Aftertouch

Aftertouch Magazine is a literary and art publication that centers ekphrasis. Our view of ekphrasis is expansive, incorporating art in all of its forms. We strive to push beyond pieces that only focus on visual art, platforming work that ruminates on music, film, media, the performing arts, literature, and other subjects. We rely on early definitions of ekphrasis, stripping it down to its roots. In Aphthonius’ Progymnasmata, ekphrasis is first defined as “a composition bringing the subject clearly before the eyes.” As such, our view of art is broad – anything created by humans with intent and meaning.

Ekphrasis inherently places works in conversation with one another. Poetry and prose engage with different forms, bringing a new perspective to the reader. Our name highlights this exchange. “Aftertouch” is a feature on electronic keyboards that allows the artist to modulate the sound by applying more pressure to the keys. Ekphrasis operates similarly. The (new) artist applies pressure, building their own interpretation. Through manipulation, the piece changes while retaining the same undertones.

Structurally, this sense of exchange is woven throughout the work we publish. Each text-based piece published will be accompanied by a piece of visual and audible art selected by our editors (from pieces submitted by artists and musicians). We view this as akin to the process of museum curation, cultivating miniature exhibits within each published piece.

We believe art is something to be shared. All featured creators will be appropriately credited, with bios for all three artists appearing at the bottom of each post. All pieces will also be featured on our social media via sharable posts. Our editorial team will also interview contributors who are interested, with typed interviews appearing on our website roughly two weeks after the original piece is published. This timeline enables us to further promote your work for an extended period of time.