|
There are things we want to find, others that we discover unexpectedly, and some items that we wish to remain hidden forever. FOUND magazine is a combination of all three possibilities. The publication is an eccentric and poignant collection of items that have been left for waste, including love letters, crumpled post-it notes, grocery lists, diary entries, and old photos. It discloses the intimate thoughts of strangers that have been accidentally unearthed. The findings range from the truly bizarre to the pathetic, but what is most revealing about these scraps of information is the fears and hopes they exhibit. Even the strangest documents seem strikingly normal. 
FOUND magazine is the brainchild of Davy Rothbart and Jason Bitner, two regular Americans who had the extraordinary idea to expose the forgotten and telling records of strangers. The project was inspired by an angry note someone mistakenly attached to the windshield of Rothbart’s parked car in Chicago. Intrigued by the tension of emotions in the letter, Rothbart and his friend Bitner decided to collect other bits of tossed paper. The result was a low budget cut and paste zine that they intended to produce for their friends. In a twist of fate, a kind Kinkos employee printed 700 copies for free, encouraging the pair to distribute the issue to local bookstores across Chicago.
The popularity of the magazine grew rapidly and became the sole source of employment for both men. Almost overnight, a success was born. The project has spawned national bestsellers, magazines, videos, and a website. Now based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan and New York City, Rothbart runs the operation singlehandedly. In recent years, he has toured across the United States and Canada to promote his all-time favourite finds and hear of other people’s discoveries. The most recent addition to the company’s roster is Dirty FOUND, an offshoot that publishes the sleazier, racy material that is usually deemed not fit-to-print. 
The discarded snippets published in FOUND are interesting because they are raw and unedited. They share the authentic feelings of people, rather than projecting the self-conscious, tough exterior we often manufacture for the outside world. The best finds are the unexpected ones, such as to-do lists which include “buy laundry detergent, have sex with Dave” or “purchase engagement ring and one pound of heroin.” Who knew that a mundane jotting of ideas could be so hilarious, sad, and profound?
We are attracted to this information because it provides snapshots of the private lives of others. The findings are extracts of memories, but there is a greater story behind them. We want to know why the amateur porn star wrote a thank you note to her onscreen partner or what compelled a woman to go to New Orleans to receive plastic surgery, only to tell her mother the truth in a postcard. Every entry has a story behind it. Propelled by our skewed sense of intimacy with these pieces, we feel moved to get involved. It serves as a way to combat loneliness and to preserve the memory of people or moments that have been long forgotten. We all worry about disappearing from the world’s consciousness, only to linger as unnoticed dust. Having part of your memoirs enter FOUND magazine is a way to achieve immortality.
For some people, FOUND magazine poses a problem. The publication raises eyebrows as a potential invasion of privacy. It makes me nervous to think someone could print an old love letter of mine for millions of prying eyes to read. Yet at the same time, if I carelessly discarded the note on a busy street, fully knowing that anyone could find it, this is the consequence that I would be risking. If someone raided a garbage to discover a worthy item, I would worry the publication is no longer harmless. However, if you think of the number of fun finds every janitor or librarian accidentally stumbles upon, it seems wrong not to share them. As long as the publication behaves responsibly and chooses pieces that are respectful, I say go ahead, I’m ready for show-and-tell. In particular, the new Dirty FOUND will have to be very careful not to publish any material that degrades the dignity of its producers. The only way naked photos of me are going to be seen is if I am getting paid for them! 
The other predicament with FOUND magazine is its authenticity. I would like to believe every entry is a legitimate discovery rather than a fabricated submission, but there is no way of knowing. Sometimes I think the material is too good not to be true. Although I will never be 100% sure, I’d rather be proven wrong than lose faith altogether. There are plenty of things in life that are a mystery to me, but I don’t let that interfere with my belief in them.
Ultimately, I think FOUND magazine has tapped into an interesting resource- the pile of junk that has been left behind. While it is undoubtedly a form of voyeurism, it manages to remain classy and not be creepy in the spying with binoculars kind of way. The publication is a great opportunity to harmlessly laugh at the oddities of other people, and in the process, ourselves. From the tell-all celebrity autobiographies to reality television, it’s clear that we love a good story. This is just one more form of entertainment that gauges the depth of human emotion without trying to.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
