ESSAYS, LETTERS & More
36 Answers to Questions That Generate Interpersonal Closeness Between Strangers
Grounded in research developed by psychologist Arthur Aron (et alia) on how meaningful inter-personal relationships are formed, kevin mcpherson eckhoff’s 36 Answers… blends conceptual and confessional writing practices to gently complicate the poetics of intimacy. Both prose poem and essayistic memoir, eckhoff’s responses to the “36 Love Questions” meditate on the entanglement of love and one’s personal narrative. The Blasted Tree has produced a limited edition of fifty chapbooks printed on white linen paper and hand-bound with gold thread into dark olive green linen cardstock covers, available now in our online store.
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NOTES ON The Sign of Poetry
Journal excerpts + Image Gallery
by Sacha Archer
A multi-media exploration of the limits of poetry and legibility, Sacha Archer continues to push boundaries with this collection of astounding poetry, journal excerpts, and supplementary material. In addition to these digital notes and drawings, we have produced a series of broadsides featuring selections from Archer's experimental visual poetry and his addendum to the work. 50 limited-edition sets of broadsides were produced, now sold out from The Blasted Tree Store.
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A Brief Essay Against All Murder, And the Death Penalty
This provocative essay is more than a well-reasoned attack on murder and all forms of capital punishment, more than a sophisticated and artful piece of experimental writing, and more than a thorough examination of justice, truth, and guilt. With uncommon depth and skill, Gavin combines these elements into an erudite celebration of language, both challenging and accessible, amounting to a brilliant and highly creative work of philosophical nonfiction.
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Feminist Perspectives
by Fogel, May G N, Martonfi, Keeler, Neily, and Raaymakers
A six-part celebration and examination of the many-faceted movement that is contemporary feminism. Loosely labelled creative non-fiction, this online series collects writings from a diverse group of self-identifying feminists, from autobiographical poetry to critical theory, personal anecdotes and public calls to action. Co-edited and forwarded by Bea Keeler, Feminist Perspectives was published in weekly installments from March 30th to May 4th, 2016.
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Entheogens and the mind of society
Two-part essay addressing the prohibition of psychedelics in connection to the yoking of modern minds. Jesso makes an impassioned and compelling argument for the freedom to explore one’s consciousness through the use of entheogens. The complete Entheogens and the Mind of Society is no longer available in print from The Blasted Tree Store, but you can still read both parts of the essay online.
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On State Surveillance
by Kyle Flemmer
Selected from an ongoing dialogue about authoritarian systems of control and how they relate to the current political landscape in Canada. This letter responds to a friend's interest in the ideas raised by George Orwell's classic novel, 1984, and to a public lecture on state surveillance by Glenn Greenwald offered at Concordia University, October 24th, 2014.
READ ON STATE SURVEILLANCE
The Blasted Tree is now accepting the submission of digital poetry of any kind created from unique and provocative perspectives. We like the strange and surreal, the out-of-the-box type art that tests our sensibilities. Surprise us! The Blasted Tree is looking to take digital literature into previously unexplored directions. Are you in need a digital distribution platform for your experimental artwork? Do you employ digital tools in some new and exciting direction? Send your work to The Blasted Tree for consideration - we need material from all walks of life to make into unique digital media.
PLEASE NOTE: The Blasted Tree is not accepting book-length manuscripts for consideration at this time.
Please query theblastedtree@gmail.com with a description and/or sample of your work.
Non-Fiction
Critical participation in the discussion of global ideas is central to foraging new and innovative paths in a challenging future. The Blasted Tree compiles unique, exploratory essays and open letters on a variety of issues - from the marginal to the monolithic - and reviews culturally-relevant media from engaging and critical perspectives. You can find some of our nonfiction in The Blasted Tree Store. Interviews and reviews can be found HERE.