You’re reading this having come across the link while scrolling through twitter. You’re reading this having come across the link a couple of times on facebook. You’re reading this because someone sent you the link and the notification flashed up when you were in the middle of reading an email from someone else. You’re reading this because you happened across the Something Other site while looking for something else. You’re reading this when you’re supposed to be writing a job application. You’re reading this when you’re supposed to be writing a text that was due two days ago. You’re reading this at the same time as watching TV. This is one of eight tabs open in your browser. This is one of 108 tabs open on your phone. This is a distraction from the tabs discussing climate catastrophe. This is a distraction from the tabs discussing white supremacy, migrancy, black lives matter. This is a distraction away from the political distractions that have governed the last five-ten years. This is a distraction from distraction itself as a deviant authoritarian power grip. This is a distraction from the tabs which link to books you haven’t read yet. This is a distraction from tabs which link to articles you haven’t read yet. This is a distraction from all the distracting matter such as recipes, cat memes, the perfect winter jumper. This is a call out for the Eleventh Chapter of Something Other: On Distraction.
For this chapter we turn to Distractions as a way of embracing a different politics of attention. We invite contributions of writing (poetry, short fiction, non-fiction, hybrid texts …), reading (reading lists, reading ambitions, un-reading lists … ), images (photographs, memes, cartoons) and other somethings that fit the theme.
Submissions
Previous chapters have taken two forms: the published chapter, preceded by a live performance or a listening event online. Given the ongoing uncertainty arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, we don’t currently know what form the event for Chapter Eleven: On Distractions might take, and very much welcome suggestions.
Submission guidelines for online publication can be read here.
https://somethingother.blog/editorialpolicy/
We invite you to think of this as an opportunity to present work-in-process, to experiment, and to play. Have a look at our previous chapters to see the range of forms this has already taken. We are always open to something new.
The deadline for this call out is 4th March 2022.
Something Other 