An Address:

We’d like to think of forewords as transitive - a way to express some literary crush on the pieces inside these covers, and thus persuade you into equal admiration of them. 

We were just called ‘litmag’ for some time - a name placeholder that’s shifted into a colloquialism amongst the editors. Further names existed too - vetoed and struck by friends and teachers over weeks of thought. In words we see they transcend directive meaning into unarticulate connotations. Hysteria was to look again at the misperceived petulance (this hysterical tone) of youth voice. 

It was jarring initially, to see ideas that we had idealistically formulated struck down over the discernments of friends. We had bonded over abstract ideas (Dada art movements revitalised in shady corners of the Library) and the newfound need to cement the magazine tangibly now gave rise to practical concerns. Over conversations around chlorinated pools, and caffeinated concerns, the magazine took shape.

What Hysteria came out of was an immediate and intense wish to have some work presented before us that best mimics a world that we each wanted to have existed. 

We found ourselves questioning the presence of youth voice in the publishable sphere. The lack of opportunity for creative and authentic expression inhibits writers from cultivating individual voices and creative/artistic experimentation. We hope that this magazine establishes appreciation for youth opinion by offering exposure that differs from ‘traditional’ youth-dominated media. Hysteria exists as a medium to allow students to grow their artistic vision of wider publication, acting as a conduit for this interest.

The theme, cultural conflict, guides these pieces - consider it a framing device to read the pieces, and as a lens of exploration to review each piece.  

Find pieces ranging from nihilist cultural commentary to curiously poignant narrative, and take from them whatever you wish. Also find a range of artistic expression within - Word of Mouth by Jennifer Li was the featured piece (see on front cover). Read Michael Kwak’s piece, a critique on dissonance - ‘Behind the Veil of Euphemism’, that unpacks societal / generational expectations and the mental health crisis created against a youth. For fiction, take note of our periodical ‘The Void Between Us’ as a continuing narrative over the next few issues. 

There is nothing worse to readers, than to be forced to sit, at awkward length, to endure an increasingly mediocre foreword.

And so, 

we hope this caught your attention, 

Olivia, Maya, Allison