Unwinnable Monthly – The Rebellion Issue
This is a reprint of the letter from the editor in Unwinnable Monthly Issue Eighty-Seven, the Rebellion. You can buy Issue Eighty-Seven now, or purchase a one-month subscription to make sure you never miss an issue!
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I am writing this as noon turns dark on Inauguration Day. What better time to release an issue dedicated to rebellion?
Matthew Byrd leads our theme off with a personal story of rebellion against parental authority as a kid watching tasteless movies. Bill Coberly observes that in the game FTL, the rebels are the villains. Harry Mackin argues that in an age of brands, the only rebellion that can’t be bought is to not buy in to begin with. Megan Condis goes a step further, outlining how in the present moment, its the language of rebellion that has propped up an evil empire. Amanda Hudgins introduces us to Dumbledore’s Army from the Harry Potter books and how its failure to protect those who needed it most is apt in light of the 2016 election. Brock Wilbur recounts his days as a punk rock rebel and reveals the secret reason capitalism still plagues us. Khee Hoon Chan digs into the surprising resurgence of relevance in the cyberpunk sub-genre. Matt Sayer lauds the approach to non-violent protest in Watch Dogs 2. Finally, Ben Sailer explains why we need more games like 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, which tackles the Iranian Revolution.
It isn’t a chipper collection of essays. The election left us shocked. The spectre of that dismay lingers and I think, in many ways, these essays represent a kind of coming to terms. Hope seems out of place just now. We need to steel ourselves. How can we face the future without coming to terms with how we got here?
And if we haven’t come to terms, well, it doesn’t matter. We’re out of time. The day is here. Ready or not, we have to resist, in whatever form that may take: reading, writing, organizing, marching; a kind word; a refusal to stand by and accept.
Be resolute, friends.
Stu Horvath
Kearny, New Jersey
January 20, 2017
