The Comparative Literature Program at LSU has launched the journal Comparative Woman on LSU Digital Commons. Consisting of artistic and academic content related to comparative literature and women/gender studies from a variety of perspectives, the journal seeks to give poets and other artists a platform for reflecting on their thoughts and experiences--according to each issue's theme--to present its readers with unique, diverse, and thought-provoking content while also exposing them to scholarly work on art created by women in mediums both in and outside of the Western literary canon. Liz Johnston, an LSU Comparative Literature PhD student, serves as the journal's Editor-in-Chief. The editorial board also consists of Emily O'Dell from the Comparative Literature program as Essay Editor, Natalie D'Auvergne-LaMotte from the English Department as Poetry Editor, and Aparajita Dutta and Negar Basiri from Comparative Literature as Social Media Editor and Assistant Editor.

"As an artist (poet/musician) and an academic, I have always felt this pressure to choose between the two but the more I meet other academics, the more I learn that it is not only possible but incredibly common to be both," Johnston says. "In speaking with artists outside of the traditional academic sphere, I've also realized that many have some enriching contributions to the conversations we have inside the academy. Comparative Woman is about bridging that gap between art and academia. We're asking artists and academics to come together and contribute work (on either side so artists can submit essays and academics can submit art) based on each issue's theme. Our mission is to bridge the gap between artists and the academy, and not only explore but venture out beyond the Western literary canon as well."

Comparative Woman and the Comparative Literature Program at LSU will host a Comparative Collective Open Mic/Art Showcase on Friday, Feb. 8, from 6-9 p.m. in the LSU Women's Center in celebration of the journal launch. The event is free and open to musicians, poets, writers, and artists in the community to showcase their talents.

Comparative Women is hosted on LSU Libraries' journal-hosting platform, a service for LSU faculty members who edit journals or serve on editorial committees and boards. All journals published by LSU Libraries are scholarly in nature and are freely available online. For more information about publishing an online journal on LSU Digital Commons, contact Sigrid Kelsey.