ISSUE NINE: FRAGMENTS

After a term of workshops and exciting new collaborations with Palatinate’s Indigo Creative Writing Society and Purple Radio, From the Lighthouse brings you our ninth issue inspired by the theme of FRAGMENTS. The team felt this theme spoke to our current literary and political environment, with fragmented form being the hallmark of modernism and postmodernism in a reflection of political division and the digital age. The notion of ‘fragments’, however, holds within it not only separation but also unity; a fragment is something that stands on its own, yet is part of something bigger. Crossing continents, time periods, and form, each interpretation of the theme is its own piece in our colourful FTL mosaic. We hope you enjoy this stunning collection of work.

Happy Reading!

From the Lighthouse Team

Anjali Mulcock, Editor-in-Chief

I’m so pleased to publish FTL’s ninth issue. Excitingly, the magazine has expanded even further – this term into audio, with recordings available to listen to on Spotify, and an open-mic night in collaboration with Indigo Creative Writing Society.

The theme of fragments encapsulates the tension of separation yet belonging, nodding to both individual and global conflict. It also speaks perfectly to the digital age, a bizarre time of both super-connection and yet individual isolation. The pieces in this issue explore the range this theme offers with great adroitness. Whether you enter Andrea Cenci’s depiction of a period relationship, Sasha Ivanova’s burning field, or the fabulously exploratory, disturbingly beautiful poetry on offer, we hope you find something that speaks to you individually, and makes you feel part of a whole. Paired with Amy Nugent and Talia Jacobs’ breath-taking illustrations, this issue is truly special. I hope you enjoy reading!

To me, literature is built on fragments. Piecing often-contradictory, often-ineffable letters, words, ideas, and emotions together to create a cohesive, harmonious piece of art forges order out of chaos. What T. S. Eliot termed ‘the logic of the imagination’ suffuses this spectacular issue of FTL; our talented writers compile fragments of idiosyncratic memory and sentiment within sometimes-fragmented literary forms to yield innovative, touching artistry. This Epiphany term, I was delighted to work with Palatinate’s Indigo Creative Writing on behalf of FTL to weave these fragments of literary brilliance together via our collaborative Open Mic event at The City Bar. Listening to so many different writers of such diverse creative styles perform together really spotlighted the value of FTL’s literary community in Durham; a cradle to celebrate our individual fragments and unity in fragmentation through writing.

Mia Hyde, Deputy Editor

Rory McAlpine, Deputy Editor

Recent events have contributed to fragmentation throughout societies and across countries. Covid19, isolated us into families and bubbles, divided by digital screens and social distancing, while the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa have seen refugees displaced from their families, cultures, and homes. Our theme: fragments, born from these ideas has invited a diverse range of interpretations that engage and relate to the theme in a myriad of intriguing ways.

When reflecting on ‘From the Lighthouse’ I understand it as a publication that brings a series of fragments into a unified whole. Each piece of work we publish is a fragment composed of its genre, its style, its subject and its author’s imagination. All these pieces are unique but linked together under a single shared theme. Each person’s fragment, each person’s interpretation, is brought together to build ‘From the Lighthouse’. Each fragment is a powerful piece of writing in isolation, but together the breadth of our contributor’s talent can be recognised.

I have been greatly impressed by the quality and creativity of the submissions that have been received for this issue. Each piece is further testament to Durham’s thriving literary community. I am thankful to all that have contributed, edited, and supported each issue we produce, and it is wonderful to see ‘From the Lighthouse’ continuing to grow and evolve its presence and personality.