In the first semester of the 2023 school year, I had just started working as a poetry editor at The Cloudscent Journal, an online literary magazine focused on youth creatives. I found myself enjoying and appreciating all of the submissions I had received, regardless of whether I had accepted them for publication or not. This began a thought process that would not leave me alone. Of course, in Creative Writing, I have read almost everyone in the department’s work; regardless of whether it is poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, you get the idea. I knew that several people in other departments (whether it be Theatre, Dance, Art, etc) also wrote poetry, short stories, and other things. But I was never able to read them or fully appreciate them, and I knew that they didn’t get much recognition for their work.
It also goes without saying that Visual Arts receive very little recognition. A few students get pieces selected for student shows here and there, and of course, there is a senior show, but otherwise, you can expect very little attention surrounding their work.
From this lack of recognition, The Star Review was born. It’s a unique student-run literary magazine, catering to students from all departments who have a passion for writing and want to share their work.
This was a labor of love, involving a long process of procuring the funds to buy the website and domain email, designing the entire website, assembling a staff, and (perhaps the most challenging part), designing and compiling the issues. Recently, we released Issue 0.1, a compilation of the editors' work, as a peek into how the editors are qualified to run a literary magazine. Issue 1 was released on October 8th, a collection of work from mostly ASFA students and one Malaysian contributor. We were able to feature the work of three visual artists whose work would most likely not otherwise be seen by a wider audience.
By reading this magazine, sharing it with those you might be interested in, and talking about the art with people you know, you are actively supporting youth writers, artists, and creatives everywhere. It is a significant contribution to a community and understanding of what kind of art the future generation is making.
If you have a spare moment, I encourage you to visit the website. Read a beautiful poem, be astonished by wondrous and introspective artwork. Share your thoughts and feelings with the community. Your engagement is what makes this magazine thrive.
Best,
Avi Goldberg
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
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