| Lately I've been finding myself becoming more task-oriented. Yet in becoming more focused, I find myself longing for escape. People say that television programming is increasingly geared towards escapism, but I find if I really want to waste some quality time, the Internet is my best bet.
I am currently hooked on zonicweb.net/badalbmcvrs/index.htm, the location of the Museum of Bad Album Covers online. The site offers a large database of covers that missed the mark on cover art or just went straight to offensive. Categories include "Keeping it Unreal," Metal Mayhem (smell the glove)" and ":Should I Shoot the Stylist Now?" I recommend this site when you're tired and/or easily amused.
Wasting time can be educational – or as I refer to it, research. I can literally spend hours on artsjournal.com. ArtsJournal calls itself "a weekday digest of some of the best arts and cultural journalism in the English-speaking world." Some of the topics include links to articles on dance, publishing and the visual arts. The site also provides blogs about art issues from some great writers in-the-know. The e-newsletter comes in daily and weekly format, so you can decide in advance how much time you want to commit to the site. I always say an hour, but it rarely works out that way.
On another art-related site, artbusiness.com, Alan Bamberger’s San Francisco Art Openings section proves that writing about the visual arts doesn't have to be an exercise in alienating Joe Public. Bamberger documents almost every art opening in San Francisco with photos of the gallery space – labelled art, in case you weren't sure, with witty commentary everyone can relate to. Extra escapism points for being funny and educational. |
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