Submit your pitch here: https://modal.fillout.com/t/gyHFfyCHJHus
The fabric of technology is a wondrous connection of systems, silicon and ingenuity. But much of that fabric is worn then disposed. Humans are fickle beings. Technology is always trying to surprise us. This inaugural publication by Modal will feature writing and art that focus on the lived experiences at the center of technological and social change.
We hope to explore the technological and mechanical systems underpinning the most strange, unlikely and fundamentally human places: a factory floor, a server rack, a park, a birding forum, a bathroom, a galaxy, a church pew, a music model.
The publication asks: Can we say something true about the fabric of technology by turning to our varied experiences with and around technology?
Concretely, this publication will contain a curated assortment of guest essays, dispatches, poetry and art.
We are accepting 1-paragraph pitches for dispatches and guest essays.
We are particularly interested in:
Consider **topics and writing that range between Jun’ichiro Tanizaki’s essay, In Praise of Shadows, on Japanese aesthetics with an extended focus on toilets, lacquer and light and Paul Butler’s blog post about smuggling arbitrary data through an emoji.
A strong pitch seamlessly balances the trees and the forest. Explore big and endemic questions through narrow, specific lenses—an object grounded in niche, technical details that widens into a much larger story, an analytical case study or “how-to” guide that makes broader comments on phenomena that shape the human experience.
Guest essays are personal essays of discovery, process and people. Take us on the journey of a personal project, an obsession, a quirky curiosity or a lived experience. Guest essays focus more on entertainment and “aha” moments, but do not lack vivid detail or specificity.
Guest essays should range between 1,500-2,000 words.