Saturday, January 26th (8 p.m. – 1 a.m.), join the creators, contributors, friends, and fans of nontraditional literary journal, The Point, as they celebrate the release of Issue 6. Saturday’s promotional event at High Concept Laboratories (1401 W. Wabansia Ave.)--with an expected turnout in the hundreds--is set to include a lineup of DJs, jazz, and hip hop including performances from Chicago's own Rebel Alliance. An RSVP is required for entry as well as a $5 suggested donation or discounted $10 magazine purchase at the door.
The Point is a Chicago-based literary journal known for appealing to the intellectual reader. Without the grueling nature of traditional academic texts, the publication applies the same amount of critical thinking to today’s issues through a more accessible style of writing. For an example, take a look at Jonny Thakkar’s essay, “Socialism We Can Believe In.”
In an interview with Hadley Catalano of The Review Review, co-editor Jon Baskin offers a thorough look at the journal’s content. Baskin describes its essays as addressing a problem encountered with a reflection on the author’s own understanding of the issue as well as how it has been interpreted by fellow thinkers. Often mislabeled by association as a left-wing publication, The Point avoids “a distinctive political position or literary bias” in an attempt to prevent “intellectual dishonesty, where it is claimed that an issue is being looked at objectively but in fact the editors of [such magazines] are only open to a relatively small range of arguments about that issue.”
Within its first five issues, The Point has had one article win a Pushcart Prize with four others receiving “Special Mentions,” two essays named “Notable Essays” by Best American Essays, and received acclaim from New Yorker James Wood for being "one place where the essay form is thriving in America." Editors Jonny Thakkar, Jon Baskin, and Etay Zwick—attendees of University of Chicago’s Committee on Social Thought graduate program—are particularly optimistic about their latest release:
Issue 6 is one of our best yet. Highlights include Ben Jeffery's critical reflections on Simon Reynolds's Retromania and pop music's obsession with its own past (soon to be complemented by a web interview with Reynolds); Jonny Thakkar's exploration of what might make a workable contemporary socialism; Emilie Shumway on her twenty-first century job search; and Jacob Mikanowski on Mad Men's depiction of history. Also, a special presentation by Luc Sante on crime scene photography, Justin Evans's political addendum to the Dictionary of Received Ideas, and a truly remarkable story from Charles Comey about sickness and nutrition. Then there's our symposium on animals—What are animals for?—which features contributions from Gary Francione, Christine Korsgaard and Alice Crary, among others.
The editors invite even those who have yet to experience The Point to Saturday's promotional event for a "good time with live music and great conversation among artistically and intellectually inclined Chicagoans." Don't forget to RSVP!
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