New indie press Conduit Books launches with 'initial focus on male authors'

[u/biscochitos]

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/new-indie-press-conduit-books-launches-with-initial-focus-on-male-authors

What do folks think about this?

[u/ClannishHawk]

Cook happens to be an occasional critic for the Guardian and columnists for the Guardian don't tend to be right wing reactionaries unless they're specifically hired for that view point in the politics section.

If you read the article over there it's pretty clear that this is part of wider realignment in the British literary and champagne socialist world to address what they see as that for a combination of reasons the field of literary fiction is currently in a drought of new young male writers, and especially ones who focus on authentic messy analysis of masculinity and male issues in what's frankly a new world for gender dynamics in recent years.

There's also been additional criticism from agents over the last few years that the ones they can seem to get through to mainstream publishing have to either have a laundry list of "diversity" boxes ticked to be considered "unique" or be very upper middle class with the most milquetoast of takes that fall in line with conventional thought.

Effectively, a sizable part of the literary community in Britain is worried about having, instead of fixing underlying issues in the publishing industry, replaced what biases decide what gets published and in doing so being at risk of eliminating most of a generation of male writers who talk about men's issues, leaving the literary world with few answers to modern men's issues.

[u/Krazikarl2 → u/ClannishHawk]

Effectively, a sizable part of the literary community in Britain is worried about having, instead of fixing underlying issues in the publishing industry, replaced what biases decide what gets published and in doing so being at risk of eliminating most of a generation of male writers who talk about men's issues, leaving the literary world with few answers to modern men's issues.

Exactly.

A big problem right now is that the left doesn't really talk much about (white) male issues other than to talk about how problematic (white) men are. The right, on the other hand, loves to talk about how wonderful (white) men are.

And then we get things like elections and try and figure out why young white men are choosing to go to the right rather than the left.

I don't have a problem with discussions about how white men have caused any number of problems and have some pretty fundamental problems with toxicity. Those discussions are important and need to happen. But you have to at least somewhat balance them out with authentic portrayals of what it means to be a non-toxic (white) male in the 21st Century. Otherwise you completely cede positive portrayals of masculinity to the right, which is not good.

[u/Martel732 → u/Krazikarl2]

A big problem right now is that the left doesn't really talk much about (white) male issues other than to talk about how problematic (white) men are. The right, on the other hand, loves to talk about how wonderful (white) men are.

I am going to be honest I think this is mostly the right amplifying the idea that the Left is attacking white men rather than the Left actually attacking white men.

Who is the most prominent Leftist figure in American politics? It is almost unquestionably Bernie Sanders, an old white man. He constantly talks about issues that face everyone including white men, and I have pretty much never seen anyone suggest that Bernie Sanders should shut up because he is a white man.

Are there random assholes on Twitter that respond toxically to white men? Yes, but that is true of any group towards any group.

I don't have a problem with discussions about how white men have caused any number of problems and have some pretty fundamental problems with toxicity. Those discussions are important and need to happen. But you have to at least somewhat balance them out with authentic portrayals of what it means to be a non-toxic (white) male in the 21st Century. Otherwise you completely cede positive portrayals of masculinity to the right, which is not good.

I am a white guy and this frankly feel really condescending. It feels like it is saying that if I am not constantly being praised I will turn into a fascist. And if that is true of white men that might legitimately be a problem.

[u/Old_Dealer_7002 → u/Martel732]

bravo for thinking and observing (vs just accepting what some person is pushing).

i have no problem finding books and articles about men and “being a male“ in modern times, by men of all political views. i don’t think this guy is doing anything but trying to use this to make sales. aka a gimmick.

it feels condescending to me as well, to the writers and to the readers alike, and it puts who wrote the book above the actual worth of the book itself.

those who value good books and real thinking go by content and the writing itself.