Alternative Media Group

PAN MAGAZINE LAUNCH PARTY

Author:

Angela Bennetts

Posted:

Monday, 21 June 2010

Pan is a sprightly goat-god, frolicking over ancient Greek fields trilling his flute in tribute to nature. Pan Magazine is a sprightly collection of papers, trilling its praises to emerging writers and creatives. Its launch and fundraiser party will take place this Saturday at the Red Rattler. We caught up with its editor, Emma Dallas, to find out about goats, ponies, melodrama and more.

Can you tell us a bit about the name of the magazine; why did you choose Pan as your masthead? And why are ponies necessary (P.A.N.)?

I find choosing a name for anything difficult, I once spent two weeks trying to name an imaginary goldfish. In the end I came to the conclusion that it’s probably the meaning attached to the name and not the word itself that matters so I just picked the  most ridiculous thing I could think of. Ponies are necessary, I’m quite sure that science will find some reasons for me, one day.

Pan Magazine is primarily a space for emerging writers. Why did you feel Sydney and Australia needed such a space?

Most literary journals look and feel boring to me, they are stale and read only by the kind of people who read literary journals. Short fiction and poetry used to be a staple part of mainstream media, I think it’s time quality writing reappeared on the radar.

What will the pages look like, and what are some of your favourite bits?

We’ve gone for a clean and accessible aesthetic. The look of a publication can dictate whether or not any of the content ever gets read. PAN is a magazine for reading, we wanted to invite people to read the content and not just look at the pictures. I’m a little bit in love with all of issue #1 but I think my favourite bits are the columns, especially Dale Slamma’s column, she’s one of my favourite writers.

You say in your call-out for submissions that you are wary of didacticism, deus ex machinas and melodrama. What do you mean by this? Can you give us any examples?

The short answer is this, we aspire to a high level of writing. We’re not messing around over here, well we are little bit, but we need the writing to be engaging, thought provoking and intelligent.

The launch and fundraiser is on Sat June 26 and will involve an art display and art auction. How will this work? What can people pick up?

The fundraiser is essentially going to be one hell of a party. Issue #1 will be for sale as well as all the donated artworks. The artworks will be displayed during the event so everyone can have a chance to get a look.

Psychonanny and the Babyshakers are just one of those providing musical merriment. How do the musicians match the vibe of Pan?

There are eight bands playing at the fundraiser and they are all very different. The night as a whole matches the eclectic vibe of PAN magazine. We like our entertainment with an intellectual edge and a just a hint of the ridiculous. Psychonanny and the Babyshakers, The Walk On By and The Holy Soul match the vibe of our loose and wild side whereas musicians like Quaoub and River Dear come from the beautiful and nerdy parts of our soul. Wiz Traill will lead her band Bosom in a salute to the ridiculous.

And lastly, where can people find Pan Magazine?

PAN is available online at www.panmagazine.com, at Repressed Records in Newtown and will be available at Berkelouw Books Newtown and MagNation after the launch.

Sat Jun 26, 6pm, The Red Rattler, 6 Faversham St, Marrickville, $15 entry, panmagazine.com

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