What to do with 200 weird newspapers?
July 24, 2008 12:30 AM Subscribe
I have about 100-200 left over copies of a small broadsheet newspaper that I published. What should I do with them?
It's about the US Capitol building, Congress, and architectural topics related to democracy. Since it was published as part of my graduate thesis you can imagine that it's rather narrowly focused on these specific topics and is written for an academic architectural audience. In other words, I'm not sure how enjoyable it would be for the average citizen.
I figure I'll keep 10, maybe 20, for posterity but that still leaves a huge stack. Also, I leave the country more or less permanently in less than a week. I don't have time to mail them out to individuals. I'm looking for any creative solution to save them from the recycling bin.
Timeline: 5 days
Location: Cambridge, MA
It's about the US Capitol building, Congress, and architectural topics related to democracy. Since it was published as part of my graduate thesis you can imagine that it's rather narrowly focused on these specific topics and is written for an academic architectural audience. In other words, I'm not sure how enjoyable it would be for the average citizen.
I figure I'll keep 10, maybe 20, for posterity but that still leaves a huge stack. Also, I leave the country more or less permanently in less than a week. I don't have time to mail them out to individuals. I'm looking for any creative solution to save them from the recycling bin.
Timeline: 5 days
Location: Cambridge, MA
Sorry I know you said you aren't sure how enjoyable it would be to us plebs but considering some of the stuff I've picked up and read with a coffee i reckon it would be appreciated!
posted by twistedonion at 1:32 AM on July 24, 2008
posted by twistedonion at 1:32 AM on July 24, 2008
are you job hunting? Send one to every company you want to work for. Nothing shows gusto like a publication put out by a potential new employee.
posted by parmanparman at 4:41 AM on July 24, 2008
posted by parmanparman at 4:41 AM on July 24, 2008
why not distribute them around gsd and the arch/planning school at mit? i'd help you with the latter if you like.
posted by jk252b at 5:38 AM on July 24, 2008
posted by jk252b at 5:38 AM on July 24, 2008
WWMLD (What Would Martin Luther Do?)
Nail them to the doors of important democratic buildings. Thumbtacks can't be too damaging to outside doors.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:46 AM on July 24, 2008
Nail them to the doors of important democratic buildings. Thumbtacks can't be too damaging to outside doors.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:46 AM on July 24, 2008
Post an ad on Craigslist. People use newspapers to wrap their fragile items when they're moving.
Or are you trying to avoid their destruction altogether? You might give them to an art student with the suggestion that she/he make something out of them.
posted by brina at 6:50 AM on July 24, 2008
Or are you trying to avoid their destruction altogether? You might give them to an art student with the suggestion that she/he make something out of them.
posted by brina at 6:50 AM on July 24, 2008
Have you considered giving a copy or two to your local Historical Society for archiving? How about sending some to the HS in Washington, DC?
I'm thinking there have got to be lots of places in DC where your extra copies could be sent-- academic libraries, architectural schools/firms, coffee shops near universities?
Or, kind of along the lines of what parmanparman said-- have you thought of sending some to random journals in your field? Not as submissions, just as "something I wrote" that your colleagues in the field might find interesting? They might end up in the circular file, but they might get you a conference slot, an invitation to submit, or an offer to collaborate on a paper or presentation.
And if all else fails, shredded newsprint is good mulch and compost filler.
posted by Rykey at 7:04 AM on July 24, 2008
I'm thinking there have got to be lots of places in DC where your extra copies could be sent-- academic libraries, architectural schools/firms, coffee shops near universities?
Or, kind of along the lines of what parmanparman said-- have you thought of sending some to random journals in your field? Not as submissions, just as "something I wrote" that your colleagues in the field might find interesting? They might end up in the circular file, but they might get you a conference slot, an invitation to submit, or an offer to collaborate on a paper or presentation.
And if all else fails, shredded newsprint is good mulch and compost filler.
posted by Rykey at 7:04 AM on July 24, 2008
Use them to make a piñata for your going-away party!
/loves piñatas.
posted by Lou Stuells at 7:40 AM on July 24, 2008
/loves piñatas.
posted by Lou Stuells at 7:40 AM on July 24, 2008
Consider making a donation to Papercut Zine Library and ask if they have any connections to get them distributed to other infoshops and zine libraries since you don't have enough time to do so.
posted by kuppajava at 9:51 AM on July 24, 2008
posted by kuppajava at 9:51 AM on July 24, 2008
What fonts are you using? They're very easy to read. Overall the text looks great, has a LaTex feel to it.
posted by limited slip at 10:14 AM on July 24, 2008
posted by limited slip at 10:14 AM on July 24, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions... Mefites in Cambridge should be able to find the paper at Simon's Cafe on Mass Ave between Harvard and Porter squares some time next week.
jk252b- I've already inundated the GSD with papers and even gave MIT a dose at a symposium this spring. I'd offer to send you some but I am insane with packing up my life right now so it's probably best that I not add more to my to-do list.
limited- It's Tribute from Emigre.
posted by bryanboyer at 3:21 AM on July 25, 2008
jk252b- I've already inundated the GSD with papers and even gave MIT a dose at a symposium this spring. I'd offer to send you some but I am insane with packing up my life right now so it's probably best that I not add more to my to-do list.
limited- It's Tribute from Emigre.
posted by bryanboyer at 3:21 AM on July 25, 2008
Given that they were created for a phd. Thesis, they should be publishable. Contact the Newseum in Washington DC to see if they have 1. a use for them or 2. an idea of what to do with them.
Metaprinter
posted by Paleoindian at 5:27 PM on August 15, 2008
Metaprinter
posted by Paleoindian at 5:27 PM on August 15, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by twistedonion at 1:31 AM on July 24, 2008