Cirrus@Austlit

'Issue 27 Transitions: Ecopoetics from the Global South arrives at a time of uncertainty—which is perhaps a cliché to say now— but also at the titular time of transitions. Extremely rapidly, the earth and our climates are changing and we are adapting the way we live in order to sustain life. As writers and creators, we are attempting to make sense of these transitions, to deconstruct our human damages, to imagine futures, and discern meaning and hold a lens to the current and the past. This collection of ecopoetry,  fiction and nonfiction offers fresh insights on climate and environmental discourse from across Australia and the global south. ' (Publication introduction)

'We are thrilled to launch our first issue as Mascara’s new team, after almost one year since our last issue ‘Covid Contingencies’. It has been difficult to keep track of time amidst all the challenges we are facing in our communities on a local, national and international level. These challenges that have permeated our lives, our screens, our minds and our writing.' (Anthea Yang & Monique Nair : Editorial introduction)

There has been quite a hiatus since our last issue of Mascara. While changes in our editorial staff may have contributed, primarily this reflects the trauma that comes from being targeted for our literary activism. In regressive times, the naming of ‘whiteness’ or ‘class’ is acutely threatening to the perceived entitlements and fatigued legacies of privilege. But it has also been a time of change, of dissent and solidarity for the values we cherish: equality, endurance, cultural respect. (Michelle D’Souza, Editorial introduction)

'Our special China Transnational issue of Mascara found inspiration after last year’s conference of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature in Melbourne, ‘Looking In, Looking Out: China and Australia’, a colloquy that was enriched by the presence of the esteemed translator, Li Yao, as well as Chinese post-graduate students. It was apparent, however, that Australian Studies in China is often framed from the perspective of industry, institutions and dual nationalisms. This opened up a space that felt necessary for creative contributions from the Chinese diaspora, from the voices of experimentalism, political struggle, human rights activism; and from the border homelands as China maps out new geostrategic objectives.' (Michelle Cahill and Nicholas Jose : Editorial introduction)

'Over the years Mascara has published writers of distinction who cross genre and culture boundaries often with unique affinities. We have also been tasked to advocate for the cultural interests and cultural access of non-white writers in Australia. In 2012, we approached The Australian Centre at the University of Melbourne requesting that they establish a special prize or a fellowship for migrant or refugee literature since the lack of such encouragement, particularly for non-European migrants, is glaringly apparent. Conversations ensued with sporadic enthusiasm but were not followed up. Ultimately, our correspondence was dismissed by the bureaucracy of that powerful institution.' (Michelle Cahill , Editorial introduction)

'I’m very pleased that #UNFUNDED Issue 20 has arrived to celebrate a decade of Mascara.

'My thanks to all our contributors to the journal and to our editors, especially Jo Langdon and our intern, Zachary Ward.

'We remain grateful to the Australia Council and to the writing community for their strong support, past and present in social media and for our activism.

We are seeing new literary journals such as The Suburban Review, Pencilled-In and platforms such as Feminartsy emerge to support writers in the margins, suggesting the continuity of discourses necessary to sustain and foster diversity.

'A serious editorial is to follow here soon; meantime, we hope you enjoy some of the excellent work in these pages ….

Michelle Cahill

Editor

April 2017

(Editorial)