Do you love to read? Support your fellow
creative thinkers and pick up a copy of the Marooned
Fall 2015 issue! From short stories and poetry to photography and media
art, here is a glimpse of what you’ll find in this one of a kind edition:
The Fall 2015 issue of Marooned features a short story called
“Mantodea” written by the English Department’s newest assistant professor in
fiction, Matt Bell. What drew my attention to this piece was the detail
centering on the mouth: lips, eating, drinking, lipstick, which is carried
through as a theme for the story. The narrator gradually reveals why the mouth
is important: it is the slow and painful way by which he tries to commit
suicide.
The journal not only includes short
stories, but also photography submitted by students. The photograph taken by
Bryeanna Kelley entitled, “Hidden Eating Habits of a Teenage Girl” really
resonated with me because, well, I am female and was a teenager not too long
ago. The photo gives viewers a glimpse into the world of this teenage girl
through her eyes: they capture the fear of being caught gorging on barbeque. Society’s
standards make women feel ashamed if their “hidden eating habits” are exposed. Even
now that we’re well into the 21st century, women are held to the same
standard as men intellectually, as with job prospects, but there is still a
gender divide when it comes to the dos and don’ts of the public eye.
This issue also includes a captivating
piece titled, “We Were Upper Class” by Ricky Reener. It is innovatively presented
in an outline-like format that could also be read as piece of experimental
short fiction. It gives the feel that it’s the preface of an essay yet to be
written. The narrator is recollecting his life as a young man and goes through
the realization that it was privileged compared to others he knew. I encourage
you to read it!
Currently, Marooned is progressing along a new vision for it’s successive
editions by encompassing a theme, which will unify all the creative works. To
emphasize the journal’s revival, we encourage all submissions to incorporate
the theme of RE—rebirth, re-envision, restore, reclaim, etc.
Marooned
is also looking for
compositions that challenge the definition of literature, what we call
“alternative narratives” (which include video games, film, music, etc.). We
will be writing a blog series in the near future that explores the evolution of
narrative and the meaning of “literature”.
The Fall 2015 issue is now currently
available for purchase in the G. Homer Durham Language and Literature Building
room 172C for $5 (cash only). You will also be able to purchase the issue at
various locations around campus, which will be announced soon. Back issues are
on sale as well if you’re interested in seeing Marooned’s progression throughout its years in print.
We encourage those of you who are
considering submitting to Marooned to
purchase the recent issue and past issues. You will not only support the
journal’s endeavors, but also examine the type of content that we seek, though ultimately
we support the various interpretations that go along with each theme.
“Either
write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
-Benjamin
Franklin
