The Associate of Magazine Editors recently selected the Top 40 Magazine Covers of the past 40 years.
Number 7 was this classic for National Lampoon in 1973.
Nowadays, maybe not too shocking. But then…OMG, shooting a dog just to sell magazines? But the writers and creatives behind National Lampoon were happy to push boundaries to get their point across. A couple years later, some of them would be writers and creatives for a fledgling show that would push the boundaries of TV — Saturday Night Live.
How will you push the envelope for your career, your passions, your projects? What would you be willing to risk? How will your ideas stand out?
Maybe it’s time to take a lesson from the very funny people behind very serious risk-taking stunts like shooting a dog.
PS: I once worked with the Art Director behind this cover, Dave Kaestle. He showed me what almost no one ever sees: the dog should be dead already! Check the hammer of the gun. It’s in the already-been-shot position. Dave said they couldn’t get the dog to look to his left until he heard the CLICK of the hammer going down. So, Dave & Crew already (kinda) killed the dog to earn the #7 spot of great magazine covers!
Tags: Career, leadership, Point of View