THE WILD PANSY PRESS
BRITISH BOOK OF VIOLENCE
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Britain has a long and distinguished history of violence - in this we are like any other nation; however, it has been argued that we inflict it on ourselves and on others with particular enthusiasm and efficiency.
The way this history is manifested is specific, violence being part of our national identity. The British brand of violence informs our art, our humour our politics, our sexual habits and our social identities. Its present threat underwrites political and social hegemonies and haunts our dreams; we laugh with relief at our escape when it is inflicted on someone else; we turn it inwards on ourselves in spectacular cycles of addiction, abuse and self-hatred. Our artists and writers inflict violence on materials, ideas and language (and sometimes on themselves) as an intrinsic part of the creative process.
What are the particular forms in which our national history of violence is manifested through language and culture?
WPP invites artists’ and writers‘ initial outline responses to the idea of British Violence - historical, political, sexual, ritual, comical, subliminal, practical, institutional... we would particularly welcome material from non-british contributors either resident or offering a view from “outside”.
WPP will work with the selected contributors to produce work to be included in the second of an ongoing series of themed group publications in which the editors at WPP act as curators and animateurs to develop publications which extend and confound the usual notions of the book.
We are looking for: visuals of all kinds, instructional projects, games, short texts of any kind (notional maximum 2000 words) - works of fiction, fact or any combination of the two. We need to receive proposals and expressions of interest by September 30th 2010, with a view to completion by December 30th and publication in early 2011.
Contact: Email: Wild Pansy Press
(Photo Nick Hider)