The Sublimation Reader: Volume One aims to provide poignant literature for an audience in need of something provocative and unique.
Sublimation Pressworks is an independent publisher and collective of artists that believe creativity, quality, and daring are the key components to making exceptional visual art and writing.
As well as being great writers, our diverse collective of contributors includes designers, bookmakers, woodworkers, painters, printers, sculptors, philosophers, fiber artists, theorists, occultists, literature/cinema connoisseurs, historians, actors, and musicians, all ready to enrich people’s lives with thoughtful commentary on films, provocative literary erotica, and philosophies both eccentric and wonderful.
Ultimately we want to create an Internet tribe of thoughtful discussion and intellectual fellowship, to promote an Internet Renaissance, a New Age of Digital Bohemianism. Like the Bauhaus, the Beats, or the Surrealists, the Romantics, the Dadaists, or the Cavaliers we want to encourage a new creative paradigm unfettered by location.
Sadly, we surf the Internet and rarely see this kind of interaction. Our work challenges this by offering three separate websites that will contain diverse content:
Sublimation Pressworks (http://www.sublimationpressworks.com) is an arts and literature periodical/online-store. It's our ambition to publish limited-edition artist books and trade paperbacks dedicated to literary erotica, mysticism, philosophy, art theory, occultism, and fantasy-based fiction and non-fiction.
The Modern Babylon Reader (http://www.modernbabylonreader.com) continues the erotic legacy set by 19th century periodicals The Pearl and The Oyster, and 20th century publishers Olympia Press and Obelisk Press. We aim to provide high quality—sometimes controversial, but always provocative—erotica for an audience in need of something poignant and unique. Serials, confessions, short stories, interviews, reviews, and erotic art create an epicurean feast for the imagination. (Official launch: September 1st).
The Odeon Review (http://www.odeonreview.com) provides in-depth, intelligent reviews, commentaries, and musings on films both obscure and mainstream for those craving something interesting and insightful. A step above the average film review site, which primarily focuses on new releases and comic book movies, The Odeon Review will focus on history, directors, themes, and genres. It will entertain and educate those with a love for epic cinema. Fans of the Criterion Collection rejoice. (Official launch: September 1st).
Quarterly, the Sublimation Pressworks umbrella will publish a journal in trade paperback format highlighting the best articles from the weekly/biweekly/and monthly formats of all three websites.
For this Kickstarter campaign we’re focusing on the premiere volume. The periodical will be in the 5.5” x 8.5” perfect bound trade paperback format with interior pages printed in black and white on 60# white Husky Offset paper. The full color covers will be printed on white 12 point C1S, a heavyweight stock that is coated on one side. After printing, the covers are laminated with gloss film to protect from scuffing. The edition will be limited to 1000 copies. The printing and design cost for the edition will be around $5000.
Being an independent publishing company is not easy. It takes time, money, and perseverance.
You may ask: Why should I give money to Sublimation Pressworks when there are so many other artists in the world also in need of funding? The answer is simple: What we’re asking for is the unique chance to contribute something literary and daring to an Internet world that’s getting more illiterate and predictable.
We’ve set our goal low barely covering the cost of the first edition, hoping we’ll be able to fund the volume on a shoestring budget.
If we succeed we’ll be able to sell copies of the book on the websites.
If we double our goal, we’ll be able to produce a second volume.
If we hit a success of $20,000 or more we’ll be able to professionally compensate our writers, designers, and staff for their hard work.
With your donations, you can make this happen. Please email around the link, let people know about the book and the websites—and make sure they follow up with a pledge! And if you have a network like Facebook or Twitter, share the link! Please support Internet evolution. Thank you so much!
Note: Minimum $50 bid for international orders outside Continental US/Canada and Thailand.
Sincerely,
Christopher Kramer (Writing, Independent Publishing, & Book Design/Oregon College of Art and Craft, Penland School of Craft).
Contributors: Amy Rabas (Designer/ Adjunct Faculty at Columbia College Chicago)
Erik Marshall (Ph.D. Film and Media Studies/Wayne State University)
Gerald Blakeslee (Web Project Lead at Hour Media, Contributor/Ded Dave Show, Musician/Freak Ache)
Andrew Poehlman (Interior Design/College of Creative Studies)
Jennifer Cox (Drawing & Painting/Oregon College of Art and Craft, Philosophy & Theater/ Whittier College)
Kilynn Lunsford (Psychology & English Literature/Portland State University),
Matthew Lucas (Classics/University of Oregon)
Craig MackIntosh (Sculpture & Woodworking/Oregon College of Art and Craft)
Amanda Jordan (Drawing & Painting/ Oregon College of Art and Craft, Glassblowing)
Katherine Victoria Herring (Fiber Arts, Oregon College of Art and Craft)
Matthew Dylan Varvil (Actor & Writer/Colvard Learning Systems, Musician/Black Forest Fancies)
Erik Mortenson (Assistant Professor/Department of English and Comparative Literature, Koç University)
Liv-Rainey Smith (Printmaking/Oregon College of Art and Craft)
Denise Roguz Fleming (Painting/Western Michigan University)
Plus more contributors to come!
Please check out our websites for writing samples and more information!
http://www.sublimationpressworks.com
http://www.modernbabylonreader.com
P.S. We've also listed some of our credentials as well as a few writing sample in the updates.
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Here are the four t-shirt designs. They'll be produced by ESP Detroit
http://www.facebook.com/espdetroit
http://www.espdetroit.com/shop-talk/
FAQ
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This is not just about online life. This is an attempt to bridge international boundaries and create a community of creators where the bottom line is not profit, or succumbing to the pressures of a system. It's just real people trying to do something interesting. We're printing a book because, contrary to popular thought the internet may not be around forever, and I personally think making a physical object is important.
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No worthwhile information online is free. Every blog that's giving you good information is probably funded by advertising. Otherwise it's probably a hobby. However, this is not a hobby. This is 15+ contributors trying to provide quality literature. People go to the movies often many times per week. They spend $10+ on this experience, which is fleeting. People then buy merchandise, a t-shirt, a book, a mug. This extends their appreciation of the experience. Buying the print version of online literature is the same thing. Once you have the book, you can let people borrow it so they can have their own experience, you can leave it on a table for someone to find, you can give it as a quality heartfelt gift. There is a great danger in believing that just because something is on the internet it's permanent or free.
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No. It's one company called Sublimation Pressworks and it's been printing small editions since 2006. The Modern Babylon Reader and The Odeon Review are part of the Sublimation Pressworks Umbrella, like food companies have severals brands but it's the same company.
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The cost of the book will vary depending on how much money we raise. If we only make the $5000 goal, we will probably only print 500 copies. In Thailand it would be about $900 in printing costs. In America it would be about $1250. If we surpass our goal I would like to print 1000 copies. Thailand=$1200. America=$2150. The problem with printing them in Thailand is I would still have to ship them to America. The design cost will be another $1,000. Then 10% goes to Kickstarter and Amazon Payments for running the campaign. There was $500 in advertising, which I already spent to advertise the campaign. The remainder goes to shipping, and if there’s anything left (there probably won’t be) that will be split between the 15 contributors, or if we strike oil, folded back into the company to produce the next quarterly volumes.
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If this were all on one site it would be a mess to navigate. Each site has 8-10 page headings and many subheadings depending on the subject. Additionally people don't want their spirituality/mysticism mixed with their erotic literature or a movie review. And some viewers may want to show their children or teens the movie review but obviously don’t want them to see the erotica. It's no different than Random House having different imprints for children's books, sci-fi, self-help, etc.
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It helps promote the project so we won't have to do a another Kickstarter for the subsequent volumes of the quarterly periodical. If we can raise enough money we'll be able to fund the entire year of books (4 volumes). Plus people think t-shirts are cool.
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Yes, but this isn't a blog per se. It is using the blog format but it is really much more. Most bloggers can produce quick copy because they often use bullet points and relatively simple language (I don't mean this as an insult, bloggers). What we're doing is trying to bring an element of literature to a blogging format. Many of our contributors have spent much more time producing their work. In addition many of the serialized stories will eventually transcend the blogging media and be published in single volumes.
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Yes, many of these writers are professionals. Some are not. we have a few PHDs and many BFAs and many jacks-of-all-trades. Two have published books. Many have published articles. Many have had worldwide exhibitions of their artwork. But to be honest I think credentials are overrated, in fact some of the dullest people I've ever met had great credentials, but that doesn't mean they can provide the world with wonderful things. I am the editor/curator (Christopher Kramer) and I have spent the last twenty years meeting extraordinary people from all walks of life. I'm not concerned with waving around certificates; I am concerned with delivering a great product.
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Many of the greatest works of our age were declined by large publishing companies. Small independent presses like Olympia, Obelisk, City Lights, these small but ambitious publishers took chances on great works which would have not been allowed into the corporate world. Too often do we equate what we see advertised constantly as something important. Honestly, some of the best books I've ever read (and I've read many) were either declined or banned by the powers that be. "Gone with the Wind" was rejected 26 times. I personally think this is a ridiculous. They didn't want it because they thought no one wanted to read about the Civil War.
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As an independent publisher and world traveler I actually split my time between Chiang Mai and Detroit, Michigan. I'm in Thailand teaching and taking advantage of the low cost of living so I can actually produce books, but my business is based in Detroit. Through the miracle of the internet this is no longer a problem.
10
Backers
$390
pledged of $5,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on September 7, 2012.
Funding period
Aug 18, 2012 -
Sep 7, 2012
- 2 created · 4 backed
- Christopher Kramer 230 friends
- Website: facebook.com
Pledge $1 or more
0 backers
Your name will be listed on the Sublimation Pressworks website as a supporter of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $10 or more
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive an e-book version of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a Modern Babylon Reader t-shirt and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a Odeon Review t-shirt and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a paperback version of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a Sublimation Pressworks t-shirt and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $25 or more
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a Odeon Eye t-shirt and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a 4-issue (1 year) e-book version subscription to the Sublimation Reader and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you will receive a paperback version of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One and a t-shirt of choice (Sublimation Pressworks, Modern Babylon Reader, Odeon Review, or Odeon Eye) and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a Sublimation Pressworks t-shirt, a Modern Babylon Reader t-shirt, and a Odeon Review t-shirt and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive all four t-shirts: Sublimation Pressworks, Modern Babylon Reader, Odeon Review, and Odeon Eye shirts, and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a 4-issue (1 year) paperback version subscription to the Sublimation Reader and a heartfelt thank you!
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a paperback version of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One signed by various contributing authors, as well as a t-shirt of choice and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $200 or more
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Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a limited-edition inaugural hand bound hardback version of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One signed by editor/contributor/binder Christopher Kramer and periodical designer Amy Rabas, and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a 4-issue (1 year) paperback version subscription to the Sublimation Reader: Volume One signed by various contributing authors, as well as all four t-shirts. You will receive all of the prizes listed above, as well as a co-publisher credit and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $3,000 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a 4-issue (1 year) paperback version subscription to the Sublimation Reader signed by various contributing authors, as well as all four t-shirts. You will receive all of the prizes listed above, as well as a co-publisher credit, dinner at a nice restaurant of your choosing plus a book-signing event with the editor/publisher of the Sublimation Reader: Volume One anywhere in the world and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
Your name will be listed on the website as a supporter and you’ll receive a 4-issue (1 year) paperback version subscription to the Sublimation Reader signed by various contributing authors, as well as all four t-shirts. You will receive all of the prizes listed above, as well as a co-publisher credit, dinner at a nice restaurant of your choosing plus a book-signing event with the editor/publisher and two contributing writers of your choice anywhere in the world and a heartfelt thank you!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
