the British film magazine Sight and Sound releases two lists of the 10 greatest films of all time according to critics and directors (the directors' list started in 1992). (See past polls: 2012, 2002, 1992, 1982, 1972, 1962, 1952, and all the lists on one page.) Also covered here on the Blue.
I have fond memories of exactly where I was in my life, literally and figuratively, when I bought Sight and Sound magazines in 2012 and 2002. This collecting hobby has been a fun way for me to track how I've changed over the years, in decade increments.
For some reason, it's very hard to locate this decade's issue, which should be out now (I'm in the US). I think it's a combination of newsstands going by the wayside, supply chain problems, shipping issues, and possibly an increase in the popularity of the magazine due to the buzz around this decade's shakeup. In case you're interested, the poll has experienced some major changes. This is the first time a film directed by a woman is in the top 10. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels (1975) directed by Chantal Akerman is not only in the top 10--it's the number 1 film.
To commemorate this decade's poll issue and to drive sales, Sight and Sound has released 4 variant covers, with covers from top films, including Jeanne Dielman, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Citizen Kane, and Vertigo. If anyone could help me locate any or all of the 4 versions of the magazine, I would be extremely grateful. I'm happy to compensate you well above the store price for your time and assistance. In the US, Barnes & Noble seems to still carry Sight and Sound. Feel free to MeMail me. I'll plan to update this with a comment if and when I have a copy of Sight and Sound. Thank you for your help!
Since 1952, every 10 years the British film magazine Sight and Sound releases two lists of the 10 greatest films of all time according to critics and directors (the directors' list started in 1992). (See past polls: 2012, 2002, 1992, 1982, 1972, 1962, 1952, and all the lists on one page.) Also covered here on the Blue.
I have fond memories of exactly where I was in my life, literally and figuratively, when I bought Sight and Sound magazines in 2012 and 2002. This collecting hobby has been a fun way for me to track how I've changed over the years, in decade increments.
For some reason, it's very hard to locate this decade's issue, which should be out now (I'm in the US). I think it's a combination of newsstands going by the wayside, supply chain problems, shipping issues, and possibly an increase in the popularity of the magazine due to the buzz around this decade's shakeup. In case you're interested, the poll has experienced some major changes. This is the first time a film directed by a woman is in the top 10. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels (1975) directed by Chantal Akerman is not only in the top 10--it's the number 1 film.
To commemorate this decade's poll issue and to drive sales, Sight and Sound has released 4 variant covers, with covers from top films, including Jeanne Dielman, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Citizen Kane, and Vertigo. If anyone could help me locate any or all of the 4 versions of the magazine, I would be extremely grateful. I'm happy to compensate you well above the store price for your time and assistance. In the US, Barnes & Noble seems to still carry Sight and Sound. Feel free to MeMail me. I'll plan to update this with a comment if and when I have a copy of Sight and Sound. Thank you for your help!
Best answer: Portland's The City Reader lists 3 out of 4 (Jeanne Dielman cover is sold out)
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:21 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:21 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'd try the BFI website, which sells subscriptions and back issues of the mag direct. International shipping will add to the cost, but maybe not prohibitively so.
posted by Paul Slade at 12:24 PM on February 3, 2023
posted by Paul Slade at 12:24 PM on February 3, 2023
Yeah, U.S. magazine retail distribution is haphazard at best and a complete crapshoot at worst. When I was a bookstore manager one of the most inexplicable things in the business was the inability to talk with a magazine distributor to order specific issues, or start to carry specific magazines. Each month we sometimes got what we asked for, but mostly just had to accept what the distributor sent us, whether we thought it could sell or not.
So: call around to as many bookstores selling magazines in your area as you can and keep your fingers crossed. You may get lucky. It took me three visits to find a bookstore in my town that had Mother Jones' Private Equity issue last May; the first two said they didn't have any idea when - or if - it would come in with their next shipment.
posted by mediareport at 4:56 PM on February 3, 2023
So: call around to as many bookstores selling magazines in your area as you can and keep your fingers crossed. You may get lucky. It took me three visits to find a bookstore in my town that had Mother Jones' Private Equity issue last May; the first two said they didn't have any idea when - or if - it would come in with their next shipment.
posted by mediareport at 4:56 PM on February 3, 2023
Iris Gambol, unless I'm missing something the City Reader site just let me put the Jeanne Dielman cover in my cart for $16.75 plus $7.75 shipping, so maybe not sold out? I didn't complete the order but it looks like I could have.
posted by mediareport at 5:02 PM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mediareport at 5:02 PM on February 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
Yay! It appeared as sold out on the initial screen - I didn't try adding it to the cart.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2023
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2023
Response by poster: Thank you Iris Gambol and mediareport--the copy of Sight and Sound with Jeanne Dielman on the cover was available on City Reader's site. I ordered it but received an email that the copy isn't available and I'm receiving a refund. But thanks for the lead!
posted by cursed at 6:10 PM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by cursed at 6:10 PM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Well, dang. Sorry for the false hope there.
posted by mediareport at 7:05 AM on February 4, 2023
posted by mediareport at 7:05 AM on February 4, 2023
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2001
Citizen Kane
Vertigo
Jeanne Dielman
If you search around some more on eBay you'll probably find better prices.
posted by theory at 11:10 AM on February 3, 2023