Soundboard: Arthur magazine founder verbally trashes L.A.

Longtime Los Angeles-based arts and music magazine Arthur surprised readers earlier this month by abruptly packing its bags and moving to Brooklyn. The magazine's founder Jay Babock began publicly burning his bridges in an interview posted yesterday on the Guide's Soundboard blog. Babock called the L.A. public "dumbed down and poorly educated," and said the city is a "psychic death hole."

Many readers did not take the criticisms lightly, with 73 comments on the blog, but a few chimed in to support Babock's claims.

Samantha G. said good riddance:

With this guy’s hipster higher-than-thou attitude, please do leave our city.

Matt wrote:

I don’t know this guy but I like him. He has a higher than thou attitude that reminds me of Arthur Miller. And what exactly is wrong with that?

Seth Messinger wrote:

I lived in NYC for 12 years and now teach at a university near Baltimore. If I could find the job I want I’d take this guy’s place in a minute. Everything he says about LA is true for NYC and he’s trafficking in stupid cliched cultural criticism.

Ike wrote:

Not that Babcock’s wrong, but his so-called insight into culturelessness in Los Angeles is totally unoriginal and not worthy of the paper — or web space — it’s printed on. Why not find an actual original thinker to profile?

Dyno expects Babock will soon come crawling back:

People are always running from LA. to NYC. and back to LA. Maybe a short stint in Miami too. All searching for the secret to success and happiness. Short answer, success and happiness are not found in a place but a state of mind.

Steve took Babock's statements lightly:

hilarious! his “comments” are a little cliche, but still a good parody nonetheless.

Are Babock's criticisms on the mark or off the deep end? Let us know in the comments.

-- Mark Milian

Photo credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Eric Stratton]

listen people... you can't hold a whole magazine responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals (Jay Babcock). For if you do, then shouldn't we blame our entire Publishing system? And if the whole Publishing system is guilty, then isn't this an indictment of our entrepreneurial institutions in general? I put it to you, Jay Babcock - isn't this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can say whatever you want about LA Jay, but we're not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America. Gentlemen!
(everyone please hum the Star-Spangled Banner]