Letter from the Editor

Home is where the art is. This mantra is something I keep in the back of my mind while exploring the creative works of others and writing my own. The essence of the artist in their own work is a direct result of what they know and their position on its significance. People remember home, whether the memories are positive or negative, and art, as an extension of the individual, as an outlet for the creative mind, is also an appropriation of all things familiar to the artist, the expression of their passion and/or distaste. Basically, home is where we come from, the core of our identity and the most essential basis by which we come to know and judge the external world, by searching for and identifying things to relate to.

Southeastern Louisiana University is not only a place of learning and growth, but a place of union, a home in itself. This school is a hub of activity, of constantly interacting and stimulated minds, producing opportunities for a wealth of on-campus talent and perspectives to thrive in conjunction with one another. Southeastern Louisiana University is a venue for community thought, fellowship and progress. Just as we obtain our values from both home and our subsequent interactions with the world, our artistic and human potential flourishes in this campus setting, which encourages careful consideration of and critical involvement with our studies and society.

Just as our college unites vastly different cultures, practices and disciplines, Manchac Review Online seeks to do its part in gathering the best literary and multimedia works from our student body in a venue providing a more comprehensive look at the quality work our students are capable of producing. The launch of Manchac Review Online brings new opportunities not only to the English Department’s writers of prose, poetry and drama, but establishes a campus outlet for artists in their entirety. The existence of such a multifaceted space, which boasts an interdisciplinary showcase, encourages correlation and interaction between genres and forms, increasing the potential of the individual crafts and their crafters. Manchac Review strives to be an example of the unifying base of all art, the will to create and influence the world.

The artists of Southeastern Louisiana University, aspiring southern writers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists alike, learn in their courses and personal time that a quality piece requires effort, mental devotion and a passion that what they do has meaning, a purpose. It is my hope that this journal can come to embody the communal, underlying drive to create just as this campus and all atmospheres of education promote self-discovery and growth, all stemming from and leading back to what we know and value, our foundation and our home, wherever that might be for you.

Chad Foret
Executive Editor, Manchac Review