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FEATURES
yolk Launches First Issue On a frigid January night, while the rest of Montreal was tackling the blizzardous and windy streets, a group of a hundred or so hungry young souls gathered in a small venue on Sainte-Catherine to listen to a new generation of writers shatter their shells and declare their arrival. Inside, sweaty bodies manoeuvred the crowded space slowly, rib to rib, anticipating the unusual night of poetry and music – with egg-throwing instead of applause – that was about to begin. The cold fog that engulfed the entrance every time a door opened was evidence that even the night wanted to witness the magic that was happening inside. “Egg The Poet” was the title given to the poetry reading hosted by yolk, a Montreal-based literary journal that has just released its inaugural print issue this fall, 2020. Five months before the event, recent English Literature graduate Alex Marceau (class of ‘20) held his own little congregation when he invited a few friends to gather around a small table in Parc Saint-Henri to discuss the abstract idea of putting together and releasing a literary journal. Excited and ambitious, the team began meeting every Sunday for hours to work on what would quickly become yolk. The journal has been publishing electronically since February, accepting submissions in four categories (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and visual arts), and has since attracted a sizable following. The submissions for the first print issue, on the theme of “Circles,” greatly surpassed the initial predictions but Marceau, the Fiction Editor, believes this is proof that the young artistic community of Montreal is desperate to be heard. He describes these submissions as “little weeds coming out of concrete cracks from all over the city,” a testament to the journal’s theme, which the editor says evokes, channelling Yeats, a “rejuvenation of life.” Indeed, yolk seems to be giving a new artistic wind to the modern generation. The team behind that wind consists of three Bishop’s alumni, Editor-in-Chief Josh Quirion (‘15); Visual Arts Editor Sean Smallwood (‘17); and Alex Marceau. They work alongside the creative spirits of Creative Director
THECampus CAMPUSOctober SEPTEMBER 16 The 7, 2020 2020
Jeremy Audet, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com Jeremy Audet Features Editor
Curtis McRae, Poetry Editor Sean Lee, Non-Fiction Editor Spencer Nafekh, Digital Publication Manager Chelsea Moore, and Copy Editor Sarah Rose Manuszak. When asked how his experience at Bishop’s influenced yolk, Marceau had much to say, praising the University’s model of liberal education and the rich history of prominent literary graduates. At Bishop’s, Marceau negotiated an enriching student experience on the one end, engaging with prescribed texts and independent studies in motivating ways, and an exhilarating social life on the other. He even reminisced of nights spent escaping a party with Quirion - and a bottle of whisky - to discuss literature and The Mitre, BU’s own artistic journal that now boasts 127 annual editions. One recognizes the impact that the university experience had on the pair when, years later, Quirion and Marceau were to discuss the genesis of their journal. “yolk wouldn’t be yolk without The Mitre, and the ensuing discussions with Josh and Curtis about those burgeoning ideas that stemmed from those young writers in the journal,” as Marceau explicitly puts it. Walking through the picturesque Quad, where many past great minds had walked before him, also motivates Marceau in his ambitions. Situating the literary giants F.R. Scott, Ralph Gustafson, and Michael Ondaatje, to name just a few, on the very campus he treads helps Marceau place himself on the rich timeline of Canadian literature. Regardless, yolk remains a journal based out of and heavily influenced by Montreal, where most of the team resides year-round. The minds behind yolk recognize that Montreal is à hub for Canadian artists, and most of the creativity behind the many submissions they receive originates from the city. Although many of their submissions come from outside the country, yolk takes pride in being grounded in Montreal. One of their artistic goals for this first issue was to resurrect the young spirit and gusto of the Canadian literary landscape that flourished a century ago. With submissions from all over Canada – and some international ones – yolk always accepts and equally
A Dangerous Coping Mechanism
yolk’s inaugural issue Photo Courtesy of Caitlin Aboud
considers work coming from outside its home city. Having toiled away on yolk for a year now, Marceau is incredibly excited for the first issue (1.1) to be released. An official launch is still in the works despite the ongoing pandemic and consequential restrictions on gatherings, but Marceau is already thinking ahead to the next issue (1.2). He hopes that both issues can tackle the same grand vision of “looking back into the past of the English language in Canada,” before yolk steers itself entirely into the contemporary, where they hope to pave a direction of their own. For Marceau, acknowledging the past is a priority that lingers over his creative process. Bishop’s and Montreal, with their rich timelines of creative figures that have come before, offer the perfect settings for such a process. The young writer constantly asks himself where he “stands on this country’s literary timeline,” a timeline he hopes to someday make a dent in. yolk is that first mark. yolk’s inaugural issue is available to order on their website, yolkliterary.ca, and for purchase at Black Cat Books in Lennoxville and select bookstores in Montreal (The Word, Paragraphe Bookstore, Argo Bookshop, SaintHenri Books, and Drawn & Quarterly). Follow their social media for more information: @yolkliterary.
Justine Trempe Junior Copy Editor
When the “truth” shared on social media becomes more satisfying than the uncertainties our world faces, the temptation to believe those marginal theories often wins. This tendency has led to a rise in misinformation in North America, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic transformed everyday life, social and political tensions have escalated, the divides of opinion in the population have widened, fake news has proliferated, and conflicts have risen between loved ones. Journalist Katie Couric recently interviewed Dr. Emily Vraga, a professor at the University of Minnesota, on this recent wave of misinformation. Dr. Varga explained that conspiracy theories flourish in uncertain times because “misinformation gives [people] an illusion of control.” In the case of the pandemic, time and patience are necessary to accurately understand the ongoing situation. Scientists have to change predictions and recommendations as new information flows in, keeping the population in a state of uncertainty. The resulting distrust the public has towards the ever-changing news is understandable, but Dr. Vraga warns that “conspiracy theories are particularly dangerous right now because they offer us solutions that are easier than the ones that actually work.” The phenomenon is not limited to the United States; the rise of cases throughout Canada provokes outrage and disbelief in many communities, including Quebec. This disbelief is particularly noticeable on social media, where most rumours are born, propagated, and then magnified. Facebook’s gathering of like-minded people in groups makes it the predominant source of misinformation. As larger numbers of believers give conspiracists a sense of validation, the followers of these conspiracies become more confident in their declarations. In various cities around the province, Facebook groups like “Action Coordination” have started organizing recurrent marches to protest the obligation to wear a mask and the current state of emergency. Promoting the future of children and the protection of our rights and freedom while criticizing the corruption of our government and its censure of marginal scientists, they demand a rushed return to normalcy. They support their
demands with the rumours that masks impair breathing or that the Coronavirus test can damage the brain—both of which are myths disproved by science. A group has been meeting to march in Sherbrooke every Saturday for the past few weeks. Although many regions are now reaching the “red” alert phase, more events keep appearing on Facebook. When asked how to respond to family members or friends who believe in the misinformation online or who intend to attend an anti-masker event, Dr. Vraga suggests to “start with a position of empathy and understanding” because, “especially for Coronavirus, most people aren’t spreading misinformation or believing misinformation maliciously.” Their objective truly is to help bring knowledge to people. A soft approach then works better to discuss disagreements and inform without antagonizing someone, which could destroy any chance of reconciliation.
Protest against the obligation to wear masks, Québec City, July 26, 2020 Photo Courtesy of Erick Labbé, Archives Le Soleil.
