SUBMIT TO PARNASSUS.
It’s plastered all over campus, but what does it mean?
For 58 years, Parnassus has served as Taylor’s literary and art journal. It consists of poetry, fictional short stories, creative nonfiction and every sort of visual art. As every editor, author and artist is an undergrad at Taylor, Parnassus is a publication by students, for students.
The name Parnassus comes from an important mountain in Greek mythology. It served as a symbol of divine inspiration and home to Thalia, the goddess of poetry, music and other liberal arts.
“Just as the Muses of Mount Parnassus served as a source of inspiration to the ancient Greeks, we hope that this Parnassus, with the products of artistic endeavor which it contains, will inspire other student writers in the years to come," wrote Susan Shank, an editor for Parnassus 1980.
The legacy of Parnassus had extended long before that moment and continues strong now. Last year’s edition consisted of 52 entries, and each year they take as many entries as are needed to showcase every voice on campus
All voices are not only welcomed but encouraged in Parnassus submissions. All submissions will be evaluated and edited anonymously, and there is no needed major, prerequisite or experience to be chosen.
“It's a great way to generate empathy with each other and to learn each other's perspectives,” said senior Joy Gardner, chief editor of “Parnassus 2020.” “Another great part about it is that it's an imprint on time. We're placing our mark. We're capturing what campus experience was like at this point in time.”
The extensive catalog in the Relief Room in Reade has every one of these snapshots stretching back to 1968. They serve as physical evidence of all of the change Parnassus, Taylor and college students as a whole have gone through throughout the years.
Editions often cover hard topics such as mental health, grief, coming of age, faith and relationships. The staff of Parnassus recognizes that the process of submitting creative writing to the public can be a vulnerable experience. However, they strive to celebrate and honor these words.
“It takes a lot of courage to speak out and to send pieces in,” said Aaron Housholder, professor of english and staff advisor of Parnassus. “It's an act of courage. It's an act of faith. It's an act of citizenship. And we want all of that.”
The staff of Parnassus hopes to celebrate the positives of these acts with this year’s theme “Illuminate.” The imagery reflects ideas of bringing clarity to situations and to warmly shine a light on unheard stories.
Every year, Parnassus strives to reach the farthest ends of campus and to hear the stories from the darkest corners.
“The whole point of Parnassus is to capture the voices of Taylor,” Housholder said. “We can't have those voices if people don't send them.”
For your voice to be heard, submit to Parnassus through parnassus-taylor.submittable.com.
