Charismatic Facts: Climate Change, Poetry & Prose

<p>This issue brings together poetry, visual art, prose essays, and an interview organized around the theme “Charismatic Facts.” It also includes additions to our ongoing project, Climate Change & Art: A Lexicon.</p> <p>What is the relation between charisma and information? How fast can a well-turned phrase move? How does it age? In this issue of The Distance Plan we consider how, occasionally, facts or argumentative claims float free from their point of origin to become hyper-portable and cross-disciplinary. We call these memorable, animated phrases “charismatic facts” and suggest they can be found at the intersection of flair and research, savvy and data, linguistic craft and political utility. Though charismatic facts may remain lightly tethered to, and therefore validated by, their authorial or institutional home, they are at the same time un-ordinary in that they are used freely by a range of speakers, from scientists and activists to TV anchors, politicians, and family members at dinner.</p> <p><em>This item is publicly available as part of the <a style="background: #f2e315; font-weight: 500;" href="https://nn.www.librarystack.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Library Stack Public Branch at NN Contemporary Art</a>.</em></p>