A curious thing has happened with the proliferation and ultimate subjugation of culture by the internet; a sense of sameness, an aesthetic once daring quickly adopted and replicated en masse. Generalizations aside, this is why I have found such joy in print publications, either produced pre-1980 or covering artists who worked pre-1980. A few exceptions are made for photographic portfolios - I do collect the works of contemporary photographers - but in terms of sheer inspiration, it is this time gap that serves so well in looking beyond the seeds of whatever the current zeitgeist may be.
#OffTheShelf today, the March 1965 issue of Playboy Magazine. Given the state of technology, I think the classic “I read it for the articles” may ring truer than ever, given similar material is available in an instant for free. Nonetheless, the highlighted spreads here feature Graham Hill (with Sir Stirling Moss on the page prior), Shel Silverstein, and a few vintage advertisements to boot. The ads are of particular interest in this category of collection, and may feature at a later date.
