10/04/2005
Editor-in-Chief Brendan Lemon walks out on Out magazine: "the former New Yorker culture editor gathered his staff on West 27th and announced his voluntary resignation, claiming he had done all he could do to turn Out into a 'smart,' visionary queer title."
Posted 10:34 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
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Your turn Andy....even though I would hate to see this blog go. I am sure you could change OUT to OUT on TOWLEROAD.
Posted by: matt-chicago | Oct 5, 2005 1:04:15 AM
Another whirl of the fairy-go-round that is gay publishing. The names and faces continually change, but the products remain essentially the same. "Lemon: It is both interesting and fun to put up a website and magazine reflecting various aspects of the gay experience. In addition to entertaining our readers, I find it satisfying that I get them to think in new ways." "various aspects of the gay experience"? In a pig's eye! "think in new ways"? MY ASS! "Thought" is the furthest thing from their cause or their effect. OUT is just the slickest version of the half dozen cookie cutter fag rags that survive [even as the LPI Media and Window Media syndicates swallow their competition faster and faster]--all crawling on their bellies for the same readership with virtually identical clone articles on conspicuous consumption and conspicuous big baskets under hairless big pecs and abs. They perpetually recycle the fag variation on the Peter Pan Syndrome, while we're intellectually, culturally, and politically starved for a gay version of "The New Yorker," "The Nation," or even that incredible mix of shallow snobbery and deep sociopolitical writing that can be found among the countless expensive ads of "Vanity Fair." How could it get worse? If they promoted Toy Box for Brains senior editor Jeffrey Epstein....
Posted by: Tagg | Oct 5, 2005 2:43:27 AM
"Out" magazine is the most insipid, superficial piece of drivel out there. Even "People" has more depth, even "Enteratinment" has more soul. By contrast, however, "Out Traveler" is a pretty good title, but I hope that they learn to market themselves as something different than "Out" and distance themselves from the pabulum of "Out."
Posted by: aba | Oct 5, 2005 5:19:15 AM
alright, andrew. give us your insight on this breaking development.
Posted by: CriticalRN | Oct 5, 2005 8:22:24 AM
I personally don't buy Out magazine expecting pulitzer prize-winning journalism. Sometimes I buy it just to pass the time. If I want a New Yorker-style intellectual approach, I'll pick up... the New Yorker.
Out magazine will never be more than just a light, fluffy, big-basket-laden, cotton candy-ish monthly. But that doesn't mean that we can't just enjoy it for what it is. That said, I agree that as long as they're going to publish half-naked pics of hot men it would be nice to see more representation of various body types.
Posted by: Brian | Oct 5, 2005 9:07:13 AM
Maybe OUT and Martha could team up for a home edition and call it OUTHOUSE Living.
Posted by: Jeff | Oct 5, 2005 9:17:41 AM
"A smart, visionary queer title"? Who is she kidding?
Posted by: hoyaboy | Oct 5, 2005 10:24:25 AM
wow, the vitriol. The comments make me think y'all be talkin' bout XY or UNZIPPED. I'm sad to see Brendan go, and hopefully whoever does step up to the plate as the new editor continues producing a well-crafted magazine.
Posted by: TeKay | Oct 5, 2005 10:43:56 AM
Actually XY and Unzipped are magazines whose points are clear and whose content is appropriate for the target audience. By contrast, I don't think Out understands its target audience, or has the wrong audience in mind. Sure, it's light reading, and there is a place for light reading. (I personally cant'stand the New Yorker, finding it pretentious and long-winded.) Have something for all tastes. But as a gay person buying some light reading, why opt for Out when there are other titles that are better at being fun, light reading? Out often manages to alienate its target audience because of its tendency to focus on the West Hollywood 25-year-old experience exclusively. It's sad to see a so aggressively marketed magazine fail so miserably at what it should be doing well.
Posted by: aba | Oct 5, 2005 11:44:12 AM
True: it was only Monday night that I remarked how insipid an editor Mr. Lemon is, and alas, like the wicked witch, he's gone. I had recently looked at the September issue, the fat issue...and you know, it looked good...not compelling, but when viewed against Genre and Instinct, it certainly looked the most professional. That said, I personally found Mr. Lemon one of the least inpsiring editors (I have worked for). Living in NYC but fascinated by Hollywood and celebrity, he seemed a lightweight.
I think what must be taken into consideration is that its a corporation, and a very successful one. They are not going to become interesting (there was a time in their history, but they were not corporate-owned) overnight.
There is a story to tell about his leaving---it's not a job one happily walks away from..and as Mr. Lemon was such a fan of gossip, its interesting that he is now the subject.
Posted by: Parvenu | Oct 5, 2005 2:46:30 PM