PRISM International Review

PRISM International is published four times a year by the Creative Writing Program at the University of British Columbia. It accepts contemporary writing from Canada and around the world. The journal includes fiction, illustrations, nonfiction, and poetry. An online version of the journal can be reached at www.prismmagazine.ca

The cover of the magazine is illustrated by Kathryn Jankowski, and although the women drawn on the cover are misshaped and proportionally inaccurate, the eye is drawn to them. Jankowski employs a vibrant use of color to illustrate these women by painting the background of the cover mustard yellow and parts of the women's clothing and bodies in a reddish/orange shade.

PRISM International focuses on contemporary literature that addresses themes interwoven into modern day society. For example, the poem "Diagnoses" with powerful lines such as, "you say the road ahead is marrow," fits into the modern day conception of health care. The poem, "Cookie Bags" discusses how modernization has devalued the intrinsic value and beauty of nature in the lines, "the same thing happened with cut flowers/quivering by the automatic doors/dying in buckets". Also, nonfiction pieces in the journal reflect on issues such as the clash of strict religious beliefs with modern relationships, and homosexuality. There is also a very powerful fiction piece about the horror and dehumanization that occurs from working in a meat factory, as well as a piece about a family raising a mentally delayed child. Every piece in the journal was extremely relevant to different aspects and issues facing today's society.

I was not familiar with any of the contributers to this journal, but it appears that they have had moderate success recieving recogntion for their works. Many of them are employed as professors at universities, and have have published their own books of poetry. A number of contributors also won awards such as the CBC Literary Award, and the E.J Pratt Medal & Prize in Poetry.

Of all the poems in this literary magazine, my favorite was "Liner Notes" by Jennica Harper. This poem was written in free verse and followed the developing relationship between a woman and a 3 year old girl with a mental disability. It addressed all the angst and stress of raising such a child, but also revealed the beauty of the child's simple mind.