Memewar - Archives

Issue #11 Fun & Games	In this issue of Memewar we have included games that define you, games that help you escape, and games that will make you laugh. Featuring an interview with Paralympic swimmer and skier Donovan Tildesley, anti-Olympic poetry by Heather McDonald, a personal account of gentrification by Erin Millar, and a look at the economics of the World of Warcraft through the eyes of Thorblood the Shaman. Also, have fun with the “Memewar: The Game” board game!

Issue #10 Adaption	In natural Darwinian fashion, this adaptation-themed issue of Memewar follows our issue on movement. First comes the change, and then the reaction to that change. Thus, each of the pieces published in this historic tenth issue explores an aspect of change, whether it is personal or emotional transformation, or collective cultural or linguistic change. Featuring work by Theresa Kishkan, Lydia Cambron, Neil Rayner, Maria Lenart, Jennifer Hardwick, and an interview with dancer Emily Molnar.

Issue #9 Mobilize	In this issue of Memewar, we tackle the topic of movement, with a particular interest in distance and displacement — a timely subject with the recent renovations to Vancouver to accommodate for population growth and the 2010 Olympics. Ruth Dato and Mercedes Eng consider the city’s physical space while questioning the changes that have been made to the city, and the changes that should be made. Also, in line with our concerns about displacement in the city, Memewar editor Carmen Papalia speaks with Cheylene Tattersall, in “R.I.P. Peanut Gallery,” about the trend of temporary illegal art spaces in Vancouver

Issue #8 Gods & Idols	In this issue, we discuss different perspectives on spirituality and religion. In the transcriptions of his sermons, Rev. Dr. Rikk Watts discusses the nature of truth, and hopes to bring spiritual experience back to rational discussion. Kevin Mcpherson Eckhoff recognizes that the narrated events of spirituality only come to us through ancient texts, in now obscure languages, and he examines this through the poetics of translation in selected verses from “The Pain Itself.” Also in this issue, Tony Power sees cloud-gods, and Rex Smallboy, of hip hop group War Party, discusses Chuck D. This leads to another influential aspect that we wished to examine: the worship of contemporary pop idols, illustrated through a collage of autographs sent to us by Memewar readers.

Issue #7 Parental Advisory	In this issue of Memewar we take a look at the borders between the public and private, the agreeable and abject, and attempt to understand the ways in which we classify. In an essay entitled “It’s Not Easy Being Obscene” Matt Hogan defends obscenity as one of the most important art forms of our time—a mode of expression that is capable of provoking what modern poetry seldom does: dialogue. Further investigating this theme, Dave Gaertner asks whether we can analyze pornographic material through an academic framework, and considers the career of Annie Sprinkle (Pornstar/PhD) for some possible answers. In “Beyond Emotion: Censorship Versus Obscenity” Kurt Beers tackles obscenity from the perspective of a law enforcement officer, suggesting that harmful obscenity does exist in the world and must be censored. Beers does recognize, however, the difficulties inherent in classifying materials as obscene and believes that it is only through intelligent conversation that a consensus on the matter can be met. Finally, Jim Deva of Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium speaks to Memewar about the lack of intelligent conversation between Canadian Border Services and the people they “serve,” and recounts the arduous court battle that came to define the bookstore as a landmark in Vancouver’s Davie Village.

Issue #6 Billable Hours	Our current team within this issue includes some of the finest business professionals in the field—a handpicked group of real artists that can tackle a topic as vast as “the workplace” and can make wonderful sense of it. For your consideration: Cecily Nicholson’s “Service” offers a stark portrait of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and documents the process of the area, its industry and displacement. Garry T. Morse imagines the future of the corporation, and prophesizes the “Ergonomicon”—a tool that will revolutionize office work forever! Kim Minkus shares her “Factory Report,” an assembly line poem that pieces together mass production, industry standards, and gender. Kristopher Fulton, a local composer (and go-getter) tells Memewar about his path towards success and the changing landscape of choral singing in Canada.

Issue #5 Heirlooms	In this issue of Memewar, our contributors illustrate a past they've created, remembered, or learned from. Rhoda Hodjati shows us the struggle of a Chipewyan woman journaling through a changing history in "Cold Post Reds." Phinder Dulai's poems are delicate and haunting reminders of where we've come from. Through an interview, we will see where Wayde Compton has been. Gloria Personne will show us that even fictional histories give us our sense of place. As soon as we printed it, this issue was history.

Issue #4 Where is My Flying Car?	This issue of Memewar is a testament to the future. It includes poetry by Matt Rader and Jami Macarty, an interview with Vancouver-based band Elias, and an essay by Thomas Vogle about Adrienne Clarkson and the future of Canadian diversity. Jonathan Sherman presents us with a futuristic short story about human interaction. The issue also features a short story on the future of advertising written by Garry T. Morse, author of Transversals for Orpheus & the untitled 1-13 (LINEbooks), and an interview with The Thin White Line, a group of filmmakers and artists who biked from BC to Central America in the name of art.

Issue #3 Tendencies	The theme: Gender. This issue features a short story from Mette Bach (regular columnist for The Vancouver Review) about pink bicycles and the tomboy next door. Also, Sean Wilson assigns an anthropology assignment about male violence, we share an email correspondence with Jason Forrest (the founder of the record label Cock Rock Disco), and at the heart of the issue is ten pages of intricate poetry by Danielle LaFrance. In addition, local up-and-coming writer McKinley M. Hellenes (Journey Prize Anthology) submits four pages of prose, Jonathan Sherman reviews Chris Robinson's Stole This from a Hockey Card, and Karen Sung lists her top five favourite picks from the most recent Vancouver International Film Festival.

Issue #2 Lip Service	This issue features a powerful long poem by Andrew Lee of In Medias Res; prose by Jim Knipfel, author of Slackjaw and former columnist for the New York Press; four poems by local heavyweight poet Matt Rader, author of Miraculous Hours; an exclusive European rendezvous with the rapidly growing band You Say Party! We Say Die!; and two analyses of the media: Amanda Ching-men Lee is caught in war-torn Lebanon and contrasts her personal experiences with the media's coverage. Also, Erin Millar, head of the Canadian University Press Association, expresses concerns about current child pornography laws and the media's hype surrounding the JonBenet Ramsey case.

Issue #1 Blindspots	This issue features the art and photography of Megan Hepburn, Erik Lyone, and Karen Sung. Ryan Flowers of In Medias Res goes on a vigilante mission to meet his hero. Undine Thompson discusses removing a massive cotton blindfold. Carmen Papalia guides us through a Halloween freakshow and explores the classification of the disabled. Also, we see the beginnings of Thor Polukoshko's comic, "Cereal Junkies".