from the Editors

Dear Readers,
Most of the contributors in Apofenie’s first issue are not writers in the ‘traditional’ sense. We have no way of predicting whether this trend will continue—but we will welcome it nonetheless. Creative expression belongs neither to the MFA program nor to academia’s ivory tower. This is not to suggest that the aforementioned institutions have outlived their necessity. Indeed, all three editors of this magazine are products of them. We believe, rather, that there is an ongoing and critical need to re-establish a dialogue between the arts and the general public. Is it not too far-reaching to attribute much of the ongoing hysteria which dominates today’s headlines to a lack of engagement with both one’s interior lives and the material world?

The theme of our first issue is release. In the most traditional sense, it can be interpreted through the prism of catharsis and the Greek tragedy. Nothing remains constant. Change is at times impossible to envision, but that makes it no less of a worthwhile endeavor. The story which unfolds when one steps forth into the unknown is in itself enriched with meaning. We see this dealt with most frequently in this issue on the topic of revolution—or, rather, revolutions in the plural. Be it the streets of New Jersey or Maidan Square during Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, there are countless struggles at all levels of society that help us find some sort of equilibrium.

Apofenie is in its early stages, but we hope that our work will reflect an ongoing effort to share stories in need of an audience. In addition to this issue we have also launched a column entitled “Beyond Kundera” from our Managing Editor Andrea Goldbergerova. In the coming weeks she will share with you glimpses of contemporary Czech literature which have not yet been translated to a wider audience. By exploring the literary history of her country, and thus moving beyond its most famous export, we hope to tear down a wall which is both infirm and transparent. Our hope is that with effort, we can move past the barriers of language and culture, and arrive at a greater understanding of ourselves and the stories that we share.

Yours,

The Editors