New print issue by STUCK magazine

In today's increasingly digitized and often deceptive media landscape, there is a growing need for a counterbalance: for an independent print magazine; one that uses art as an alternative communication channel to inform readers about current social issues that are mostly ignored by the mainstream media.

And what could be more relevant than the cross-generational and cross-cultural feeling of NOSTALGIA! No matter where in the world, everyone can relate to this longing transfiguration and nostalgia for the past. Triggered by a brief thought or a certain smell, the nostalgic feeling catapults us back to another, perhaps simpler or better time. But what is nostalgia actually? And what things make you and the generations before you nostalgic?

To answer these questions, we offer artists from different backgrounds an alternative platform to report on the subject matter. Together with the artists, we approach the term, find out what significance it has in the creative process and to what extent the feeling serves as a source of inspiration. In this way, we shed light on different approaches and ways of dealing with it. From certain stylistic elements in the works, to personal anecdotes, to deep and interpretative attempts at interpreting nostalgia: we look at the feeling from various angles.

For example, the feeling of nostalgia seems to be a cross-cultural and cross-generational phenomenon. Nevertheless, the narratives and artifacts that trigger this feeling differ. From place to place and time to time. So nostalgia as a moment that creates identification? As a generationally dependent pattern of interpretation?

Perhaps this profound emotion only offers us an entertaining and very individual journey through time. A promising excursion into the past that may be easy to market. Nostalgia as material happiness?

One thing is certain! While interviewing, researching, and compiling this issue, we were able to learn a lot about the topic, which we would now like to share with you. Among others, Tomohiro Kono, hair and wig artist from Japan, video game hacker and inventor of Plaguemon (spin-off of Pokémon), Tim Jacobus, cover illustrator of the well-known GooseBumps book series, come together in the issue to complete this alternative research project. In the spirit of the title "all that is new is well-forgotten old", we are looking forward to gaining a new understanding of nostalgia, exploring artistic approaches and ways of dealing with it and ultimately developing the very personal effect of the feeling.

Form follows function: we have also taken inspiration from earlier times in our choice of format, paper and special features (such as sticker packs, posters etc.). The feeling of nostalgia lives on in both the feel and the aesthetics of this issue. This year, STUCK remains true to its unique working methods and progressive forms of expression.

STUCK Magazine is for everyone who wants to discover artistic subcultures; anyone who wants to be inspired by visual and written storytelling, and for those who want to pay more attention to independent artists and collectives. It’s for all those who want to escape the overwhelming headline overload of the digital age and devote themselves to a single distraction, for those who believe that independent creative projects contribute to the promotion of culture, and for everyone who appreciates the unique quality of print products.

• To realize STUCK Magazine as an independent, analogue print project
• To be one of the first to hold the freshly printed magazine
• To promote independent media
• To provide a platform for artists
• To promote the diversity of contemporary culture
• To drive independent journalism

To make this project come into life, we need your support. Our first goal is to raise 4.500€ in order to print and distribute the magazine.

All additional funds are used to pay our contributors, marketing purposes, the launch of the magazine and for ongoing project activities.