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1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects
 
 
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1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects [Hardcover]

Oliviero Toscani (Creator), Colors Magazine (Editor)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)


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Book Description

Klotz October 2000
Things, objects, stuff, trinkets, tools, materials, gadgets, the things we use, abuse, throw away, cherish, depend on: these are the things we own, simple objects for our everyday lives. They may or may not hold special meaning to us, but their importance as objects of cultural identity is unmistakable.

Produced, under the direction of Olivieri Toscani, by the agency Colors (the same agency that produces Benetton's campaigns), Extra/Ordinary's subject matter may be already familiar to those who have seen recent features in the agency's magazine, Colors. Colors' motto, "diversity is good", translates perfectly into a book that celebrates the differences in our everyday objects. Continuing the theme introduced in Colors, this new book shows us the extraordinary in the ordinary. Jaunting off on a tour around the globe, you'll see that what is ordinary halfway across the world (or perhaps for your neighbors across the street) may be totally foreign to you.

Discover the wonderful absurdity of a priest's portable mass-in-a-briefcase kit, or the stunning difference between fly-swatters from Zimbabwe and South Korea. Ogle at the juxtaposition of neoprene surfing shoes and bullfighting slippers; have a gander at a package of emu cutlets and a can of blowfish soup. In case you see something that you absolutely must have, check out the yellow pages section at the end of the book; here you can find out where to get it and even how much it costs, as well as lots of little tidbits of interesting information to make your journey complete.

Maybe you've already come across some of these objects, or will seek them out on future voyages. Next time you pick up your toothbrush or comb your hair, youmay think twice about the things that you use every day- perhaps they're not so ordinary after all.



Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Dirt cupcake mix, as American as apple pie. Nipple lightener from Japan. Tick juice, indispensable in Venezuela for black magic love rituals. Sunglasses from Zimbabwe with shades cut from plastic juice bottles and no lenses. Korean disposable straw sandals made especially for mourners and corpses. Is this stuff cool or what? But wait--there's more. Flip through this book in search of international weirdness, and it's a pretty sure bet you'll wind up absorbing some sobering information about sex, death, destruction, poverty, and the arrogant ways of multinationals. Under the guise of an ultrahip consumer's guide to the world's nifty stuff--divided into sections labeled "Food," "Fashion," "Animals," "Body," "Soul" and "Leisure"--1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects is a subversive crusader for human rights and ecological awareness.

Sure, you can find out how to buy your very own Dom Perignon-flavored sorbet or a CD of "Music for Healthy Pets." But you'll also stumble upon objects like the cute little bright green Russian-made PFM-1 antipersonnel mine, "a favorite toy of generations of Afghan children" punished for their curiosity by a double whammy of liquid explosive and tiny blades. On other pages, seemingly innocuous objects--like the sweetly lumpy doll couples made of tree bark by Elliot Chitungu of Zimbabwe--turn out to have a bitter subtext. (Chitungu, who is gay, makes all his couples heterosexual; in his country, homosexuality is a criminal offense.) Other objects are examples of savvy recycling, like the paper made in Malawi from elephant dung and recycled cardboard.

With straightforward descriptions in both English and French, unblinking photographs of young people modeling even the most outré objects, and a Yellow Pages that includes information about little-known charitable organizations worldwide, this is a fun book with a heart of gold. --Cathy Curtis

Language Notes

Text: English, French

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 768 pages
  • Publisher: Taschen (October 2000)
  • Language: French
  • ISBN-10: 382285851X
  • ISBN-13: 978-3822858516
  • Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.9 x 2.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,370,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT CATALOG OF OBJECTS AS ARTIFACTS OF CULTURAL IDENTITY, January 23, 2001
This review is from: 1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects (Hardcover)
Objects: stuff, knick-knacks, toys, trinkets, tools, curios, gadgets. The things we use, abuse, collect, toss away, cherish, depend on or can't live without: these are the material goods that fill our lives. Those shown in 1000 EXTRA/ORDINARY OBJECTS may or may not hold special meaning to you, but their importance as objects of cultural identity is unmistakable.

Produced, under the direction of Oliviero Toscani, then design director of Colors magazine, 1000 EXTRA/ORDINARY OBJECTS truly illustrates Colors' motto that "diversity is good" and translates perfectly into a book that celebrates the intrinsic cultural differences in everyday objects.

Discover the efficiency of a priest's portable mass-in-a-briefcase and the wonderful practicality of a Venezuelan Urination Funnel for women. Ponder the juxtaposition of neoprene surfing shoes and bullfighting slippers; contemplate the multi-tasking inherent in English-language lessons printed on Japanese toilet paper; and the wishful thinking of Chinese Slimming Soap that promises to make you slender and fit. What could be a better combo than glue-on ... from Germany and the formidable Arabian Goat's Eye ...? Jaunting off on this global shopping trip, you'll see that objects completely foreign to you may be commonplace halfway across the world.

In case you see something that you absolutely must have, check out the Yellow Pages section at the end of the book. Here you can find out where to get it and how much it costs, and read fascinating tidbits of information to make your worldwide journey complete.

Next time you pick up your toothbrush or Ethiopian ear-cleaning spoon, you may think twice about the things that you use every day - perhaps they're not so ordinary after all.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars yes, bizarre!, November 14, 2003
By 
Robert J. Crawford (Balmette Talloires, France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: 1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects (Hardcover)
This is a wonderful collection of objects, truly an artistic selection of eye-popping, category-crossing, often beautiful things. Each object also has a very very nice description, laying out who made and why, and giving an idea of how it functions. You get battery-operated tongues - think of the uses you can put that to! - and scores of traditional objects such as funery slippers and straw hats or cow-tail medicinal brushes. It is a feast for the imagination, funny, and provocative.

Recommended for industrial designers and art lovers alike.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW..Funny,Bizarre ....BEST GIFT, November 24, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: 1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects (Hardcover)
Very entertaining and embarassingly funny.
Makes me want to shave all my body hair and buy some of the unusual hair pieces so popular in Japan.
Many unusual and creative if COMPLETELY USELESS INVENTIONS.
I find out that the women of Caracas absolutely love the "Urination Funnel", the art of urinating standing up using a paper cone,it is described as strange at first,but FUN. I truly live a very sheltered life as a woman in the USA, unable to access the simple pleasure of urinating standing up.
764 pages of pure COMICAL FACTS.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
According to Japanese tradition, manekinekos (beckoning cats) are supposed to bring good luck to households - they also beckon guests to come in. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
envoyez vos, seront les bienvenus, nippon kempo, non lucratif, send donations, pour participer, grand besoin, des millions, chez vous, envoyer vos, les dents, aux enfants
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
South Africa, Afrique du Sud, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, United Nations, Rio de Janeiro, South Korea, Handicap International, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Costa Rica, Kar Kar, San Francisco, American Express, Amnesty International, Cheez Doodles, Chiang Mai, Del Monte, Happy Meal, Night Flower, Pro Igel, True Love Waits, First Place, Miracle Beauty Lift, Sri Lanka
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