“Magazine review: make/shift issue 2”

In the struggling independent magazine sector, make/shift is a welcome (possible lonely) presence. On the surface, the magazine is similar to Bitch , with media excepts, columns and interviews but thematically make/shift looks towards little-known arts projects than pop culture. Unlike Bitch, they allow fiction and poetry but forgo music reviews and television preoccupations. But, like Bitch, make/shift remains a very N.American title which can sometimes can lost in the translation.

The second issue has interviews galore, including with filmmaker Su Friedrich and Janelle L. White (San Francisco Women Against Rape ). Andrea J. Ritchie (a member of INCITE (a US feminists of color collective) discusses their upcoming anthology, The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Nonprofit Industrial Complex . And as amazing as this book sounds, my favourite interview was the discussion between Dean Spade and Sam Feder (director and executive producer of new documentary Boy I Am) which shows how rare (and damn vital) it is to include oppositional dialogue and debate in interviews.

Columnists Mattilda aka Matt Bernstein Sycamore, Randa Jarrar and Erin Aubry Kaplan are back and the Dear Nomy advice column is what I’d hoped Beth Ditto’s Guardian column would be.

Unlike many print-based magazines, make/shift doesn’t seem oblivious to online media, dedicating much of the media commentary on what is happening online as well as print media. Nor does it, thankfully, feel the need to present a united voice, with as many distinct voices contributing to the second issue as did the first.

Overall, the best part of make/shift is the energy (that and the crossword). You can feel the enthusiasm of those involved which is such a welcome relief after a couple of bleak months for independent media. They know what they are doing is important and special and right now and they want everyone else to know this too. But, most importantly, what make/shift leaves you with is ideas, ideas, ideas.

Links:
make/shift
Bitch magazine
Boy I Am