Vol. 2, Issue 4: Thinking Attraction
The Asexual Vol. 2, Issue 4
Lead Editor: Michael Paramo
Editorial Board: Ai Baba (@not_alibaba), Katie Halinski (@Liminalitea), Emma Hutson (@Hemmanony), Sydney Khoo (@sydneykerosene)
Contributors: Sid Wight, A Ashley, Manos Bazanis, LG, Evelyn Benvie, Claire, Krista, Erin Watt, Ebun Soneye, Daniela Fois, Deramin, Michael Paramo, Calyssa Erb, Aria Pahari, Jason Gurevitch, Hannah Trammell, Bea, Elizabeth, Paula Puolakka, Paulina Gazda, Andrea Wold Johansen, Cat Cotsell, Ruth, Madeline Wierzal, and Daniela Illing
Cover Artwork: “Gravitational Pull” by Daniela Illing (@zeichenleere)
Article Artwork: “stasis” by Michael Paramo (@mxparamo.art), “Gravitational Pull” by Daniela Illing, and 24 photographs by Michael Paramo
Publication Date: February 10th, 2019
Attraction can represent forms of feeling and being which may, at times, be difficult to comprehend and express. What is attraction? What does it mean to be attracted to someone? What are the assumptions which accompany it? To think attraction is to interrogate societal norms related to its construction as a concept and examine how ideas of the “natural” and “unnatural” attached to it apply to our lives.
Given the focus of The Asexual journal, the following personal essays, poems, visual artwork, and more largely grapple with this subject of attraction through an asexual and aromantic lens. Several authors describe how existing outside of the boundaries which define the norms of attraction affects how they navigate their lives and relationships, while others deconstruct these ideas in a more conceptual or abstract respect.
I created this issue theme with the intention of providing a space for extending the discourse on attraction — a subject which deserves and requires much more attention — particularly in manners which do not prioritize sex and romance. I hope the following collection of works prove to be fruitful in encouraging a (re)thinking of attraction from under-recognized perspectives while also illuminating the many wonderful authors who created its contents.
Editorial Board
Ai Baba (she/they) is an aroace agender person, who is currently writing a dissertation on how to include into history those who have been marginalized, excluded, and/or forgotten from history, proposing the inclusion of asexuality in historical analyses. Ai currently volunteers for the Asexual Census Survey Team and also runs “ace to ace” to connect those who identify as ace in Japan (http://ace2ace121.wordpress.com). Twitter: @not_alibaba
Katie Halinski is a non-binary grey-asexual from London. They are currently doing a PhD in Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic at the University of Cambridge, where they are researching human-bird interactions and bird symbolism in Old Norse culture. In their spare time, they enjoy playing bass guitar and watching films (the stranger the better). They can be found on Twitter as @Liminalitea, where they mostly post about kaiju, cats, the stranger parts of medieval culture, and mental health.
Emma Hutson is currently completing a PhD on trans literature at Sheffield Hallam University. She has work published in C Word: An anthology of writing from Cardiff, Severine Literary and Art Journal, CrabFat Magazine, the Harpoon Review and The Asexual journal. Her short story ‘Footsteps’ came second place in Sheffield Authors’ Off The Shelf short story competition. She is available on Twitter @hemmanony
sydney khoo is a non-binary and queer writer, born in new south wales, australia to malaysian-chinese parents. though typically located crying in starbucks or tweeting in mcdonalds, they can occasionally be found posting creative essays and short stories online. follow them on twitter @sydneykerosene
Supporters
Volume 2, Issue 4
The Asexual is an independent journal which relies on donations of $1.00 or more per month via Patreon. Without this support from our patrons, this journal would not be possible. Supporters of The Asexual journal currently donating $5.00 or more per month:
Akilah Thomas
Alex Stabler
Alexandra Bowers-Mason
Andrea Berman
ANNE HAWLEY
Annie Robertson
Bethany King
Brittainy Brown
Camille Theron
Ceili Sauer
Chris Pasillas
Christian
Courtney Boucher
Damianne Abel
Daniela Illing
David Allen
David Jay
Duke Lambert
Dylan Morris
Florian Freyss
Floydiana
Heidi Samuelson
Helen Doremus
Jacob Irving
Jennifer Smart
Jessica Shea
Joe Kort
Julia
Julie Rozen
Kaitlyn Mahoney
Kate Gilbert
Katie Frey
KatieC
Kianna Carter
Kiya
Kristina Weber
Kyle Lindsey
Lindsey Petrucci
M. D. Hooks
Madeline Askew
Mary Bielenberg
Mat Jarosz
Rane Wallin
Robin Taylor
Samantha L
Sarah Lister
Scott Peterson
Sety
Tawny Case
Vari Robinson
virdant
Walter Mastelaro Neto
