SQN - Sine Qua Non - Issue 1 - Journal - Page 17
the ‘book of self,’ the internal landscape shaping and expressing the subject’s experience of the
world.
5. Literature as Unibrow: There is no highbrow, middlebrow, lowbrow. The idea
of a ‘literary’ genre is rejected. Genre is seen as: (1) a marketing tool; and (2) a set of shared
expectations between the author and implied reader. Personal style (vivid prose, experimentation,
or stark minimalism) regains emphasis as a marker of intent; ‘literariness’ is merely one of many
tools available to the author. Aesthetics is an element to be balanced with form and function to
create the cohesive whole.
1. Author as Subject of Fiction: The author’s voice permeates the text, whether overtly
(auto昀椀ction, creative non昀椀ction) or subtly (realist or modernist absence), embodying their
existential intent. New Romanticism insists on the author’s unapologetic presence as the text’s
soul, rejecting any dilution of their agency.
2. Implications for Critique: The author’s intent is the heartbeat of the text, driving
interpretation as a closed communicative act, rejecting symptomatic reading for hidden meanings
in favor of what the author meant to say. The author supplants the ‘heroic critic,’ reclaiming the
spotlight as creator. Credibility in critique hinges on the critic’s own creative chops, reviving a
modernized Romantic idolization of the artist.
This 昀椀rst, our inaugural issue, which we are proud to release to the world, contains works
which we believe exemplify many of these tenets. All the works we chose to publish surprised
us, challenged us, or moved us deeply. There were many other amazing works submitted that
we wish we’d had room to publish, but we are constrained by space. We thank everyone who
submitted, published and unpublished, for sharing their work with us.
In order to further explore the idea of New Romanticism, our second issue will be a special
issue seeking submissions harmonious with the above tenets. Check out our webpage for details.
Raúl Rodríguez Calvoz
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Dallas, Texas 2025
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