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Hello, world! We at OFIC Magazine are thrilled to announce the launch of our new lit mag. Our aim is to bridge the gap between literary and fandom spheres. 

About Us: 

OFIC Magazine is a quarterly publication with a simple goal: to promote the original work of fanauthors whose aesthetics and interests may not align with the genres of traditional publishing, but whose work still aspires to literary aims—work that may be dark or grotesque, unabashedly joyful, or just too filthy for the general population. We publish work that can’t fit anywhere else. Read more about us here. 

What is OFIC? 

What’s special about the word “ofic” is that it’s short for “original fiction,” but only in contrast to fanfiction. The fanfic-ofic divide dichotomizes fiction into two categories: work that openly acknowledges the canon from which a work was transformed, and everything else. More questions? Check out our FAQ or ask us here. 

Our Aesthetic: 

We welcome work that may, in another time, have been referred to as “lemons.” We enjoy everything from smut with emotional resonance to character exploration genfic. We like happy endings, sad ones, bittersweet or ambiguous ones. We do romance; we do heartbreak. We want the dark twisted stuff, the hurt with comfort, the hurt without comfort, the light fluffy “and they were roommates” AUs. We’re not so big on plot. Mostly, we want work that makes us feel things. 

TL;DR: WE ACCEPT PORN AND NOT-PORN OF ALL KINDS

Our first issue, which will be published on April 1, 2022 (no jokes here) can be accessed by pledging to our Patreon. 

Submissions:

Interested in submitting? You should be. It’s free, and we pay our contributors! (We know— we couldn’t be hotter if we tried.)

Submissions for our first issue open on December 11, 2021 and close on February 12, 2022. You can submit and read our guidelines here. 

we are all epistemologically deficient when it comes to understanding how others experience structural barriers. women, for example, possess knowledge of simple facts relevant to their life as women that men unarguably cannot experience. this does not mean that men cannot access any knowledge about women's experiences or draw correct conclusions re:sexism. it simply means that they are methodologically limited in accessing one kind of knowledge: experiential knowledge, or what is colloquially referred to as "lived experience".

but the use of lived experience as the only analytical point of reference in political matters individualizes and essentializes the reality of oppression, which should instead be understood as systemic. what identity politics should do is give us epistemic access to otherwise private and personal experiences that are necessary in order to shape one's positions - people's lived experiences can contain invaluable and illuminating insight into particular manifestations of systemic inequality and axes of power. but, while lived experience can give one unique epistemic access in certain domains, it doesn't necessarily dictate the terms of structural oppression or make anyone of any oppressed group morally infallible.

the abuse of identity politics is harmful first and foremost to marginalized people: it puts them on a moral pedestal and expects them to be irreproachable while acting like only "privileged" individuals can hurt other people. our analysis should draw on marginalized voices to explain why some people are systematically subject to violence and economic subordination, but lived experience alone doesn't give us information on the character of every individual marginalized person, the morality of their actions, or the validity of their claims. creating a virtuous/vicious category to parallel oppressed/oppressor is profoundly condescending and dehumanizing. it also obscures the dynamics of power that also exists within and between oppressed communities.

Today’s example is: Phylactery

In d&d:

In real life

That’s right. they named the evil artifact that the evil undead spellcaster hides their soul in after a Jewish ceremonial object.

when you come across that you should at the table paralyzed wondering

Do my fellow players know this is anti-Semitic?

If they don’t know and I bring it up will they be mad at me for ruining the fun?

If they do know and I bring it up will revealing myself as Jewish be dangerous?

Attention goyim: Jews don’t use the word phylactery. That’s stupid and greek. They’re called Teffilin.

(Image sources: https://projects.mcah.columbia.edu/treasuresofheaven/)

Also op’s insistence that “before d&d Phylactery only had one definition” is just an outright falsehood.  A phylactery is a fancier word for a reliquary, which is an ornate sealed container that holds a fragment of the mortal remains of a Catholic saint, usually a bone.

Gee, what magic item could that have inspired in D&D? Hm?

People in M/F relationships shouldn’t only see representation painting their relationships as inherently unhealthy and bad, because it normalizes abuse and makes it easier for abusers to take advantage of others. If “that’s just how straight relationships are,” fewer people will be able to recognize the warning signs of a dangerous situation. Also, not every M/F relationship is “straight,” because queer people can absolutely be in M/F relationships, and deserve to see themselves represented, too.

On the flip side, queer people shouldn’t be led to assume their relationships will never be unhealthy and bad. The vast majority of my social circle is queer, and I have seen some truly vile things happen to my friends because they didn’t really get an education on what abuse in queer relationships can look like.

Click through this link i’m losing my mind its gorgeous

the style is called “orsi” and is unique to iran

yes, these are real places! it’s a different mosque in the same city as the first picture (the shah cheragh mosque in shiraz)

basically,

I understand from reading ppl’s stories that the platonic nature of the community has helped a lot of asexual and aromantic ppl find a social outlet that lets them develop relationships with other members of the LGBT+ community. That’s important. These ppl deserve those connections.

And ppl who make fun of furries who wear costumes outside of cons… First of all, there’s nothing wrong with that, full stop. And secondly, masks and costumes can be so helpful with anxiety and sensory issues, so it’s actually not a neutral thing. It’s a benefit to those ppl. So maybe instead of begrudgingly tolerating it, we should welcome it.