I am not a frequent reader of literary journals, I must admit. But when I heard about the "controversy" at Guernica I sought out the Joan Chen essay. It is a beautifully written piece that captures what this moment in history means to so many of us. That Guernica would tear her out, and then down, for it defies rational thought. And do the editors of Guernica honestly not know the correct meaning of the word "colonialist?" Because they have used it incorrectly more than once in their criticisms.
I mean, you're a trailblazer who busted into traditional publishing by sheer force of will. So yeah, they really can't touch you, you've been where they want to send you so - do your worst, people who work at a magazine that depends on exploiting the free labor of volunteers because it's too shitty to be sustainable. What did you resign from? Your internship?
I honestly think the majority of people who read journals like Guernica are just people hoping to get published in Guernica. Seriously, I was like "why and how is a painting condemning anybody. Did someone ask the horse?"
I could give a shit about their precious posturing except that goddamn, the piece they condemned is so beautiful! I sent it to my boss, who has been processing this shit with me in true social-worker fashion, saying "I'm politically exactly where this woman is, and it's still not enough. I'm telling you, they won't be happy till we all jump like lemmings into the mediterranean." (Yes, I know the lemmings thing is a myth. No, I don't have the energy to come up with a better analogy at this moment.)
I'm rambling. I've been in a bit of a state since I read about this yesterday. I'm running at sort of a high rate of stress as it is, what with school and kids and all, and seeing the article about this made me dizzy and nauseous and I actually had to go recline on a fainting chair (fine, my bed) because it was all. too. much.
Today I installed a browser blocker and moved around some folders on my phone to make it near impossible to get to my socials. I'm much less fragile.
Anyway, reading this makes me feel like I'm checking in with my bretheren, like I'm touching a cool smooth stone to regulate myself. I'm so grateful. Lets be Jewy. Let's Jew it up.
It’s painful to read how disgusting these so called intellectual voices are and how they just throw around words like ‘genocidal’ for fun. But you are correct to write these. They look like the bottom feeding scum that they are. And bravo for your fearlessness. The stuff truly is batshit crazy.
I see things like what happened with Guernica and I just feel that the world has gone mad. The cognitive dissonance is so loud and my mind still struggles to truly accept and understand the shape and scope of the Jew-hatred that has been revealed since October 7th. Educated, progressive people, gleefully jumping on this bandwagon. It defies comprehension.
I’ve found that the writers who are in the “in crowd” of publishing are not the better writers anyway. Good writing is in nuance. Not in sucking up to the group thinkers. I stopped caring about popularity a few years ago because the ones who rise to the top there are mostly group thinkers who suck up to one another in order to virally tweet. Give me brave any day over sycophantic mediocrity.
I am not a frequent reader of literary journals, I must admit. But when I heard about the "controversy" at Guernica I sought out the Joan Chen essay. It is a beautifully written piece that captures what this moment in history means to so many of us. That Guernica would tear her out, and then down, for it defies rational thought. And do the editors of Guernica honestly not know the correct meaning of the word "colonialist?" Because they have used it incorrectly more than once in their criticisms.
I mean, you're a trailblazer who busted into traditional publishing by sheer force of will. So yeah, they really can't touch you, you've been where they want to send you so - do your worst, people who work at a magazine that depends on exploiting the free labor of volunteers because it's too shitty to be sustainable. What did you resign from? Your internship?
I honestly think the majority of people who read journals like Guernica are just people hoping to get published in Guernica. Seriously, I was like "why and how is a painting condemning anybody. Did someone ask the horse?"
I could give a shit about their precious posturing except that goddamn, the piece they condemned is so beautiful! I sent it to my boss, who has been processing this shit with me in true social-worker fashion, saying "I'm politically exactly where this woman is, and it's still not enough. I'm telling you, they won't be happy till we all jump like lemmings into the mediterranean." (Yes, I know the lemmings thing is a myth. No, I don't have the energy to come up with a better analogy at this moment.)
I'm rambling. I've been in a bit of a state since I read about this yesterday. I'm running at sort of a high rate of stress as it is, what with school and kids and all, and seeing the article about this made me dizzy and nauseous and I actually had to go recline on a fainting chair (fine, my bed) because it was all. too. much.
Today I installed a browser blocker and moved around some folders on my phone to make it near impossible to get to my socials. I'm much less fragile.
Anyway, reading this makes me feel like I'm checking in with my bretheren, like I'm touching a cool smooth stone to regulate myself. I'm so grateful. Lets be Jewy. Let's Jew it up.
Ah, Amy, you give me life. ❤️
It’s painful to read how disgusting these so called intellectual voices are and how they just throw around words like ‘genocidal’ for fun. But you are correct to write these. They look like the bottom feeding scum that they are. And bravo for your fearlessness. The stuff truly is batshit crazy.
I see things like what happened with Guernica and I just feel that the world has gone mad. The cognitive dissonance is so loud and my mind still struggles to truly accept and understand the shape and scope of the Jew-hatred that has been revealed since October 7th. Educated, progressive people, gleefully jumping on this bandwagon. It defies comprehension.
I’ve found that the writers who are in the “in crowd” of publishing are not the better writers anyway. Good writing is in nuance. Not in sucking up to the group thinkers. I stopped caring about popularity a few years ago because the ones who rise to the top there are mostly group thinkers who suck up to one another in order to virally tweet. Give me brave any day over sycophantic mediocrity.
I just want to thank you for your courage. For your voice. For being there.
Batshit - that is the exact right word for this. Thanks for your words, Elissa. Chazak v’amatz!
p.s. hey, have a fulsome day.
You can fulsome of the people some of the time... ;-)
eh, you fulsome, you feelsome.