|
 |
||
Introduction
This issue of STANDARDS is dedicated to women around the world -- women who struggle, who sacrifice, who battle, who endure. And, with deepest sorrow, to those who come undone in the process. While preparing this issue on the theme of "Revolutions," I had to consider not only which topics seem most revolutionary in contemporary cultural studies, but which arenas are most notably missing from the swell of necessary change. I thought first about leadership. Role models. The types of people for whom I sustain a personal admiration. The first name that came to mind was that of Johnnie Tillmon. I considered what she'd accomplished in her lifetime, and the grace and cryptic wit with which she handled her work. Thus, a Tribute to the Life and Works of Johnnie Tillmon is the central feature of this issue. Still, while Tillmon labored steadfastly to heighten awareness of the many issues surrounding poverty in the United States -- and while many still struggle to carry on this work -- we in the U.S. are not even close to an equitable solution to ending homelessness and hunger. On a larger scale, poverty is doubtless one of the central concerns of worldwide populations. And, everywhere, it's an issue predominantly affecting women and children. Like Johnnie Tillmon (or, perhaps because of her), I have always framed issues of political power and deprivation in feminist terms. Which brought me to consider the current state of international women's rights: there is still so much to lose. And so much to be gained. In addition to poverty, violence against women continues to be one of the most prevalent barriers to human rights around the world. Perhaps it is true that those who live in comfort do not seek revolution, do not feel pushed to sacrifice more even when there is so little to give: time, energy, resources. Still, there are those who feel they must stand up and be counted, who represent themselves and others against odds, against backlash, no matter the cost. And "comfort," like so many concepts in cultural studies, is a relative term. In this issue, we offer considerations of the current struggles of the WWII "comfort women"; we posit a query regarding Thailand's willingness to allow refugee status to the "long-necked women" of the Padaung tribe, in exchange for being displayed as tourist attractions; and we've included a section called "Beyond Comfort," bringing attention to the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide. Like the rallying cry for feminist activists in recent decades, we recognize that women are still not safe in the "comfort" of their own homes. Poet Amira Nuha evokes this sense of betrayal in her "Women's Places," reminding us that even in the court systems, we continue to find "a women's burial ground." In Jen Grace's "Warrior Marks," the author ponders the significance of revolutionizing the ways in which we perceive the female body. "I can look at myself naked in the mirror and see who I really am. And not flinch," Grace writes. "As I heal, I replace the old warrior marks with new ones..." This sensibility of revolution through shifting perceptions of the self also obtains in the poetry of Abou Farman-Farmaian and Rich Furman; in the meaty poem cycle by Steven Fullwood; EA Lynch's stunning "Plaid"; and, perhaps most subtly, in David Lawlor's short story, "Being with Richard." Of course, few living authors catalyze our views of personal and social politics through shifting perceptions with more attention to craft and creativity than leading U.S. poet Ai. We are proud to present our interview with Ai in this issue of STANDARDS. The politics of the self expand and volatilize to render charged analyses of government, in Amira Nuha's "HuTutsi Waltz"; EA Lynch's "Percussive"; and Manning Marable's "Stealing the Election: The Compromises of 1876 and 2000." Here, too, are considerations of cross-cultural dynamics: between racial and ethnic groups; within families; amongst interpersonal relations, social expectations, cynicism, and sorrow. These are richly presented in the poetry of Samantha Coerbell, Noema Ioffe, Esteban A. Martinez, and Steve Redmond. Kim Jensen offers two related and wonderfully innovative short stories, in "Promises of the Storm" and "If I Were to Tell The Story." Culture, environment and family collide, blur, and refresh in Linda Spiegler's "Dams" and "Mame Loshn"; John Young brings his formidable intensity and calloused tenderness to our pages in four pieces of short fiction, while Ellen Orleans gives us a sample of her powerful novel, The Replacement Daughter. We are also proud to present a gallery of sculptureworks by Augie N'Kele, from his Forgotten Heritage series, along with new paintings and photography from the multi-talented and prolific Julian Samuel. Rounding out this section is Ouyang Yu's contemplation on "Multicultural Poetry as Unwritten in China," an essay that also focuses on the place of Chinese poetry in Australia. This year, the STANDARDS' Best of the Small Presses Award goes to New Victoria Press, for titles including LaShonda K. Barnett's Callaloo & Other Lesbian Love Tales; Tee A. Corinne's erotic collection of fiction, poetry and photo art, called Dreams of the Woman Who Loved Sex; the strong first novel, Do Drums Beat There, by Doe Tabor; Circles of Power: Shifting Dynamics in a Lesbian-Centered Community, edited by LaVerne Gagehabib and Barbara Summerhawk; the impressive collection, Queer Japan, also edited by Barbara Summerhawk (et al.); and the compelling tribute to the life and works of poet/activist Michiyo Fukaya, A Fire is Burning, It Is In Me, edited by Gwendolyn L. Shervington. A fire is burning, yes. And Gil Scott-Heron had it right: the revolution will not be televised. Turn, instead, to literature, to voice, to community. To each other. It's time.
Canéla Analucinda Jaramillo |
||