OPEN SUBMISSIONS
Common Texts: Read Me/Write Me Open Submissions Post
A project for a class has had me thinking about common spaces, and what constitutes a common space. Where they are allowed, where they are not, how they operate, what brings people together and disperses them afterward, and how these things function. Specifically, because I am me, I started looking at how text functions, and whether or not a book -- a physical, tangible object, with weight and presence in the world -- can work as a collapsible (temporary) commons in one way or another, and what would happen if...?
I'm approaching ideas of subjectivity, the commons, and what people carry with them into spaces but would not necessarily ever share in those spaces. This is a bit of a catch, since it means getting people to share what they never would otherwise, or at least what they wouldn't say if the opportunity wasn't explicitly presented, but it's also an experiment, and so far it's had great results.
For the past few weeks I have left a book in the English department lounge, collecting submissions as people pass by, writing whatever they want to in it: questions, ideas, quotes, problems, secrets, loves, hates, desires, worries, goals, dreams, favourite poems, favourite recipes, stories, visions, anything.
The idea behind this was originally to avoid online submissions because this is an internet where confessionals and anonymity sometimes rule. Postsecret, LJSecret, FML, TFLN, these are all places where people can go, and be other than themselves, and say whatever they want. I was interested in what happens when that online community is not there, and how this book would be.
And then, today being what today is, submissions began coming in through email and Facebook nevertheless, and so I am opening this up for online submissions all around.
Comments here can be anonymous; they can be as numerous as you desire; they can reply to other comments since, in theory, this is a common space; they can say whatever you like, as long or as short as you like, and be about whatever you desire. IP logging is off. I don't mind if you're a friend who has been reading this blog for the ten years I've been blogging, or if you're here because someone pointed you to the URL.
Comments shared here will be printed off and added to the book itself; if you have a font specification, a preferred format, somewhere you want it in the book (front, back, upside down, middle, someone stapled the inside of the front page already but these things could be layered, as a heads up), whatever, just let me know and it shall be done. Colour is possible, too.
For the actual insert that's in the book itself, hit up the cut. Otherwise, participate at your whim and fancy! I present on this on December 2nd, and the critical essay is due December 12th, but I envision this continuing on into 2012 and so there is no set, absolute deadline.
If you are not comfortable commenting, I can be messaged, or emailed, or tracked down over AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Skype, GChat and Facebook.
And a great thank you to everyone who participates!
-
Read Me / Write Me
A Brief Introduction
Online confessionals have become virtual spaces of gathering and often anonymous communication. There are sites like PostSecret, where people submit what they feel are their darkest secrets, desires, or silly things they can share nowhere else, and its offshoots, like its Livejournal incarnation. Others, like FMyLife or Texts From Last Night collect anonymous stories of woe, hilarity, and encourage their users to unwind, vent, and share.
This is a little bit like that, but without the internet, and with a book.
Everyone who comes across this is encouraged to share what’s on their mind, something you might not otherwise find the opportunity to say or share. Submissions can take any form you like: poetry, prose, fiction, pen, pencil, crayon, doodles, masterpieces, chat logs. If you have a favourite poem, or quote, an opinion or idea, feel free to add it. If you have a secret or something you want to let off of your chest, feel free to add it. I’m placing no restrictions on content or the form it takes, and everyone is invited to contribute to making these pages a common space, as anonymous as you want it to be.
Share pages, or don’t; rearrange them, or don’t. Respond to what others have written, or don’t. Let a book function as a space to come together, share, and remain bound - or don’t, if that’s what you’d rather, but at least make a note of it in a corner somewhere.
A project for a class has had me thinking about common spaces, and what constitutes a common space. Where they are allowed, where they are not, how they operate, what brings people together and disperses them afterward, and how these things function. Specifically, because I am me, I started looking at how text functions, and whether or not a book -- a physical, tangible object, with weight and presence in the world -- can work as a collapsible (temporary) commons in one way or another, and what would happen if...?
I'm approaching ideas of subjectivity, the commons, and what people carry with them into spaces but would not necessarily ever share in those spaces. This is a bit of a catch, since it means getting people to share what they never would otherwise, or at least what they wouldn't say if the opportunity wasn't explicitly presented, but it's also an experiment, and so far it's had great results.
For the past few weeks I have left a book in the English department lounge, collecting submissions as people pass by, writing whatever they want to in it: questions, ideas, quotes, problems, secrets, loves, hates, desires, worries, goals, dreams, favourite poems, favourite recipes, stories, visions, anything.
The idea behind this was originally to avoid online submissions because this is an internet where confessionals and anonymity sometimes rule. Postsecret, LJSecret, FML, TFLN, these are all places where people can go, and be other than themselves, and say whatever they want. I was interested in what happens when that online community is not there, and how this book would be.
And then, today being what today is, submissions began coming in through email and Facebook nevertheless, and so I am opening this up for online submissions all around.
Comments here can be anonymous; they can be as numerous as you desire; they can reply to other comments since, in theory, this is a common space; they can say whatever you like, as long or as short as you like, and be about whatever you desire. IP logging is off. I don't mind if you're a friend who has been reading this blog for the ten years I've been blogging, or if you're here because someone pointed you to the URL.
Comments shared here will be printed off and added to the book itself; if you have a font specification, a preferred format, somewhere you want it in the book (front, back, upside down, middle, someone stapled the inside of the front page already but these things could be layered, as a heads up), whatever, just let me know and it shall be done. Colour is possible, too.
For the actual insert that's in the book itself, hit up the cut. Otherwise, participate at your whim and fancy! I present on this on December 2nd, and the critical essay is due December 12th, but I envision this continuing on into 2012 and so there is no set, absolute deadline.
If you are not comfortable commenting, I can be messaged, or emailed, or tracked down over AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Skype, GChat and Facebook.
And a great thank you to everyone who participates!
-
Read Me / Write Me
A Brief Introduction
Online confessionals have become virtual spaces of gathering and often anonymous communication. There are sites like PostSecret, where people submit what they feel are their darkest secrets, desires, or silly things they can share nowhere else, and its offshoots, like its Livejournal incarnation. Others, like FMyLife or Texts From Last Night collect anonymous stories of woe, hilarity, and encourage their users to unwind, vent, and share.
This is a little bit like that, but without the internet, and with a book.
Everyone who comes across this is encouraged to share what’s on their mind, something you might not otherwise find the opportunity to say or share. Submissions can take any form you like: poetry, prose, fiction, pen, pencil, crayon, doodles, masterpieces, chat logs. If you have a favourite poem, or quote, an opinion or idea, feel free to add it. If you have a secret or something you want to let off of your chest, feel free to add it. I’m placing no restrictions on content or the form it takes, and everyone is invited to contribute to making these pages a common space, as anonymous as you want it to be.
Share pages, or don’t; rearrange them, or don’t. Respond to what others have written, or don’t. Let a book function as a space to come together, share, and remain bound - or don’t, if that’s what you’d rather, but at least make a note of it in a corner somewhere.