NEW IN THE BOOKSHOP: FILE VOL.4 NO.2 FALL 1979 : "TRANSGRESSIONS" (1979) • FILE Megazine (published 1972–1989) was a quarterly, then irregularly published art and culture magazine, written, edited and published primarily by members of General Idea (AA Bronson, Felix Partz, Jorge Zontal). • The visual design and identity of FILE Megazine was a deliberate appropriation of LIFE Magazine. FILE's initial logo was the white block letters on red rectangle of the LIFE logo, with the letters re-arranged. This corresponded with the group's desire that the magazine be a “parasite within the world of magazine distribution”. The familiarity of the format would entice a broad range of unsuspecting readers outside the art- or mail-art worlds (including LIFE readers) to pick it up from newsstands. Initially the magazine served a dual purpose. It was a record and site of activity for the international mail/correspondence-art movement - the first mail-art project in magazine format. It was also the mouthpiece of General Idea, with editorials for each issue written by the group, elaborating on the group's core conceptual principles. The writing style of these editorials is noteworthy for its heavily ironic use of language, a parody of advertising copy, laced with double-entendres. Over the years the focus of FILE Megazine broadened to include the wider arts, culture and entertainment world, as General Idea's founders moved increasingly among the New York downtown circles of the 70s and 80s. • This "TRANSGRESSIONS" issue (edited by General Idea and Rodney Werden) includes Kathy Acker, Guy Hocquenghem, David Byrne, Jean Genet, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Colin Campbell, Francesco Clemente, The Clichettes, Robert Mapplethorpe, Martha and the Muffins, and others. Features the famous Nazi Milk Glass cover by General Idea. • More details on our website. One copy. • #worldfoodbooks #FILE #GeneralIdea #aabronson #felixpartz #jorgezontal #robertmapplethorpe #kathyacker #guyhocquenghem #jeangenet #1979 (at WORLD FOOD BOOKS)
