“Transition aims to speak to the broader intelligentsia and the educated lay public through jargon-free, readable prose that provides both insight and pleasure.”
—F. Abiola Irele and Tommie Shelby, Editors
Prose:
Transition is a unique forum for fresh perspectives on global issues, literature and art, cultures and people, with an emphasis on Africa and the diaspora. Unlike academic journals, we believe that the mode of expression is just as important as the content. We expect the nonfiction pieces published in Transition to display the virtues of high-quality literary fiction, especially narrative prose, which leads the reader naturally from one sentence to the next. Rich description and attention to voice, tone, imagery, and word choice are all appreciated. We also welcome provocative points of view that stimulate debate.
Please note:
As a nonacademic journal, we do not run footnotes or give strict bibliographic documentation for the ideas expressed in our essays. Academic clichés, locutions, and jargon, in addition to authorial intrusions such as “I am going to argue...,” “In the second section of this paper I will...,” etc., are best avoided, since they tend to disrupt the narrative flow.
Poetry:
We publish poetry from and about Africa and the diaspora. For non-English-language poetry, we prefer to run the original language version along with its literary translation into English.
Review Essays:
Transition publishes thoughtful and thought-provoking reviews of books worth reading, films worth seeing, and art exhibits worth visiting. Although constructive criticism of the works recommended is also appreciated, we usually feature review essays that point our readers toward works that deserve their attention, though the recommendation may of course be tempered by criticism.
Artwork and Photography :
Although Transition is unable to pay contributors, we provide the opportunity to reach a broad, international audience by including a 1–2 page profile on each artist whose work is used to complement our text pieces.
Please note:
All artwork and photographs in Transition appear in black and white, and we can use only high-resolution images (300 dpi).
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Send queries or manuscripts to:
The Editors E-mail: transition@fas.harvard.edu |
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