Being Marginalized Is a Blessing: An Interview with Author Dan Kennedy

Dan Kennedy: I don’t see how they can and I always think those arguments are a little bit drunk on a certain ambition, you know? Like in the 90s they said that the Internet was gonna put all the bookstores out of business and no one would read books. It’s like, it didn’t really happen and it was such a silly thing to run around trumpeting.

You know, anything that comes along and changes everything forever, never waves a banner saying, “I’m Here To Change Everything Forever.” (laughs) It just happens. I mean the most influential bands in the world never showed up and said (adopts funny accent), “Oh, hello! I am here to be regarded as genius.”

Popshifter: Unless you’re Oasis.

Dan Kennedy: The argument probably falls apart on that side of the pond. But all this stuff about print being dead, I think it’s a silly thing to run around screaming about. I’m sure to a degree it’s changed things, and I’m sure there’s undeniable evidence of it but. . . I do think it’s ridiculous when magazines try to be timely. The Internet owns that.

I’m a huge fan of online media and print media, but when I pick up a magazine and it’s trying to be as timely as something I read on blogs three-and-a-half weeks ago? It’s dumb. There are times when I pick up certain music magazines and it’s like, “RADIOHEAD! PUT OUT THEIR OWN ALBUM!” And you’re like, “Dude! It’s March 2008 now.” So that’s a weird moment.

But there’s such a difference, you know if you pick up an issue of Alternative Press and you go, “How the hell could the Internet ever do this?” How could I sit in my room or on a plane and have something this dense and beautifully produced and this cool, you know what I mean? How could I have that happening on my iPhone? It doesn’t add up.

You know as much as I’m a fan of both media, they’re two different things entirely. It’s a little bit futile for one to try and be like the other.

Popshifter: Maybe a more mainstream magazine would have more competition from Internet blogs but I think fanzines and more alternative magazines. . . there’s probably more of them now than there were. Magazines that review zines are still around and they’re still reviewing zines, people are still doing them. I think the hand-craftedness of it is the appeal.

I agree with you: I don’t think the printed word is dead. I still buy books and you know. . . I get magazines. . . and I represent the rest of the world so, you know. . . (laughs)

Dan Kennedy: (laughing) Yeah! My truth is universal truth, so we know we don’t have to have a focus group.

Popshifter: Exactly! (laughs)

Click to read more from Dan Kennedy on. . .

Cruel Shoes by Steve Martin
The alienation of the “college years”
The death of print media?
The Motown commercial and music now
Being in the slow lane
Definition for mayhem
What’s next?

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