The Manifesti of Radical Literature by Anne Elizabeth Moore


The Manifesti of Radical Literature
Title : The Manifesti of Radical Literature
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 88
Publication : First published January 1, 2006

The excessively delayed but comprehensively Illustrated Third Edition of the Manifesti of Radical Literature will be an anarchist style guide for cultural producers of approximately 100 pages, with chapters on such foundational political acts as throwing away one’s dictionary, creating one’s own system of punctuation, refusing to abide by the language imposed upon us by corporate entities, and reconsidering the very conditions under which the laws by which we are expected to abide were crafted. Also, it is funny and of a pleasing form and light but increasing heft, perfect for spiriting away in one’s back pocket for an evening of street stenciling or shopdropping.

This Questionably Diagrammed Edition features updated texts, an introduction and a postface by radical literarists Liz Mason and Mikki Halpin, and several medical illustrations of little sense and less value, by the author. Written and illustrated by Anne Elizabeth Moore.

The Manifesti of Radical Literature Reviews

  • Malcolm

    This is an excellent brief exploration of the politics of power in language, writing and publishing. Anne Elizabeth Moore is a writing/self-publishing activist who I have dealt with elsewhere here (see
    Unmarketable and
    Cambodian Grrrl) and in this short, snappy set of essays (almost 'class handouts') she unpacks the meaning of politics, and cultural politics in particular, the problem of formal education as placing limits on our vision, the created nature of writing systems (I love the chapter on punctuation) and the power politics of dictionaries – not in terms of definitions as such but what’s in, what’s out and how are things defined, the gender politics of self-publishing, the limitations of parody and problem of copyright/intellectual property rights – all in 52 snappy, engaging and thoroughly readable pages.

    This edition is long gone, but there is a 3rd edition about to be published; it is the ideal handbook/pocketbook for those who want to be reminded that radical literature is as much about how we do it as what it says.

  • James Payne

    A gleeful, anarchistic ride through intellectual property laws, education reform and the standardization of language.

    I omitted the Oxford comma in the previous sentence, and now, I feel somehow liberated... awake. Thanks Anne!

    (Not to be confused with Jared Lee Loughner's interest in the grammatical theories of :David-Wynn: Miller (though there is probably an interesting comparison to be made: relatively similar ideas re: language arrived at for completely dissimilar reasons.
    http://www.boingboing.net/2011/01/10/...))

  • Lila Kitaeff

    If I could give it 6 stars I would. This book is enlightening and hilarious. Seek it out! You can buy it at quimbys.com

  • Tara

    I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. This LITTLE book appealed to the writer in me. It is a treat for the intellectual anarchist who likes to work in the medium of prose. This is a thoroughly unique and titillating gem.