Introducing Edified, a new forum for philosophical fiction and art
Are you looking for works that educate and inspire?
I don’t know about you, but over the past few years I’ve found it increasingly difficult to find things I actually want to watch or read in my spare time. Serious art, movies, and literature deal almost exclusively in the dark side of human nature, exploring all the ways people can suffer and do wrong. Cynicism (in the modern sense of the word) is considered sophisticated, and anything inspirational or aspirational is naive, simple-minded, or (to bring in an aesthetic judgment) kitschy.
At the same time, pop culture (books, movies, music, etc.) seems obsessed with superficial and commercialized franchises. There are still some gems amidst the rubble, of course, but for the most part it’s very hard to find things worth dialing into. I’m not even asking for anything specifically about Stoicism or philosophy—just something that elevates the mind and spirit.
Where is the literature that helps us become better people?
Where are the movies that help us see the world more clearly and appreciate its beauty?
Where is the art and music that educates and inspires?
A few weeks ago, as I closed Amazon yet again with nothing good to watch or read, I found myself saying, “Someone should do something about this!” And then I realized…maybe that someone is me.
So, Edified is my small effort to address this problem. It’s a Substack forum for philosophical fiction, visual art, and music—any type of art that helps us learn about the world, search for truth, understand life more deeply, become better people. Along with a few wonderful collaborators, I will be trying to offer a venue that elevates the mind, spirit, and intellect through beautiful and captivating artistry. Our mission is to “provide a space for creative endeavors that educate and inspire, exploring human potential and the beauty of the world.”
At the moment, I am happy to say we are featuring work by Tim Iverson and Erik Hogan, with more posts planned in the coming weeks. I am also offering my new Stoic mystery novel, The Lost Discourses, in serialized format on Edified. If you subscribe to the publication, you will automatically be signed up to receive biweekly updates of the The Lost Discourses; but if you prefer not to receive these, you can always turn them off.
Edified a free publication, and we ask only that you help spread the word to both potential readers and contributors. If you are an artist or writer with something to contribute, I would love to hear from you at edifiedartandlit@gmail.com. Or if you know anyone whose work matches our mission, please share this information with them. We would love to consider a wide range of art and artists, as long as it fits with our goal of providing culture and entertainment that uplifts and instructs.
Please let me know if you have questions, comments, or suggestions for Edified. I appreciate all of you and I hope that together we can create a space for creative works that explore the upper reaches of human nature rather than the lower depths. If all goes well, we will no longer have to turn off our screens with nothing good to see. We will have plenty of stories and art to help us discover and appreciate the good all around us.