Much like your personal style, your taste in literature often tells a story about who you are as person.
We choose our reading material much like we choose a trusted friend and confidant. We try our best not to judge a book by its cover, but a cover can invite us in and make it easier to express desires, feelings, and aspects of our personality that our own words often fail to convey.
Magazine covers are intentionally expressive, advertising not only its content and stories but also the lifestyle and values intertwined with the editor’s message.
Historically, magazine covers have the power to transform and liven up your home decor. A carefully curated set of stacks on a dressing table, a perfectly propped cover displaying a esthetically pleasing typography, calligraphy, and photography, can truly make or break your aesthetic.
How can you choose subscriptions that add value to your life, while staying true to your personal style?
The best way to start your archive is to identify 3 key things about yourself. Read on to lear more!
1. What do you find attractive?
Of your three starter subscriptions, I recommend choosing a subscription that’s there for looks. Something that caught your eye, whether you particularly care for its contents or not.
Ask yourself;
-Does the subject fit with my existing decor?
-Does the editors produce high quality covers each month?
-Is there enough variety from season to season to keep up with your ever changing tastes?
Example: My personal interests tend to center around botanical and floral design. I’ve subscribed to a local flyer that highlights the seasonal agriculture of my town. This allows me to support my local publishers, but also keep tabs on my special interests!
2. Does this subscription help me expand my interpersonal skills and knowledge?
It is important to include material in your library that challenges your perception of the world. Choose one subscription that draws you out of your comfort zone.
Example: I wanted to experience global stories on a quarterly basis that might introduce me to other worlds and fresh ideas.
I perfomed a simple Google keyword search, “magazines and book subscriptions with submission based entries” and I settled on “Granta Magazine“.
Granta is a UK based publication with quarterly revolving themed submissions and collections from all over the world. Excellent for English speakers who wish to interact with varied memoir, poetry, and photography sources.
One added benefit of subscribing to a quarterly book magazine like Granta is the ability to update your library with minimal effort or vetting. Not in the mood for one style of prose or expression? Simply turn the page to be transported to another region with a new voice!
3. Choose one subscription that provides value to a cause that you care about!
This option may require a bit more research on your part. Do you have local student artists, activists, or causes that pull in donations from self published works?
Local literature such as zines, journals, or event announcements can help you stay connected to your community.
Many of these can be found at local public libraries, college libraries, or museums.
If the publications in your area are often offered for free, can you find a way to connect with causes that matter to you, and offer donations within your personal budget?
Personally, I have never been a part of any one community for long, so my connection to important causes has manifested in supporting public broadcasting.
My choice for this category, especially if you lead a particularly nomadic life is supporting PBS.
With donation levels starting as low as $5 a month, you not only get the perks of streaming PBS content digitally, you’re also supplied with a monthly TV guide and magazine featuring stunning artwork, photography, and advertisements designed to keep you in the loop.
<PBS link>
I love using a magazine stand from Dollar Tree, Target, or even local thrift stores to display my monthly guides.
The contrast between my high production magazines like “Granta” or “Poetry Magazine” provides a “lived in” quality to my home decor.
Visit your local library to see read and experience what your community has to offer.
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Check the list below for more art and literature subscription recommendations!
