That’s the brain-twisting name of a new book dedicated to showcasing websites that highlight the creative arts. It’s published by Holiday Matinee, a marketing company that specializes in artists and graphic design.
I looked at the review copy I received with an eye to finding something new that might interest my kids.
Inside of "I Swear To Good You Are God At This"
I found a few possibilities. The entry on the Ambrose Collective, a group that specializes in mentoring students who want a career in the applied arts made me wish I lived in Michigan and could send my teenagers to one of their workshops.
I also liked the Do Good site, which showcases an iPhone app that urges people to do an act of kindness each day. My younger son was quite taken with the idea of suggesting his own “Do Good” idea.
And while it’s not an interactive site, I found Mysterious Letters fascinating. It’s a site whose creators are dedicated to writing to everyone in the world, one town at a time.
They first did it with Irish village of Cushendall and the next batch of hand-written letters went out in November 2009 to Polish Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I’m hoping the idea might inspire my kids to put pen to paper, though likely they won’t write to a whole town. But a letter to their grandmother would be nice.
While I enjoyed paging through the book, I had to wonder why it would be necessary to put together a print project to publicize websites. My instinct is that this might not be as effective as a pure electronic creation. I asked Dave Brown, the head of Holiday Matinee why he went with a physical book.
He said:
Going with a physical release was the intention from the start. While it’s true I’m obsessed with new media, there’s no denying I’m still very much attached to analog, physical products. From vinyl records, design/art/photography books to pop culture magazines-even with the rise of new technology, there’s something truly beautiful about holding, smelling and being able to run your fingers through something tangible. It’s a certain warmth that I like to think brings the content to life, especially the web-based features. Plus, I like the notion of flipping new media with something more traditional.
I can only hope that others are as keen on physical objects. I have a Sony eReader and I love its convenience. But, like Brown, I agree there’s nothing like a tangible object.
