Penumbra Journal of Literature and Art at California State University Stanislaus

Invites Submissions for its Online Fall Edition of

Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Hybrid Works, and Art:

The Bestiary and Us: A New Book of Beasts

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Most people have heard lions referred to as “the king of beasts,” of a brave person described as lionhearted, of a sly individual called a fox, a loyal one termed doglike—comparisons that may seem obvious and natural. The global fans of the Harry Potter books and films will likely recall the image of the birdlike phoenix rising, reborn from its own ashes. Some fewer of us may have heard it said that unicorns can be approached and captured only by a virgin or that a pelican may restore life to its offspring by feeding them with blood from its own breast. Such characterizations and myths—be they stereotypically prosaic or surprisingly exotic—spring from a common source: the medieval bestiary. These pictorial encyclopedias of the Middle Ages were colorful compendia of familiar animals as well as a variety of more fantastic creatures. Bestiaries featured imaginative artwork accompanied by written text describing each beast’s behavior and proclivities, chronicling its place in the world.  More than just descriptive catalogs of wildlife, however, these medieval texts also offered readers lessons about the world around them illustrated through allegorical details connecting the various creatures to human life and activities.

 

Following the lead of the anonymous Physiologus of the 2nd century, Isidore of Seville organized his 7th century Etymologies by the categories of birds, snakes, and land and sea creatures. Bestiaries were second in popularity only to the Bible in the years between 1180 and 1300, and they so powerfully impacted language and culture that the legends they tell persist until the present day: Aesop’s fables, Jorge Luis Borges’ The Book of Imaginary Beings, Fearsome Creatures of Florida by John Henry Fleming, Pokéman, and The Lion King are examples of bestiary-inspired works that remind us of the importance of medieval history and its enduring influences. Clearly the ties between humanity and the animals with whom we share both our world and often the closeness of our individual lives continue to stir imaginations today just as they did for people in the Middle Ages.

 

For any who feel inspired to write, draw, or otherwise create digitally publishable media which focus on animals, Penumbra Online, fall edition, invites submissions. These may include images, poems, short fiction or nonfiction, and hybrid works offering some interpretation, celebration, critique, or other creative exploration of the furry, feathered, hairless, or scaly creatures who crawl, run, swim, and soar over the earth—or perhaps exist only in the realm of mind and mythology—a modern bestiary. This special edition of Penumbra is dedicated to the beasts with whom we share our homes, our world, and our imaginative spaces. Help us build our literary and artistic menagerie by creating and submitting your poem, story, or image to Penumbra for consideration. Each contributor may submit up to three poems, short stories, pieces of nonfiction or creative nonfiction, art or photography, or hybrid pieces in any combination (e.g. three poems, one poem and two short stories, one short story, one hybrid piece, one watercolor painting, etc.). The deadline for submissions for the online fall edition is October 10th at midnight. We look forward to hearing from you!

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The deadline for submissions for the online fall edition is October 10th at midnight. We look forward to hearing from you!

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For more information, check-out Penumbra’s submission guidelines!