Radical Cartographies G e n eral co n c e p t A map / poetry zine marriage Poetry that can be explored Maps don't have starts or ends Poetry that can be "hiked" as if by trails Maps as their own sort of literature Playing with the relationship between the map and the territory This idea is quite simple at heart: a small collection of poems on the reverse, which correspond directly to points on a map (portraying a real or fictional space) on the obverse. Thus, the text can be traversed in a way akin to that of a hike or another trek, with the same sort of freedom or wanderlust one might have during such a journey. The primary goal of the work here is rhizomatic poetry. Maps have no entrances, nor exits. Any point connects to any point at will. Applying this concept to poetry is easily done with more abstract experimental methods, but so far, only at the cost of a coherent voice. The secondary goal of the work is to highlight the artistic and aesthetic value of abstract spaces. In short, maps as their own sort of literature. They do not merely annotate concrete spaces, but rather develop their own abstract spaces, arranging points of interest in a logical manner. "The map is not the territory." Alternatively, this project could be viewed as an experiment in site-specific poetry. The map in this sense is used to give structure to a wider poetic piece that spans concrete territories, real or imagined. Thus particular poetic pieces are connected to physical Places in an intimate (and structurally relevant) manner through the use of a map, which can maintain its traditional relationship as merely a model or representation of a real object. P r e cursors a n d i n f l u e n c e s Deleuze & Guattari for their concept of the rhizome Radical geography Japanese tradition of suiseki This project has many influences. Of course, Deleuze & Guattari are the primary theorists of the rhizome, although their work is not of much interest to this project past that. Similar projects have been produced by Writing Maps and their associated A3 Press, though none as literal as this. Academics have been writing and publishing quite a lot regarding radical geography lately and this project is partly inspired by their work. Of course, the growing genre of hypertext literature is no small influence, though this probably does not need to be stated. I am interested in finding ways for creating interactive texts outside of the digital (or even the technological) world. Broader artistic influences include the Japanese tradition of suiseki, looking-stones, in which naturally-formed rocks are appreciated for their aesthetic qualities. Generally suiseki are prepared so that they suggest a natural landscape or landform. Suiseki are of interest because they represent the intersection between art, nature, and space, in a comparable (but dissimilar) manner. Particularly , they are interesting because the tradition treats unworked, natural geofacts as artworks. While the stones are placed in finely-worked structures, these are only intended to highlight and compliment the innate features of the stone. This project could be seen as a particularly large, elaborate suiseki, with poetry in lieu of a carved wooden pedestal. P r o ject Printed on two-sided, glossy paper Map on obverse Poetry on reverse Can be folded and unfolded As I currently plan it, the finished product will be a two-sided, glossy sheet of high-quality paper with a detailed map on the obverse, and a collection of poems on the reverse. As my design stands now, the artwork itself will be folded length-wise four times, and folded in half on the opposite side, creating 8 panels on each page. When a cut is made in the center, it could be folded like a small booklet, which could be unfolded like any other pocket map. This is subject to change based on my collaborating partner(s) and there are many different variations on the same general concept to allow for more or less content as needed. D i s tribution Distributed free-of-charge I will handle the distribution and production charges! Unless you want to, of course. This project will be provided free-of-charge. I will personally handle the production and distribution and the costs associated with producing it; unless you'd like to cover that (which would be nice.) Many copies will be provided to various distros that I have contacts with for free and open distribution. If you are opposed to this (i.e. the free part,) then I cannot work with you out of principle. I am aiming for at least 1,000 print copies in general circulation, hopefully more. Though I would like to focus on the physical aspect of the work, digital copies will be made freely-available on a number of platforms. Me I'm a poet (duh), academic, and self-styled naturalist from California. My poetry has been published in four literary magazines, and I'm chief editor at a fifth. I've presented my research at NeMLA's annual conference in Washington, DC and at the International Urban Wildlife Conference in Portland, OR. I also self-publish zines regularly, usually about topics related to anarchism but also of my poetry. I have experience using (for typesetting) and HTML + CSS.
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