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Top Ten New Items in AK Distro! (July)

Posted on July 8th, 2009 in AK Distribution

Just the other day (yesterday to be exact) I was emptying out the kitty litter box and thinking to myself, “AK Press really is a great resource for keeping up with new indie/radical titles.” I kid you not, these are the types of things that run through my head while dealing with cat shit…not that I associate AK Press with cat shit or anything…Anyway, I really do believe that the AK Press website—and now blog!—are a great place to find out about a lot of new indie releases. For the month of July, I bring you my top-ten picks of new AK Press Distro titles in the hopes that you’ll find something in this list that you didn’t even know was missing from your life. We are constantly updating our website, as we receive new titles here at the Oakland warehouse every single week, so don’t forget to check out our new releases page with frequency.

Shoot An Iraqi: Art, Life, And Resistance Under the Gun
In 2007, Iraqi professor and artist Wafaa Bilal began his “Domestic Tension” project, which involved him living in a Chicago gallery where online viewers had the option of commanding a remote control paintball gun to shoot him from the comfort and anonymity enjoyed from behind their computer screens. By the end of the month, Wafaa had been shot more than 60,000 times by people in 130 countries. This book documents Bilal’s experience living under “Domestic Tension” and also recounts his life story from growing up in Iraq to becoming a noted professor and artist working out of the U.S. This book also serves as an excellent read for all those interested in understanding the history and current political situation in Iraq and the context of “Domestic Tension” within the art world.

Protest Graffiti Mexico: Oaxaca
In autumn 2006, as they had done every year since 1981, local teachers and allies took over the town square of Oaxaca City in protest of the undignified conditions in which Oaxaqueños were forced to teach and learn. It is this year that state and federal armed forces carried out an unprecedented attack against the encampment on orders from Governor Ulisses Ruiz, a champion of neoliberal policies in the state of Oaxaca. Working under gunfire and tear-gas, the teacher’s peaceful protest soon turned into an all out popular uprising. Within days of the attack, the city’s walls, fences, sidewalks, lampposts, etc turned into blank canvasses for artists to blast their message all over the city in support of the people’s struggle. This book collects dozens of full color photograph’s depicting the public art found in and around Oaxaca city during the height of the popular uprising, as well as a narrative analysis of the role and impact of street art in the struggle for Oaxaca. If you are interested in learning more about the popular people’s movement in Oaxaca, I highly recommend that you check out Un poquito de tanta verdad, an outstanding film documenting the take-over of local radio stations by Oaxacan rebels used to disseminate information, maintain collective morale, and denounce corruption.

Anarchism: A Beginner’s Guide
In this new introductory guide, author Ruth Kinna lays out the answers to many of the questions plaguing those who are just familiarizing themselves with the concept of anarchism. Incredibly reader-friendly, it includes discussions on the history of anarchism, the differing, oftentimes conflicting, strains of anarchism, real-life experiments in anarchist living, and much, much more. You can buy a copy and give it to your ISO friend as a gift or get it for yourself as a reminder as to why you thought anarchism made sense in the first place.

Other: An Asian & Pacific Islander Prisoner’s Anthology
An often ignored subgroup within the discourses shaping the struggles and strategies against prisons and policing, Other gives voice to Asian Pacific Islanders who find themselves in the same unfortunate, yet predictable situation as millions of others living within the confines of the U.S. prison system. This collection contains stories, artwork, poetry, interviews, and narratives of 22 API prisoners. This book is a project of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee and is already in its second printing, so go ahead and get yourself some copies before you have to wait for the third-run.

Left Turn: Notes from the Global Intifada #33
Indigenous genocide in Peru. Right-wing military coup in Honduras. The ever-steady low intensity war being waged against the people of Chiapas. Gee, I really wish somebody would publish a collection of short articles outlining these sorts of struggles which I could purchase for under $5. Oh wait, somebody already did that—Left Turn Magazine! This issue is dedicated to Indigenous struggles in Latin America, and also includes articles about the future of Sri Lankan politics, anti-police organizing in Oakland, and the always insightful book reviews, letters, and news pieces featured in every issue of Left Turn.

Atamansha: The Story of Maria Nikiforova
This is the story of Maria Nikiforova, a Ukranian woman who rose up from the industrial slums of Alexandrovsk to become a fierce and militant figure in the struggle for freedom in three different continents. If you’ve never heard of Nikiforova before, it’s because her story was blacklisted by official historians and was lost for generations—until now. Thanks to the good folks at Black Cat Press, you can finally read all about this young freedom fighter’s exploits. You can check out all of the other new Black Cat titles available from AK Press Distribution here.

So Many Ways to Sleep Badly
In their new novel, author Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore brings us the ups and downs of San Francisco living—you know, drugs, sex, health issues, cops, politics, etc—all from a radical queer perspective. For those of you who don’t know, Sycamore is also the editor of the groundbreaking anthologies Nobody Passes and That’s Revolting, which are also available from AK Press distro.

Legend Sondayo
Part of the Civil Defense Poetry series, Legend Sondayo is a collection of works from local Pinay poet Maiana Minahal. This tiny book is packed with poetry that blends traditional Filipina imagery with contemporary queer subversiveness. It’s also small enough to fit in your back pocket, so you can whip it out for a quickie escape on your bus ride to and from work (or on your way to any other place that you dread arriving to on a daily basis).

Smash the Church, Smash the State
From the first high heel thrown at Stonewall to the last performance of the drag burlesque group the Cockettes, enter the wild days of the late ’60s and early ’70s with the individuals who lived them! Celebrating 40 years since the June 1969 Stonewall Riots, the essays, manifestos, artwork and photos in this anthology represent a group of radical activists who together formed the ranks of the Gay Liberation Movement. For the first time together in one volume, these writers share unique perspectives, occasional regrets and changes of ideology, personal memories, and a celebration of the revolutionary spirit that shaped and guided the movement.

The Fart Party: Volume 2
As much as I (and all of my closest friends) have an intense disdain for any and all self-indulgent expressions of angst and irony created by white, middle class, gentrifying, hipster kids living in SF, we cannot help but giggle in delight when flipping through the pages of Julia Wertz’ The Fart Party comics. I believe you’ll find the Fart Party equally delightful. For every Volume 2, there’s also a Volume 1, conveniently available from AK Press Distribution.