Hot vs. Cool

In Marshall McLuhan’s pioneering 1964 study, Understanding Media, the Canadian philosopher, literary critic, and communication theorist argued that “hot” media don’t require much work on our part when it comes to determining meaning; “cool” media, however, require us to participate … Continue reading

Significant Ads: The Halston Mug

So far in discussing the creations of Art Novak’s advertising students at the Savannah College of Art Design, who devised Significant Ads for select Significant Objects as a scholarly exercise, I’ve highlighted online Flash-based inventions. But many of the students … Continue reading

Ads for Significant Objects

Many observers have drawn comparisons between this project and the commercial persuasion business — after all, aren’t ad pros hired precisely to invent significance for stuff, just as our contributors do? (For some examples, see this comment on BoingBoing (and … Continue reading

Presidents

We’re off duty today, thinking about our favorite presidents of all time, and watching the action in our shop. Speaking of which, the first auction in our collaboration with Underwater New York, Kangamouse + Chris Adrian Story, finished up at … Continue reading

Mermaid Figurine

[The auction for this object, with story by Tom McCarthy, has ended. Original price: $1.00. Final price: $68.00. Part of a special collaboration with Underwater New York, this object's story shipped rolled into a vintage bottle found on the beach … Continue reading

Toy Airplane

[The auction for this item, with story by Robert Lopez, has ended. Original price: $1.00. Final price: $19.50. Part of a special collaboration with Underwater New York, this object's story shipped rolled into a vintage bottle found on the beach … Continue reading

Yellow Bear

[The auction for this item, with story by Kathryn Davis, has ended. Original price: $1.00. Final price: $51.00. Part of a special collaboration with Underwater New York, this object's story shipped rolled into a vintage bottle found on the beach … Continue reading

Pan Flute

[The auction for this object, with story by Deb Olin Unferth, has ended. Original price: $1.00. Final price: $63.50. Part of a special collaboration with Underwater New York, this object's story shipped rolled into a vintage bottle found on the … Continue reading

Kangamouse

[The auction for this item, with story by Chris Adrian, has ended. Original price: $1.00. Final price: $162.50. Part of a special collaboration with Underwater New York, this object's story shipped rolled into a vintage bottle found on the beach … Continue reading

Flannel Ball

[The auction for this object, with story by Luc Sante, has ended. Original price: $1.50. Final price: $51.00. Significant Objects will donate the proceeds of this auction to 826 National.] After my friend Claude had his accident I went to … Continue reading