The Idler (1993)

Infobox_Magazine
title = The Idler


image_caption = The Idler #36, the 'money' issue
editor = Tom Hodgkinson
frequency = Bi-Annual
firstdate = 1993
category = Arts/Culture
company = Idler
country = flag|United Kingdom
language = British English
website = [http://www.idler.co.uk/ idler.co.uk]

"The Idler" is a bi-yearly British magazine devoted to promoting its ethos of 'idle living' and all that entails. It was founded in 1993 by Tom Hodgkinson and Gavin Pretor-Pinney with the intention of exploring alternative ways of working and living.

Overview

Following in the footsteps of Samuel Johnson's collection of essays and Jerome K. Jerome's popular periodical, the concept behind The Idler is intended as a riposte to the idea of the 'work ethic'. As the magazine's founder and editor Tom Hodgkinson writes:The magazine argues that laziness has been unjustly criticised by modern society and that it deserves to have its good conscience returned to it and defended as an essential component of a happy life. The intention therefore is to produce a publication that is entertaining, thought-provoking and full of great ideas for living. Indeed, many international newspapers have adopted their views on leisure and lifestyle as a result through incorporation of sections on lifestyle and living.Clarifyme|date=March 2008Fact|date=September 2007

Recent history

More recently, "The Idler" has become known for its stance on social issues. "Crap Jobs" is a humorous series of books (and "Idler" column) looking at human exploitation. The "Crap Towns" books have a mission to find Britain's worst places to live. "Crap Towns", caught the public imagination but drew fire from both local councils and local media in those areas concerned. The newest addition to the "Crap" series is "Crap Holidays": an exploration of Samuel Johnson's maxim that the wise idler will allow events and goods to come to him rather than expend energy and money travelling to disenchanting locations.

Contributors

Contributors and interviewees featured in "The Idler" include:
*Dan Kieran, Deputy Editor - author
*Jonathan Ross - TV presenter
*Louis Theroux - TV presenter
*Damien Hirst - artist
*Tony Barrell - Journalist who also writes for "The Sunday Times (UK)"
*Joanna Blythman - food activist
*Raoul Vaneigem - Situationist theorist
*Chris Donald - "Viz" comic founder
*Jay Griffith - author
*Penny Rimbaud - former Crass drummer and spokesperson
*Pete Doherty - former member of The Libertines; currently fronts Babyshambles
*Bill Oddie - comedian and wildlife expert
*Nicholas Blincoe - British novelist
*Robert Wringham - humourist and librarian
*Alex James - of Blur
*Patrick Moore - astronomer
*Mark Manning - formerly of Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction
*Bill Drummond - of The KLF
*Ben Moor - writer and actor
*Tony White - writer and "Idler" literary editor

References

ee also

*Anti-work
*Laziness
*Wage slavery
*Wage labour

External links

* [http://www.idler.co.uk/ Official site]
* [http://www.3ammagazine.com/litarchives/2001_dec/interview_tom_hodgkinson.html Editor's interview with 3:AM Magazine]
* [http://idler.co.uk/crap/ Crap Towns site]
* [http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/idle Camp Idler] the 2005 Idler workshop held at Dial House in Essex, UK
* [http://idlefoundation.net/ Forum for discussion of ways to escape wage slavery and of alternative lifestyles; a fork from the original Idler website]