Bad Subjects
Encyclopedia
Bad Subjects is a research collaborative
that operate generally out of California
, United States
under the name "Bad Subjects" as part of the open access electronic publishing cooperative EServer.org
. Together, the collaborative creates and publishes an online zine
of cultural and political criticism
to promote critical thinking and public
education about the political implications of everyday life. Originally founded at UC Berkeley in September 1992 as a collection of leftist critiques of popular culture written by college students and published as a Gopher service, Bad Subjects may be the longest continuously-running publication on the internet.
cultural journal Bad Subjects was started at UC Berkeley in September 1992 by founding editors Joe Sartelle, Annalee Newitz
and Charlie Bertsch. By 1996, Bad Subjects was both an online and hard copy academic publication.
In 1998, Bad Subjects was identified as of the most celebrated cultural studies
journals on the Internet. Also in this same year, Bad Subjects founded a small educational nonprofit corporation, to promote the progressive use of new media and print publications. The group has co-authored two books, entitled Bad Subjects: Political Education for Everyday Life and Collective Action: A Bad Subjects Anthology.
In 2001, the webzine's popularity had grown to where it was now seen as the West Coast's
answer to the Illinois
based journal The Baffler
.
s of a wide range of media. The site provides fifteen years of back content for free online and no longer even produces a print edition.
Bad Subjects' stated goal is to revitalize what it terms "a progressive politics
in retreat." The group claims to challenge political dogma
by encouraging readers to think about the political dimension to all aspects of everyday life and seeks to broaden the audience for leftist and progressive
writing, through a commitment to accessibility and contemporary relevance.
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
that operate generally out of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
under the name "Bad Subjects" as part of the open access electronic publishing cooperative EServer.org
EServer.org
The EServer is an open access electronic publishing cooperative, founded in 1990, which publishes writings in the arts and humanities free of charge to Internet readers. It is rated by Alexa as the most popular arts and humanities website in the world. As of 2005, the EServer published more than...
. Together, the collaborative creates and publishes an online zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
of cultural and political criticism
Political criticism
Political criticism is criticism that is specific of or relevant to politics, including policies, politicians, political parties, and types of government.-Controversy:...
to promote critical thinking and public
education about the political implications of everyday life. Originally founded at UC Berkeley in September 1992 as a collection of leftist critiques of popular culture written by college students and published as a Gopher service, Bad Subjects may be the longest continuously-running publication on the internet.
History
The Berkeley-basedUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
cultural journal Bad Subjects was started at UC Berkeley in September 1992 by founding editors Joe Sartelle, Annalee Newitz
Annalee Newitz
Annalee Newitz is an American journalist who covers the cultural impact of science and technology. She received a PhD in English and American Studies from UC Berkeley, and in 1997 published the widely cited book, White Trash: Race and Class in America. From 2004–2005 she was a policy analyst...
and Charlie Bertsch. By 1996, Bad Subjects was both an online and hard copy academic publication.
In 1998, Bad Subjects was identified as of the most celebrated cultural studies
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
journals on the Internet. Also in this same year, Bad Subjects founded a small educational nonprofit corporation, to promote the progressive use of new media and print publications. The group has co-authored two books, entitled Bad Subjects: Political Education for Everyday Life and Collective Action: A Bad Subjects Anthology.
In 2001, the webzine's popularity had grown to where it was now seen as the West Coast's
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
answer to the Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
based journal The Baffler
The Baffler
The Baffler is a left-wing magazine of cultural, political, and business criticism that was founded in 1988 and published until the spring of 2007. It was revived in 2009, with the first issue of Volume 2 published in January 2010...
.
Current operations
The collective publishes 4-6 issues per year and also features regular editorials and reviewReview
A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie , video game, musical composition , book ; a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show...
s of a wide range of media. The site provides fifteen years of back content for free online and no longer even produces a print edition.
Bad Subjects' stated goal is to revitalize what it terms "a progressive politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
in retreat." The group claims to challenge political dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
by encouraging readers to think about the political dimension to all aspects of everyday life and seeks to broaden the audience for leftist and progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
writing, through a commitment to accessibility and contemporary relevance.