Lately, the trend in art and literature is toward work which is autobiographical or confessional in nature. Art has always been a personal thing; however, in a world gone generally mad, in a place where even fictional characters and beloved family pets have their own blogs, much of the work is more transparently honest than in the past. Artists are more willing than ever to lay their inner workings completely bare, and culturally, we are more receptive to their stories than ever.

Thus, Catharsis Magazine was born.

Catharsis is a new art and literary magazine which focuses on self-discovery through self-honesty through art. It will be published quarterly, starting in September, through Lulu.com-- a good chunk of the content will be available online as well, along with additional material (Podcast interviews, material we couldn't fit in the magazine, reviews, you name it!).

We are currently accepting submissions of photography, art, and all forms of writing for the first issue. Submission deadline is August 1st, but the sooner you submit, the more likely we'll have room. Find out more about submission on our submission page.

Here's what's in the first issue of Catharsis:

Concise Confessions - At the top of every page will be a single-sentence confession. Anonymous or first name only. If you have a concise confession you'd like to see in print, send it to confessions@catharsismagazine.com. Your email address will not be printed, and will be kept in the strictest of privacy.

Dysmorphia

For so many of us, there remains a huge gap between what we see in the mirror and what others see when they look at us. Through photography, art, and writing, our contributors will discuss what they see when they see themselves-- the invisible nightmares that steal self-confidence, the struggle to develop a healthier self-image, and what they someday hope to see when they look in the mirror.

Interviews:

Artist and author Jesse Michael Renaud sits down with the editor and discusses the pain and pleasure of self-publication, the courage to turn private horrors into public art, and his upcoming graphic novel.

Fashionista and illustrator Haze McElhenny turns her life experiences into incredible pieces of wearable art. Haze will sit down with us and discuss her road to success, why she feels so strongly about supporting charity through her work, and how she gets such complex emotions into such simply elegant artwork.

Kay Hanley: In Clouds

Kay Hanley, indie-pop princess (not to mention former lead singer of Letters to Cleo and the voice of Josie in Josie and the Pussycats), graces us with a poignant essay on her struggle and failure to find God in a time of need, and how that struggle turned into one of the most intriguing songs on her Babydoll LP.

Something's missing

No matter how full and rich life is, it's practically impossible to ever truly want for nothing. So many people fall to the weight of nostalgia or longing; it seems as though the majority of the population walk around with a piece of themselves missing. If only I had ____, then I would be whole. In our second art feature, contributors discuss the fear of remaining incomplete, the things they truly need, and how they manage to live without them.