About Athwart
A remembrance of things past, gratitude for things present, and optimism for things to come.
Our Mission
Athwart began with a simple exhortation: "Stop, and watch where you're going." While this remains part of our ethos, our vision has expanded to embrace not just careful examination, but also celebration and hope. We are dedicated to thoughtful discourse that bridges past wisdom with future possibilities.
Remembrance
We excavate and trace the origins of older social forms, moral goods, and worldviews that have been suppressed or lay dormant. Understanding what came before illuminates where we are and where we might go.
Gratitude
We celebrate the present moment and its achievements—political, interpersonal, and technological. Like W.H. Auden's Malin building an altar of sandwiches to the Queen of Love, we build our altar of prayer with what we have.
Optimism
We maintain a pioneering notion of progress that joins the wisdom of the past to curiosity about the future. We believe that urgent change must be guided by truth rather than mere expedience.
Our Approach
In a world often overwhelmed by pessimism, we choose a different path. We stand athwart despair, embracing both critical examination and hopeful possibilities. Our work spans multiple domains:
Essays
In-depth analyses of culture, politics, and society that combine scholarly rigor with accessible prose.
Musings
Shorter reflections on current events, cultural phenomena, and philosophical questions.
Studies
Detailed examinations of specific topics, combining historical perspective with contemporary relevance.
Lectures
Curated talks and discussions that bring together leading thinkers to explore crucial questions.
Join Us
We invite you to join us in this endeavor. Whether through reading, writing, or engaging in discussion, your participation enriches our collective understanding and shapes our shared future.