The Emergence of the San Francisco Review of Whatever
In a digital age inundated with fleeting online content, a trio of creatives has responded with a unique print publication—The San Francisco Review of Whatever. This initiative aims to foster thoughtful discourse and community engagement through a printed medium.
The Genesis of an Idea
The concept was initially sparked during a casual conversation on Twitter where Nicula posed a question to the online community: “Why doesn’t San Francisco have a review?” This prompted a significant interest in the need for a local publication akin to the LA Review of Books and the New York Review of Books.
After receiving positive responses, Nicula approached Fingal, expressing her vision for this new venture, which culminated in the quarterly publication’s launch that began just over a year ago. The culmination of these discussions will be celebrated at a release party on February 28 at Et al. gallery.
A Manifesto for Art and Community
In February 2024, Nicula articulated her vision for the Review in an essay on Small Press Traffic’s online platform, describing a rebellion against tedious grant-writing language in the arts. “Normal life deserves beauty in describing, ardent feelings, pleasurable clarity, and true likeness,” she stated, highlighting the publication’s commitment to genuine representation and engagement with the arts.
Main Features of the Inaugural Issue
The inaugural issue exemplifies its titular “whatever” by covering a wide range of topics relevant to the Bay Area. Highlights include:
- Perspectives on the Bay Area from authors based in Maine
- Artistic reflections on Berkeley’s People’s Park and works by Donald Judd and Christo and Jeanne-Claude
- Essays by Susan Stryker addressing various themes
- Explorations of tennis as metaphorical art
- A quirky back page featuring classified ads and humorous content
Cultivating Connections Through Print
Hartsock envisions a future where a reader encounters the Review in a local bike repair shop and subsequently connects with a classified ad respondent to exchange homemade goods. This notion reflects the publication’s underlying aim to foster community connections outside the digital sphere.
“Part of the idea is to be a little bit Luddite,” Nicula remarked, expressing a desire to retreat from the overwhelming nature of online culture. The slower pace of print is seen as an opportunity to connect more meaningfully. The creators, balancing multiple commitments, strive to produce a publication that resonates on a personal level.
