by Southerly
This issue of Southerly explores some emerging ethical implications of writing.
The two perspectives we wish to address are:
1) Words as a life-giving or life-taking tool: arguably the most powerful weapon we possess, language, is a reflection of our own attitude to ourselves and the rest of the world. Writing in/for the public domain, its potential impact on the readership and the ethical implications thereof compel us to constantly examine our views and language choices.
2) Writing as a moral outlet: does writing induce or supplant action in ‘real’ life?
Given the pressing ecological crisis, threatening the survival and wellbeing of humans and the rest of the natural world, the increasing evidence of human-nonhuman animal cognitive and affective comparability, and the recurrent dismissal of both in literature, we ask potential contributors to ponder points such as the following:
- ‘naturalism’ and the revolt of nature
- Writing and climate change
- Writing and the ethics of sentience
- Writing from the other: taking the nonhuman animal’s perspective
- Writing and cognitive dissonance/doubling
- Beauty and the beast – writing and the ethics of language choice
Please bear in mind that Southerly is primarily a journal of Australian literature and new Australian writing. Essays and articles primarily of a non-literary nature will not be considered.
For this issue we have a particular interest in stories and poetry concerning nonhuman animals and our relations to/with them.
Submissions of poetry, short fiction and non-fiction (essays) are welcome. Southerly will consider submissions of up to 5,000 words. The optimum length for essay submissions is 4,000 words. Further submission guidelines can be found here. Please consult these guidelines before contributing.
No comments:
Post a Comment