The Point, Issue 6

The Point is a Chicago-based twice-yearly journal of essays on contemporary life and culture. A mix of criticism, memoir, and reviews, The Point challenges its readers to recognize the impact of ideas on their everyday life. Each issue also contains a symposium consisting of several shorter pieces relating to a topic chosen by the editors—for instance, film, conservatism, or contemporary music.

Issue 6 includes Ben Jeffery's critical reflections on Simon Reynolds's Retromania and pop music's obsession with its own past; Clarisse Thorn's intrepid first-person account of Burning Man; Jonny Thakkar's exploration of what "socialism" might mean for today's politics; Emilie Shumway on her twenty-first century job search; and Jacob Mikanowski on Mad Men's depiction of history. Also, a special presentation by Luc Sante on crime scene photography, Justin Evans's political addendum to the Dictionary of Received Ideas, and a truly remarkable story from Charles Comey about sickness, nutrition, and the search for a truly human food. Then there's our symposium on animals, which asks: What are animals for?, with contributions from Gary Francione, Christine Korsgaard and Alice Crary.