COLUMN

From the Editor

As is the case when walking down one of the lengthy corridors within the labyrinth of darkness, you get a case of tunnel vision. Then, when you least expect it, you come upon a room that is so expansive you believe it has to be the universe as a whole. As a writer and editor for AT this is what I had experienced. I realized I was beginning to rehash old material. More articles on death, more articles on nihilism, more articles on occultism, more articles on atrocity after atrocity, and more articles on conspiracy theories. It all seemed to be revolving around just a few subjects. Sure, I know I still had vampires, blood thirst, gothdom, and fetishes to toss into the mix, but even they seemed limited, limited by my own personal knowledge.

And then, in a brief moment, or over a weekend (it is all relative) a blinding insight strikes. I am thrust into a wide expansive cavern. Suddenly I am overwhelmed with subject matter. I went to a local theater, The Music Box (pop over to their website and read about the ghost that haunts it), to see the European version of Brazil, the Terry Gilliam movie. After my two hours of pure enjoyment, the muse struck me. Or perhaps the ghost gave me inspiration. Either way, I was awakened to Dystopia. A whole genre of darkness that for some reason I was being blinded to. Call it tunnel vision. As I mulled over the idea, the wealth of ideas just from this one topic was incredible. Books and movies to be reviewed, stories to be written, articles to request, and cool new features that could be spawned all rushed around me like swarming bees.

With the scales removed from my eyes, my head filled with dystopic dreams, I continued to enjoy my weekend. Another theater, more movies Rushmore, Payback, and Reservoir Dogs and more ideas. Film noir and crime drama have been a source of darkness for many people for a very long time. Again, my mind danced with joy as I rediscovered a source of darkness that, for some reason, I had not been seeing. These discoveries have helped revitalize my interest. So many new directions to explore, to learn about.

That is what this is all about, this ‘journal of the darkness’. It is about learning about what can’t be easily seen. It is about looking into ourselves, our neighbors, our community to see the sweet ichor of darkness that lingers behind the hearts.

July’s issue was a fun one to put together. Summer is here and to be quite honest, dwelling on issue of the dark when the sun is up from 5 am to 9 pm is difficult. I want to be at the beach, cooking on a grill outside, going to the zoo, feeding ducks, hiking, camping, flying kites, lounging in the park, well, you get the idea. Sitting in my tiny apartment writing, editing, correcting my spelling, looking up grammar rules in my grammar guide, contemplating death, holocausts, conspiracies, and sacrifices makes for very depressing days. So why would this issue, developed over the first few weeks of summer, be a fun one to put together? I guess it is because I really threw myself into the work. Instead of being a passive observer of the darkness, I threw myself into the pits and wallowed. Going to clubs to hear new music (and old favorites), making an effort to see every movie out that even remotely touches on the issue of darkness, plays and poetry readings, and visits to the zoo and park. Okay the last part really doesn’t add to the schematic of darkness, but without bright sunny days eating cold chicken and drinking wine, how are we to appreciate the dark?

Within July’s issue, Dan Swensen once again graces our pages with his talent and skill. Our Technocracy Watchdog group dissects Walt Disney, the goliath of the entertainment world.  We have our usual hodge-podge of reviews collected haphazardly from the whatever can be scaped together at the last minute. Silestra's calendar has been removed due to the fact it didn't get enough page view time.

As always, we are actively seeking submissions. If you have poetry, essays, artwork, reviews, articles, or stories that deal with the dark in some fashion, or are dark in and of themselves, we would be very eager to see it. And what do you get in return? Recognition, your own little biography box with your very own links section to increase your fame, which as we all know is just one step away from fortune.

Our Watch List:

The Haunting, Eyes Wide Shut, and Legend of Sleepy Hollow.   If you have anything you want to write about any of these topics for us, we'd be much obliged.