Production Narrative

by J. Drucker

This was probably printed one run at a time on one of the offset presses at Nexus, using a single sheet, with four runs in CMYK.

Critical Analysis

by J. Drucker

Design Features

typographic: Use of typewriter font (courier, probably) throughout, with instructions to increase the font size for visual impact. Smaller font size for instructions about trim, subject matter, treatment.

imagery: None, just patterns. Photomechanical?

graphical: Graphical texture on pages.

openings: Center opening says "save your best artwork for here" thus calling attention to the single opening that is a full spread over an unbroken sheet.

turnings: Each page has a new punchline and each spread has a slightly different treatment as a demonstration of bleed, trim, centering and other layout activity.

development: Instructions for development are provided in the text.

sequence: Not really used.

textual: The text elements are all punchlines and jokes.

structure: Simple and basic as a way to quote simple and basic structures.

conceptual: The framing of this project within the overall discourse of artists' book production is what makes it such a funny idea.

Critical Discussion

Goodman's work shows the extent to which conception is a product of cultural and social circumstances. Ideas circulate through a community like dye in a liquid medium. Illusions of originality are clearly exposed by such clever humor. Each page is funny -- the cover sheet says "Your Name Here" in a space left at the bottom edge, as a piece of bad design. Title page is on the inside front cover, clearly wrong, with Your Name and a Picture -- all generic categories. "Make Your Statement Here" demands the text on what would be the title page, with additional instructions to put a "small image" in the for position only blue rectangle and the additional statement "no cat pictures". Such laconic statements require no additional commentary.

Critical Analysis

by E. Rettberg

Design Features

typographic: Many background images are built from repeating rows of letters.

graphical: Pixelated images in a variety of clashing colors often obscure the legibility of the text, even on the cover.

Critical Discussion

A self-describing cheap, inexpensive artist's book.

How to Make Your Own Cheap Inexpensive Artists' Book

Agents

Michael Goodman

type: initiating

role:
artist
author
printer
designer
typographer
binder
publisher

note: Michael Goodman was the Nexus Press associate director and printer at the time he made this book. [J. Drucker]

Publication Information

edition type: editioned

publisher: Michael Goodman

place: Nexus Press, Atlanta, GA

edition size: Unknown, but the instruction on the back says to xerox ten copies and give them away.

Measurements

horizontal: 2 inches closed

vertical: 2 5/8 inches closed

Production Information

production means:
offset (local)

binding: saddle stitching (AAT) one staple

substrate:
bookBlock: paper Cover stock, same as cover.

media:
ink (local)

Appearance

general description: The miniscule volume's paper and colorful abstract images live up to its title; it looks and feels both cheap and inexpensive. A tiny book printed offset all on cover stock in four colors.

format: codex (AAT)

cover: Cover stock, same as interior pages.

color: yes

Content

pagination: paginated 16 numbered pages

numbered?: unnumbered

signed?: unsigned

Colophon

None