Amazon robots FAIL
Like many men and women, I shop at Amazon.com. As they've increased in size and influence, becoming a juggernaut looming over the entire publishing industry, I've felt increasingly guilty about my book purchases. While I try to balance them - if I buy one book on Amazon, the next book I'll buy at a local independent store - it's hard to resist the combination of deep discounts and easy access that the web experience provides.
However, an e-mail from Amazon reminded me that one can never overlook the human element. As you may know, I completed my art history degree in December, so I'm very interested in books about artists, painting techniques, art analysis and criticism, and similar topics. Amazon, trying to capitalize on this, recently sent me an e-mail highlighting "Featured Art History and Criticism Resources". Curious to see what new books were out there, I clicked on it.
My head promptly hit the desk.
I was expecting a new art theory book, or perhaps a new biography of a Renaissance master, or even advice on how to stream the new DaVinci's Demons show. Not video games.
It's not that I would argue that video games are not art, but I would expect a book featuring the art of Bioshock or Legend of Zelda to be featured under entertainment, media, or some sort of technical name. Not art criticism. Way to go, Amazon robots - you've once again managed to convince me that when I want recommendations for a particular topic, I should either
A - hit up the local bookstore, if there's one that specializes in what I'm looking for
B - Find a book reviewer online and see what he or she is reading
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2012: Fashionista Piranha on hiatus until May 24th
2011: The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger
2010: White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black
2009: The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson
However, an e-mail from Amazon reminded me that one can never overlook the human element. As you may know, I completed my art history degree in December, so I'm very interested in books about artists, painting techniques, art analysis and criticism, and similar topics. Amazon, trying to capitalize on this, recently sent me an e-mail highlighting "Featured Art History and Criticism Resources". Curious to see what new books were out there, I clicked on it.
My head promptly hit the desk.
I was expecting a new art theory book, or perhaps a new biography of a Renaissance master, or even advice on how to stream the new DaVinci's Demons show. Not video games.
It's not that I would argue that video games are not art, but I would expect a book featuring the art of Bioshock or Legend of Zelda to be featured under entertainment, media, or some sort of technical name. Not art criticism. Way to go, Amazon robots - you've once again managed to convince me that when I want recommendations for a particular topic, I should either
A - hit up the local bookstore, if there's one that specializes in what I'm looking for
B - Find a book reviewer online and see what he or she is reading
Peeking into the archives...today in:
2012: Fashionista Piranha on hiatus until May 24th
2011: The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger
2010: White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black
2009: The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson