How, then, are we supposed to find art? Bookstores are shoulder-to-shoulder bestsellers. Television is filled with that Donald man. Movies, well, when we start thinking Foul Play is the best of the season’s crop…. Music? Unless you’re very lucky in your local radio choices, you’re not getting anywhere near the breadth of available tunes. How do you find new, interesting stuff
Last week, we announced the formation of the Litblog Co-Op. We will remind you of its mission because it’s worth repeating:
What would happen if a bunch of your favorite literary blogs got together four times a year and picked a book from obscurity, an overlooked literary gem that we’d get behind as a group and bring to your attention, flogging it ceaselessly both here and on our respective individual blogs?
Okay, four books a year are given a shot. This is such a major step forward, we cannot express its importance. Except to say that without the strength of passionate fans, much of today’s art drops on the scene and continues to pass straight through to oblivion. Just as Rupert Murdoch has discovered the Internet (still kicking after all these years), the rest of the entertainment world has chosen to fight it. Piracy = bad. Control = obscurity.
We do not advocate stealing art (if you’re bored, we can spend a few hours discussing our thoughts on this matter; suffice to say, we pay). But there has to be a better way to expose the next layer of art to the public. Why do music labels put out product if they’re only going to push Britney Spears on the radio audience? Why do so many books get published if the marketing dollars are devoted to James Patterson?
We believe the publishing industry can learn from the mistakes of the music industry. Take advantage of the passion of the fans. We devote many long hours to books. If we end up loving what we read, then we’re going to talk about it. Finding the right voices to promote your work will be the smartest move the industry can make.
