Director’s Note
Movable Type. This was the technological breakthrough that made printing books on a large scale possible. Although it’s well-documented that initial advancements were made centuries earlier in Asia, it was Gutenberg who revolutionized the use of movable type in Europe, on paper. Every book in every library and, to an extent, all e-books and magazines and newspapers can be traced back to this paradigm shifting invention. 1455 is celebrated as the year books were produced on a massive scale, effectively moving civilization into modernity, arguably the most democratizing innovation in human history.
And the rest is history. And yet it isn’t. Books are still with us, even if many of them are now read on portable and handheld devices. Of course, the ways and means of creating and sharing content are myriad and ever-evolving. As such, we are proud to commemorate 1455 not merely as a milestone, but a concept. A free press, and presses that operate freely to publish stories (and opinions, ideas, etc.), ensure that the dissemination of information is controlled by neither an elite class nor censors.
The process of democratizing content continues today. Movable Type, then, offers several connotations, and we recognize this name as symbolic of the continuum between 1455, today, and tomorrow. The need for personal narrative is strong as ever, and the ability to create and share these stories has never been more accessible. At 1455, we believe in the magic of words, the transformative power of creativity, and the collective imperative of building community. Our mission is to provide time and space for writers to create, connect, and share resources to assist writers anywhere and everywhere.
1455’s Movable Type, which will publish every other month, is meant to showcase personal stories by exceptional writers, offer invaluable resources, and foster solidarity. Each issue will provide a forum for a diverse array of poets, masters of prose, essayists, educators and anyone with passion for written expression. I’m grateful to the authors assembled for our first issue, and proud to have Kirsten Porter—a remarkable writer, editor, and human being—helping manage all aspects of this achievement, from conception to execution.
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to hearing from you as we continue celebrating creativity and building community.
Be well, and keep writing!
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