Literary Journal Review: The New Yorker

Written by Catherine Hsu

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Photo by Mouly. “Ivan Brunetti's, The New Yorker.

The New Yorker is a literary magazine that mixes both news and literature together. The New Yorker reports profiles, breaking news, cultural coverage, podcasts, videos, and cartoons. As an American weekly magazine, it truly highlights the works of writers and artists through literary fare and humor. One main thing that would be a signature of this magazine would be the cartoonish appeal as their weekly cover theme and the black trim on the bind of the magazine. The overall artwork that is produced within each article definitely brings out what the magazine is known for. 

Photo by Mouly. “Ivan Brunetti's ‘First Date.’” The New Yorker.

At a glance, the images for each headline are a mix of cartoon and realistic pictures. Each cover of the issue has a different artwork from various artists. For an avid reader of The New Yorker is a great investment because these issues come out weekly. Each issue has three main sections that split the magazine: The Reporting, The Critics, and The Talk of the Town. The New Yorker's physical copy font for headlines are Irvin Typeface and for the articles, it's in Adobe Caslo. In the online copy, they use a unique Sans Serif font since they are unable to use Irvin Typeface. The size of the issue is 7 7⁄8 by 10 3⁄4 inches.There isn’t necessarily a theme that covers what will be contained in each issue but rather a form of platform to show off each artists work. It is more like a feature. September 16th’s issue has an artwork titled, "First Date", by Ivan Brunetti, a cartoonist and a comic scholar. Within the image itself, there are many small jokes in every corner that tells a side of one's story about each person on a "First Date". There are cats and dogs sprinkled throughout every inch of the cover.

​ Interestingly, Brunetti drew inspiration from his own personal life at home in the scope living with his wife. They both share the same interest in owning both dogs and cats. The art is supposed to depict the zoo-like aspect as his wife continues to nudge for a dog where owning a menagerie of pets is not only expensive but also a tight squeeze to add to their already filled place. In addition, there are some pictures of his sketches to show them in their most rudimentary form.

​This bio is individually created as its own for the online issue, named, "Cover Story". This definitely individualizes the artists and gives them a special platform to showcase their work along with being on the physical cover issue. In a way, it doesn't make the artist feel left out or any less than the articles written by writers. They both equally have a large platform for their works.       

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Photo from The New Yorker

​One of the main differences between the online version versus the physical copy is how the former has actual moving, interactive pictures.  The September 9, 2019 edition features a red cover with a well-dressed lady. While this obviously wouldn’t exist in the physical copy it gives an incentive to subscribers as they can also see all the archives dating back to 1925.

"T​he Reporting" section consists of highlights of various news report both local and global. "The Critics" is about personal opinions and reviews on multiple medias from individuals perspectives in their own critique. "The Talk of the Town" is about politics or controversy from both local and global news. The following section consists of with cartoons, fictions, and poems. The types range from all sorts of creative outlooks by chosen artists and authors that submit to them. 

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Catherine is an English major looking towards learning all that English has to offer and breaking free from the stereotypes of it. She says, "I am looking to become an editor of some sorts but also possibly a game writer for a video game company."