Say It With Safty Pins

April 6, 2012 7:36 AM

The SAFETY PIN REVIEW is a new, weekly literary magazine featuring fiction of less than 30 words, with a major D.I.Y. twist: in addition to being published online, each story is hand-painted onto a cloth back patch, which is attached (via safety pins) to one of our operatives—a collective network of authors, punks, thieves and anarchists—who wear it everywhere they go for a week.

via: Super Punch

posted by Sailormom (23 comments total)

...a collective network of authors, punks, thieves and anarchists...

You know, I can dig on the whole picaresque-appeal of that statement, but if your "operatives" include thieves that walk around with notes safety-pinned to their clothing like that kid in grade school who always lost his mittens, I think you might want to reconsider your strategy.
posted by griphus at 7:47 AM on April 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

Nice idea...but "Wish Upon a Star...threw my heart into the sky"? Kinda unpunkish.
posted by kozad at 7:48 AM on April 6, 2012

You know, I can dig on the whole picaresque-appeal of that statement, but if your "operatives" include thieves that walk around with notes safety-pinned to their clothing like that kid in grade school who always lost his mittens, I think you might want to reconsider your strategy.

"OK, look, I know you want to flee with my XBox and my TV, but could you slow down a bit so I can read your back?"
posted by kmz at 7:50 AM on April 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

Is this a Portlandia sketch?
posted by Falconetti at 7:52 AM on April 6, 2012 [18 favorites]

Pin Monthly, New Pins, Practical Pins. Modern Pins, Pins Extra, Pins International, Talking Pins, Pins World, World Pins, World of Pins, Pins and Pinneries
posted by The Whelk at 7:52 AM on April 6, 2012 [5 favorites]

Cop: "Can you describe your assailant?"

Me:"Not really, but he had some short fiction pinned to the back of his shirt."

Cop:"Have you been drinking?"
posted by tommasz at 7:53 AM on April 6, 2012 [11 favorites]

Pish. When I need safety pin reviews, I go straight to the experts.
posted by Think_Long at 7:54 AM on April 6, 2012

I whisper all of my metafilter comments to my cat, who of course does not understand them, before actually posting them.

Is that art?
posted by Naberius at 8:06 AM on April 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

Really, is it? Because I so want to be cool.
posted by Naberius at 8:08 AM on April 6, 2012

This seems to be about 30% cool idea and 70% annoying execution.
posted by DU at 8:08 AM on April 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Right down there at Dave's Pin Exchange, on Dolly Street.
posted by edgeways at 8:14 AM on April 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Eh, I somehow like this idea, but I like the idea of bumvertising as well.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:15 AM on April 6, 2012

So they're wearing a pinny, then?
posted by Quietgal at 8:18 AM on April 6, 2012

I've got a "Flagrant Cabbage" with the scented glue I'll swap you, but you have to promise to be careful with it 'cause I hear it's explosive and one almost took Nobby's ear off.
posted by subbes at 8:21 AM on April 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

For Sale: One Box of Diaper Pins. Never Opened.

posted by notyou at 8:36 AM on April 6, 2012 [6 favorites]

a collective network of authors, punks, thieves and anarchists

Oh man, could they be more self-satisfied?

Admittedly I would find this infinitely more appealing if 01) they used an oxford comma and 02) if they added HIPSTERS to this list.
posted by elizardbits at 8:39 AM on April 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

well i can say that i dont like their fiction much but now i want to make some crispy papier-mache trousers out of my own terrible comics and inflict them on last thursday or saturday market or my regular process meetinsg or whatever
posted by beefetish at 8:49 AM on April 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

also "authors punks thieves and anarchists" so far looks like "authors and street performers" which is fine guys! you dont need to say you are a thief or an anarchist! youre ok!
posted by beefetish at 8:49 AM on April 6, 2012

Wow, this is just tailor-made for snarking.

The SAFETY PIN REVIEW is a new, weekly literary magazine [that few people will encounter, fewer will read, and nobody will enjoy.]
posted by Scientist at 8:50 AM on April 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

i want to make some crispy papier-mache trousers out of my own terrible comics

please please make a pirate hat

oh god please
posted by elizardbits at 9:02 AM on April 6, 2012

I think the idea of distributing flash fiction in unusual media is a fine one. Fiction changes its meaning depending on the reader's state of mind, and not all states of mind are accessible when you're reading a magazine while seated.

Fetishizing the story attachment technology might not be the greatest hook.

lol "hook"
posted by LogicalDash at 10:33 AM on April 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

why in my day we distributed our fiction on clapboard painted in lead
posted by LogicalDash at 10:34 AM on April 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

As was the style at the time.
posted by Naberius at 11:01 AM on April 6, 2012