MASCULAR 

One of the positive side effects of the constant pursuit of what’s new and shiny, of progress, of technological advancement is that it affords us, from time to time, the opportunity to look back. Sometimes it’s with a nostalgic sense and sometimes it’s with relief that we have moved on. But in any case, looking back gives us perspective. The 42nd issue of MASCULAR Magazine will be dedicated to VINTAGE.

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Vintage is a loaded term. It comes with baggage – for some, a beautiful leather steamer case or nice worn leather satchel – but vintage connotes quality, value, and durability. Interestingly, the required passage of time for something to become vintage appears to be shortening with every iteration of the concept. 80s game consoles are now considered vintage. When it comes to Photography, for instance, many creatives prefer the early generation sensors over the newer “nearly perfect” ones. The earlier sensors have character. Their imperfections lend them qualities that are more valuable to perfect sharpness or colour rendition. We like our imperfections. 

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From clothing to furniture, tech to tools, vintage generally relates to things that are made for utility or consumption. But that raises a question. Can ideas, experiences, emotions, or attitudes be vintage? If they are, is that a positive? To appreciate something vintage, should we also give thought to the broader context of that piece? Are in danger of allowing what’s vintage to cloud our memory of the issues and problems that go hand in hand with them? Vintage and nostalgia are cousins, but vintage is the comelier of the two. Yes, the old camera sensors or that old suitcase have more character, but are we asked to make too many compromises when using them? 

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Vintage also connotes style. By wearing or suing something vintage, we suggest to others that we are possess with, at minimum, a higher sense of style. And if you add the benefits of recycling, repurposing, and mindfulness to the mix, using something vintage may even enhance our moral standing. But is it all for show? Are vintage aesthetics ‘better’? Is it about the experience or is it about the result? What about the intersection of memories, the present and the future? Is our attraction to vintage things an attempt to hold on to the past, or to anchor ourselves in the present? Can vintage things do that? And are things intrinsically vintage or is it down to the beholder?  For some, a rotary dial phone is vintage – but to others, it is quotidian and nothing of note.

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MASACULAR Magazine invites artists and creators to consider VINTAGE as a theme or concept. To help us explore what it means and where it stands in the context of our creative lives. Be it your early work, something handed down or a new concept inspired by an old idea, help us explore this often used but sometimes intangible concept.

 

If you are interested in contributing to Issue No. 40, please download and complete the Submissions Form below, or for more information, feel free to contact MASCULAR Magazine at: submissions@mascularmagazine.com.

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Deadline for submissions is March 10, 2025