Saying Goodbye to Old Media

I ran out of the hotel to get to the nearest convenience store to pick up hairspray and a bottle of water. I guess you could say it was an emergency. Well, it was one for me at least. As I’m approaching the cash register, I see Naomi Campbell looking at me from the cover of the Spring issue of Vogue. I realize that I can’t recall the last time I’ve held an actual physical magazine, let alone bought one. I used to love fashion magazines and would always feel excited when I would see the new issue of Vogue or GQ. They would be my go-to destination for inspiration and new ideas. Suddenly feeling a rush of nostalgia, I pick up Naomi from the shelf and head back to the hotel.

I use the hairspray, but don’t open the magazine. When it’s time for me to leave, I see Naomi looking at me while I’m closing my suitcase. I get home and after unpacking, put the magazine on the table with every intention of reading it later.

Part of the decor

And while a glossy magazine looks nice on my living room table, I don’t find myself reaching for it. Weeks go by and by now it’s become a part of my interior decor. It’s serving it’s purpose decorating my table and blending in with the rest of the room. It makes me look like someone who reads printed words on paper. Is it making me look more interesting? As if I’m one of those people who prefer to read actual books and magazines. I don’t. I read, but I do so on a kindle and I get all my news from Instagram. It’s not that I don’t care about news, I just find that it brings nothing, but negativity into my life.

Flipping pages

But at some point, I do decide to give Naomi a chance. My initial excitement is soon replaced by irritation. I need to flip the pages 37 times just to get to the Editor’s letter. Thirty seven times. It’s an ad for Lois Vuitton, Gucci, then Dior, Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabanna, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Valentino and it goes on and on. It’s like getting 37 popups after opening a website. By now I don’t even want to know what the editor has to say. And if I only left the pages with actual content, no one would even dare to call it a magazine.

Bad role models

Like many people my age, I grew up watching Sex and the City. It was one of those shows that was on TV quite late at night and I always felt as if I’m not supposed to watch it. But I did anyways. As a child, Carrie was my favorite. Her life would just seem so interesting and I wanted to have a life as interesting as hers when I grow up. But when I actually grew up, I realized that Carrie is not only the most self centered person ever, she’s also a bad role model. I vividly remember her quote from the show: “When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes I would buy Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it fed me more”.

But instead of feeling fed, I felt hungry. And disappointed. While that might have worked for Carrie, it doesn’t for me. Not anymore at least. It was Naomi’s time to go back to being an interior object. And perhaps it’s not such a bad thing that “old media” is dying. It’s time for something better.