Great creative writers invent stories about thrift-store objects -- and you can buy them on eBay. A project in collaboration with Joshua Glenn.
Unconsumption blog and Wiki in progress.
Things That Look Like Other Things.
Counterfunctionality (A Gallery).
MLK BLVD: Open-source photography project: Contribute to the Flickr pool; browse the blog.
--> The Metapoll. Take it.
"Where Were You?" Annual.Yesterday somebody using the Robwalker.net contact form sent a message, and all it said was: “Read my blog.” Followed by a link.
I found this depressing. Somehow it seemed to sum up the entire state of online “dialogue” these days — a blunt demand for attention. But points for honesty, I guess.
Shouts & Murmers this week is written in the form of a note to an author from one Gineen Klein, “an intern to replace the promotion department here at Propensity Books.”
To start: Do you blog? If not, get in touch with Kris and Christopher from our online department, although at this point I think only [...]
Peddling a coinage that supposedly summarizes a trend is a stalwart promotional tactic. Today, for instance, I got a pitch that was built around this coinage: “deepre(ce)ssion.”
“There is a thin line between the play on words ‘deepre(ce)ssion’ and ‘deep recession,’” the pitch continued, going on to say that whoever these people are, they are a [...]
Is it just me, or is this pitch a bit disturbing?
Dear Rob,
In light of the recent Wal-Mart tragedy, I would like to offer a conversation with [redacted; name of consultant], who can offer tips on holiday shopping etiquette during the craziest shopping days of the year.
[Redacted] can discuss best practices consumers should consider when venturing [...]
Today’s voluminous digital PR mailbag includes a note from someone who has written to me many times — always addressing me by name — to offer me an article. Not an idea, a complete article. “Would you be interested in the 1,000 word bylined article below? …. Kindly let me know if you plan to [...]
This morning the ever-busy transom included a blast note from a PR person I don’t believe I’ve ever heard from before. It included an attachment — an article from another publication.
And it began: “The attached is worth noting, despite the fact that the reporter chose to disregard all the research [we] shared with her on” [...]
Yesterday three publicists at the same PR firm pitched me three different stories in the space of less than four hours.
All three were on the same basic theme — weight loss — and two were kind of just different versions of pitches for essentially the same client. All were clearly canned pitches, but addressed to [...]
Column appears in The New York Times Magazine. Archive here. NOTE: Consumed is on hiatus until late March. (Illo: Kate Bingaman-Burt)
The Consumed Facebook Page. [NOTE: The Facebook page is still updated & active during the hiatus.] 
Letters From New Orleans, by Rob Walker.
Introduction to Ad Nauseam: A Survivor's Guide to American Consumer Culture
Essay for OBEY: Supply & Demand - The Art of Shepard Fairey - 20th Anniversary Edition
Consumed column about Obama as muse is included in Obama: The Historic Journey.
A piece I wrote way back when for Slate is included in Sponsorship: The Fine Art Of Corporate Sponsorship/the Corporate Sponsorship Of Fine Art
Gary Hustwit's industrial design documentary Objectified.
Anne Elizabeth Moore's book, Unmarketable: Brandalism, Copyfighting, Mocketing, and the Erosion of Integrity.
Kaya Oakes' book, Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture
Elizabeth Currid's book, The Warhol Economy: How Fashion, Art, and Music Drive New York City
Kim Fellner's book Wrestling with Starbucks: Conscience, Capital, Cappuccino
. With 
