The Burning Block Issue 1

By Shane Eide

In this debut issue, the deeper implications of what people mean when they say 'cultural appropriation' are examined. It also introduces a series of aphorisms along with a satirical exercise in speculative politics called 'Communities.' Readers are invited to explore what culture is hiding in plain sight.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shane Eide
• Release date: Nov 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370257263

Shane Eide

Shane Eide is a part-time hermit, part-time flaneur, which means that he is either spending time on literary pursuits or taking walks and thinking about literary pursuits​. He lives in a little room walled with books and sleeps near a big desk, on which he doesn't write since all the quiet is too distracting. He usually goes someplace noisy in order to write as much about fiction as he writes fiction. He's been writing fiction since he was about 11, in which time he's written several novels that he never intends to publish and which no one will ever see, and several others that he wants to publish that he's read out loud to his gold fish. He's been writing what he supposes would be called non-fiction ever since he wrote "Shane was here," in easily erasable pencil on a desk in junior high. You can read his essays and occasional fiction at his blog, www.emergenthermit.com

Book preview

THE BURNING BLOCK

Philosophy, Politics, Literature

Issue 1

November 25, 2016

EDITOR

SHANE EIDE

©Copyright, The Burning Block Issue 1

Edition 1 Published by Shane Eide, November 25, 2016

Edition 2 Published by Shane Eide, December 17, 2016

Edited by Shane Eide

Portland Oregon

Cover image by Fred Velvet

The contents of this issue may not be republished elsewhere or redistributed by anyone but the editor, with the exception of brief excerpts for the sake of review or the endorsement or critique of ideas herein.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Letter From the Editor

Aphorisms

On Appropriate Cultural Appropriation

Communities

Reading Against Death

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Shane Eide

The Burning Block was conceived of as a magazine that would engage not only with the world as it stands today but also explore its foundations. The aim of this engagement is to begin with a topic precisely where others would be tempted to rest, or to at least ask the question which will help us over that first hill on the horizon. Satire’s perennial sting, while flavoring our varied tastes, does not enclose us within the simple perimeters of endless appeals and polemics, though we are not allergic to either appeals or polemics. One can expect pieces of writing which will act as means in themselves. It could be said that The Burning Block, not merely as a means of playfulness but certainly in that spirit too, concerns itself with that in politics which is least political, specifically, what is philosophical. Likewise, it concerns itself with that in art which is mere simulacra, sometimes unconsciously, of ideology and the currents carrying ideology into the public’s hands. The Burning Block is far from proselytizing messages for the sake of their belonging strictly to the left or to the right; much less is it concerned with pandering to one political party. We turn ourselves toward that which vitalizes, opens up and illuminates discussion on all fronts. Adventurous readers who love literature, invested discussion of the world and life itself are invited to read this issue and issues to come. It is our sincerest hope that what you find in this magazine will serve as a starting