The 2010s were a WILD time. Questionable decisions were made. That finger tattoo of a hipster moustache isn’t aging particularly well. The bold contour and highlighter that reflects like the surface of the sun gives you a jumpscare every time you look at throwback pics. And we’re not even going to mention the eyebrows in the photos. Remember we used to proudly go out — sans mask — when we were sick and boast about how tough we were for fighting through illness? Just bonkers stuff.
For the HGTV set, shiplap and the modern farmhouse aesthetic ruled and Jojo Gaines was their leader. The uniform was praised, and outdated federal reporters graced the shelves of idealized bookcases. And when the once useful staple of legal research couldn’t be found at a flea market, then the uniform was forced by turning books backward only leaving the pages of the tomes showing. Yes, of course the spine is where the useful information like the TITLE is found, but it wasn’t about functionality but the look.
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Of course, the trend was mocked. Bibliophiles revolted — called it an “illiteracy-inducing” trend for “empty-headed people,” part of an “ignoramus watch,” and just plain fuckery. And, as a book lover, it’s easy to feel the outrage of books divorced from their purpose and made into decorative units with no respect for the content.
But unlike gladiator sandals, it doesn’t look like this trend was left in the pre-pandemic world. As part of his recent set of appearances promoting his new book/anti-textualism volume, retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer appeared on Washington Post Live in front of a wall of wrong-facing books.
It’s a terrible look.
Our Investigative Unit believes this travesty is @simonschuster’s doing as we’ve seen this ridiculous setup previously with another author. It’s 0/10 for #StephenBreyer for sitting in front of it. pic.twitter.com/3i6RAKarSK
— Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) March 28, 2024
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Rate My Skype Room blames the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for bringing back this anti-intellectual set-up. The logic, such that it is, goes that they don’t want to promote non-Simon & Schuster books, so the spines go to the wall. But that is stupid. Their product is books, and deliberately using a backdrop that devalues the entire purpose of their business is tragically short-sighted. Did they *really* trade giving a sliver of attention to HarperCollins in exchange for something that straight up enrages book lovers? That’s a terrible deal. And frankly it is far better for their business model to encourage people to love and enjoy books generally — regardless of publisher — than to be thought of as a mindless corporation that jealously guards their market share to the detriment of the health of the industry.
And boo to Justice Breyer for going along with it.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].