Our Declaration of Principles

We'd make our promises now...if we weren't so busy arranging to keep them

The Varnished Culture hereby undertakes as follows:

To:

1. Declare interest, if any;
2. Publish sans fear or favour;
3. Encourage, though not necessarily respect, other views;
4. Try to moderate and critically self-assess ingrained or fixed opinions;
5. Neither boycott nor sanction those for what they say or publish;
6. Be fair to Art whilst being harsh to Art;
7. Eliminate gratuitous metaphysics and safe spaces;
8. Be honest in all things;
9. Tirelessly and fearlessly champion the individual’s rights, dreams, and artistic expressions;
10. Tirelessly and fearlessly remind the individual of responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[*Explanatory Notes:

1. We might accept the odd preview ticket but this won’t evoke a soft critique.
2. We don’t actually care if somebody wants to shut us down.
3. You have the right to be as dumb or tendentious as us.
4. We said “Try.”
5. Unlike your dummy-spit against Simon & Schuster for publishing Dangerous by Milo Yiannopoulos! Yes, we’re looking at you, Chicago Review of (Hidebound) Books! How can a journal of review, particularly one self-styled as “dedicated to cultivating awareness of diverse voices,” do this and expect to be taken seriously?
6. This isn’t the Spanish Inquisition…but we will sharpen our pencils when necessary.
7. Let all trumpets and blackguards sound.  “Literally.”
8. No crossed fingers.
9. No explanation required.
10. Goes with Principle # 9.  Explanation # 9 also applies.]