Internship: Theme

by Alena Cason

It all began with a call. From Hank. At 8:30 in the morning. Usually a terrifying thought. This time, though, he had a lead for me on an internship at Theme Magazine in New York’s Lower East Side neighborhood. The magazine is technically a lifestyle publication, with a bent for “global Asian contemporary culture.”

I checked out the website, picked up a copy from the local stand, and instantly fell in love. It’s a smart read; John Lee and Jiae Kim even make the surface-y cultural content, such as fashion or hip-hop, into something substantial. It’s also a fun read; they never let things get too serious, even when the subject is incredibly brainy design.

To my own surprise, I managed to put together a mini-book in the span of about 8 hours and have it mailed out that night. As the weekend folded, I got a response. I had gotten in. Which means. I had. to pack. everything. in three days.

Again to my surprise, I got packed and up to NYC just on time. Seriously, with seconds to spare: I found my way to the office, after being lost on the F train and opting to walk the twenty-odd blocks instead. And just so you know, twenty-odd blocks is far.

I got to the office, sweaty, swollen, and ready to find my little intern’s desk in the closet and start proofreading. Within minutes, I found out that I would not be in a dark closet with a red pen and a stack of paper. I would actually be generating the content: stories, reviews, cover copy, titles, and so on.

Don’t get me wrong, though, there is a bit of errand-running, but it’s actually fun. The week before we shot a fashion story, I was charged with driving—DRIVING— around Manhattan to pick up the items for the shoot. I drove in Times Square. And proud of it.

This internship is like no other internship I’ve ever heard of. My work is internationally published; my name is in the byline. Holy crap. So far, I’ve written pieces on MUJI’s Kenya Hara; the new Cobain documentary, “About a Son;” and a fun little story about dogs that look like their owners.

Right now, Issue 12, the “I Want” holiday issue, is going to press and is due to hit the shelves in December, which means long, but rewarding hours. I saw the final proof for the first time yesterday, and I have to admit, it’s a pretty amazing feeling. We’ve also started on Issue 13, the “Rebel/Rebel” Issue, which hits in the spring. Don’t leave me hangin’. Go grab one!