Spunk Library
Encyclopedia
The Spunk Library was an anarchist
Internet archive. The name "spunk
" was chosen for the term's meaning in Swedish
("anything we want it to mean"), English
("courage or spirit"), and Australian
("an attractive person"), summarized by the website as "nondescript, energetic, courageous and attractive".
According to anarchist librarian
Chuck Munson, the library was begun as Spunk Press in 1992. The founding contributors – Ian Heavens, Jack Jansen, Andrew Flood, Iain McKay and Practical Anarchy
editors Munson and Mikael Cardell –originally met via online fora
, namely Jansen's Anarchy Discussion email list
. The Library was run by an editorial collective during the 1990s. It was not intended to replace print publishing
, but rather served a shop window promoting anarchist book publishers, newspapers and journals.
By 1995, it was already the largest anarchist archive of published material catalogued on computer networks, though it faced a media assault accusing it of collaborating with terrorists such as the Red Army Faction
, of providing instructions for bomb
making and of co-ordinating the “disruption of schools, looting of shops and attacks on multinational firms.” The Library remained largely inactive during the 2000s, with the mainpage last being updated in March 2002.
The Rough Guide to the Internet described the Library as being "organized neatly and with reassuring authority
". Chris Atton
, writing in Alternative Media (2002) hailed the site as an "advertisement for socially responsible anarchism with a significant intellectual
pedigree", remarking that "[i]n a world where anarchism is still largely derided or maligned by the mass media, that is an important function" and drawing a comparison to Infoshop.org
.
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
Internet archive. The name "spunk
Spunk
The term Spunk may refer to:* courage or spirit, pluck* Australian slang, meaning hot, sexy, referring to the person with an x-factor* quality of mind showing enthusiasm, boldness, energy, courage, determination and motivation...
" was chosen for the term's meaning in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
("anything we want it to mean"), English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
("courage or spirit"), and Australian
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
("an attractive person"), summarized by the website as "nondescript, energetic, courageous and attractive".
According to anarchist librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
Chuck Munson, the library was begun as Spunk Press in 1992. The founding contributors – Ian Heavens, Jack Jansen, Andrew Flood, Iain McKay and Practical Anarchy
Practical Anarchy
Practical Anarchy was an anarchist magazine that was published quarterly by the Alternative Media Project. Begun in 1991 as an irregular publication, for many years it advocated anarchy as practice, such as organizing housing cooperatives, environmentalism, workplaces and DIY media. Its slogans...
editors Munson and Mikael Cardell –originally met via online fora
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
, namely Jansen's Anarchy Discussion email list
Electronic mailing list
An electronic mailing list is a special usage of email that allows for widespread distribution of information to many Internet users. It is similar to a traditional mailing list — a list of names and addresses — as might be kept by an organization for sending publications to...
. The Library was run by an editorial collective during the 1990s. It was not intended to replace print publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
, but rather served a shop window promoting anarchist book publishers, newspapers and journals.
By 1995, it was already the largest anarchist archive of published material catalogued on computer networks, though it faced a media assault accusing it of collaborating with terrorists such as the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
, of providing instructions for bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
making and of co-ordinating the “disruption of schools, looting of shops and attacks on multinational firms.” The Library remained largely inactive during the 2000s, with the mainpage last being updated in March 2002.
The Rough Guide to the Internet described the Library as being "organized neatly and with reassuring authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
". Chris Atton
Chris Atton
Christopher Frank Atton is Professor of Media and Culture in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University...
, writing in Alternative Media (2002) hailed the site as an "advertisement for socially responsible anarchism with a significant intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
pedigree", remarking that "[i]n a world where anarchism is still largely derided or maligned by the mass media, that is an important function" and drawing a comparison to Infoshop.org
Infoshop.org
- History :Infoshop was founded in January 1995 as the Mid-Atlantic Infoshop by Chuck Munson. Having previously co-founded an online archive of anarchist texts, the Spunk Library, in 1992, Munson established Infoshop as a general resource on anarchism, moving to the domain name Infoshop.org in 1998...
.
Related topics
- Alternative Media ProjectAlternative Media ProjectThe Alternative Media Project is a non-profit organization that promotes alternative and independent media. Its projects include Infoshop.org, Practical Anarchy magazine, Breaking Glass Press, and Radical Street Distro...
- Anarchy ArchivesAnarchy ArchivesThe Anarchy Archives project is a self-described online research center on the history and theory of anarchism. It was created in September 1995 by Dana Ward, a Professor of Political Studies at Pitzer College...
, an online research center on the history and theory of anarchism founded in 1995 - List of anarchist periodicals