> I do not suggest that Montreal’s literary scene and the many works it publishes are above criticism. The mastheads for most journals are overwhelmingly white. Most events lack a function of accessibility for vulnerable community members. There is, to my knowledge, no journal dedicated entirely to Indigenous voices, nor one singularly dedicated to Black voices, immigrant voices, nor to writers living with disabilities. There are frustratingly too few professional opportunities for writers. These are all gaps that ought to be criticized and addressed.
Maybe Discordia should write a piece about how there aren't enough handicapped writers, and *something* should be done about that. We've all seen Misery, right?
It also tickled me because, as far as I know, I'm the only Indigenous editor-in-chief of any magazine in town. That and, in the grand scheme of things, the writers we put out have been rather diverse in spite of us having no diversity mandate.
I also don't generally approve of "professional opportunities" in writing. Grants for art production? Sure. But jobs? While it sounds nice on paper, imo it just breeds careerism, which ultimately can do nothing other than kill art. And is already a bad enough problem in the scene we're talking about!
Every writer in this city must be drafted into mandatory kitchen service at one of the billion restaurants here for three years before they are allowed to publish
From the "Nobody asked for this" response:
> I do not suggest that Montreal’s literary scene and the many works it publishes are above criticism. The mastheads for most journals are overwhelmingly white. Most events lack a function of accessibility for vulnerable community members. There is, to my knowledge, no journal dedicated entirely to Indigenous voices, nor one singularly dedicated to Black voices, immigrant voices, nor to writers living with disabilities. There are frustratingly too few professional opportunities for writers. These are all gaps that ought to be criticized and addressed.
Maybe Discordia should write a piece about how there aren't enough handicapped writers, and *something* should be done about that. We've all seen Misery, right?
Genuine lol.
It also tickled me because, as far as I know, I'm the only Indigenous editor-in-chief of any magazine in town. That and, in the grand scheme of things, the writers we put out have been rather diverse in spite of us having no diversity mandate.
I also don't generally approve of "professional opportunities" in writing. Grants for art production? Sure. But jobs? While it sounds nice on paper, imo it just breeds careerism, which ultimately can do nothing other than kill art. And is already a bad enough problem in the scene we're talking about!
Every writer in this city must be drafted into mandatory kitchen service at one of the billion restaurants here for three years before they are allowed to publish