Literary Magazine- Orion

Although my assignment 9 is late because I thought we were strictly workshopping, I know that it is always better late than never done at all. When I thought about a literary magazine, and what one to use I didn't have to look far because I had already had one in mind that really jumped out at me from another class. We were asked to buy numerous issues of the literary magazine called Orion in the fall semester and because we didn't get to all of them, I figured that getting into one of the issues that was untouched would be a good way to get my money's worth.



Orion is an environmental literary magazine that combines different essays, short stories, poems and photographs into one compilation for people who are either looking to learn about environmental awareness or just read different pieces on environmental issues or adventures. When I looked through one of the issues that I had left untouched, I saw a variety of forms being used to convey messages about the environment and nature. Famous authors like Bill McKibben, who was at St. Lawrence this year, and Gary Snyder have written for this magazine which proves the creditability of the magazine. The topics range from stories about finding active high-explosive artillery shells in the forests of the Lorraine region in France from World War I, to more feel-good pieces about the shrimping and seafood business. As I read through I found all of the articles and essays to be well set up and what I found even more interesting is that there are no advertisements in this magazine; the entire magazine is funded by donations from readers, writers and fans of Orion. Instead of having an advertisement in a column to the right or left of any given piece, Orion has been able to insert telling pictures of the stories being told or, in relation to our class, poems about nature or environmental awareness. For example, one poem that I read, and enjoyed, was called Eskimo Whizzamajig by Elizabeth Bradfield. The poem was a comical anecdote about finding a beat up tool that was pronounced an Eskimo's tool and not having the correct name for it. The poem uses line to break up the different names that are used to describe the possible artifact and how the poet splits up these words really shows the uncertainty of the people talking about it. I like that this magazine includes a variety of different literary forms because it lets a reader take his reading as far as he wants for the time he is reading for. A person could open up this magazine and find him/herself reading three to four lengthy essays about Dams, Buddhism and nature or any number of things, or the reader could simply open the magazine for a second and glance at a poem and then shut the magazine right after.



I think, overall, this magazine is well laid out and it really does a good job of choosing writers who are able to write educational pieces that are seriously entertaining. I know that I never though dams or shrimp to be that interesting but the way these essays are put together really helps with the fluidity of the magazine. Another high point for me in this magazine is when I get to a page that is a full photograph spread. The photos and artwork in this magazine bring the authors' and poets' works to life and really help the reader to see what they are reading.

Once again, I'm sorry for the tardiness of my blog, but I am especially mad that it is late because this was an easy and interesting assignment for me because I have really enjoyed reading Orion in the past.