DappledThings.org

A quarterly journal of ideas, art, and faith

What’s the Point of Dappled Things?

Previous editions of my yearly fundraising letter have argued that a journal like Dappled Things needs to exist in order to enrich and revitalize contemporary culture. I stand by those words, yet it’s clear to me now that such statements suggested, however vaguely, some sort of plan to transform society one short story at a time. As one of our most recent features puts it, “‘beauty will save the world’ has become a well-loved cliché.” If anyone was still under the impression that any such scheme could succeed, 2016 should have put those illusions to rest.

During a year when horror reigned in the streets of Mosul and Aleppo, when mass murder ran rampant in Nice and Orlando, when England parted ways with Europe and Colombians rejected an end to their decades-long conflict, when after a bitter campaign between the most disliked candidates in US history a reality TV star became the new leader of the free world, anyone reading this letter would be excused for wondering whether there’s any point to a small, (mostly) apolitical magazine of culture and the arts. To be frank, even as founder of the journal I’ve asked myself that question. My conclusion is that now, more than ever, we cannot afford to lose Dappled Things, and I want to ask for your financial support to continue our work for yet another year.

MQA 2015 coverWhat is the point of Dappled Things then? I hesitate to narrow it down explicitly, because God only knows to what ultimate purpose he has inspired some of us to pursue this work, but I’d like to make an analogy to the religious life. Orders, as we know, are generally divided between those that are active and contemplative, and there is always a temptation to give all the glory to those orders that clearly “get results” out there in the world. Yet while the work of such orders is an indispensable expression of the faith, our vocation as Christians is ultimately contemplative. The goal of every human life is the Beatific Vision—an encounter with Beauty Himself—and without Carmelites or Cistercians to serve as a sign of our true end, we’d too easily fall into the error that the faith is just one enormous social work project.

I believe that what is true of Catholic orders is also true of Catholic publications. There are many outlets fighting worthy battles in the arenas of politics, apologetics, ethics, and doctrine, but Dappled Things reminds us that life is not just a battle. It presents to us, again and again, those fruits of contemplation that art and literature are so adept at preserving and communicating, without which all our struggles scarcely make sense. In a world where conflicts seem to turn ever more bitter, reaching even into the heart of the Church, it’s hard to overstate the importance of such a mission. And while there are many Catholic publications of the “active” sort, there is only one Dappled Things.

We absolutely depend on your support to exist. Our goal is to raise $15,000 during this Christmas campaign.  Can you contribute to our work with a gift of $100, $50, $20, or even just $5? Or are you in a position to contribute $1,000, $500, or $250? Donors at this level, without whom we cannot reach our goal, will be recognized in the journal and will receive a signed, limited edition art print of a work by an artist previously featured in DT.

Please consider at what level you can give and make your donation today. Dappled Things will not save the world, but perhaps it’s one of those things in the world worth saving. With your help, we can.

Sincerely in Christ,

Bernardo Aparicio García
Founder & President, Dappled Things




Donate to Dappled Things and receive the following rewards!

Give $10: Thank you on social media.

Give $25: Thank you on social media and print edition (listed as a “Friend”).

Give $50: Thank you on social media and print edition (listed as a “Sponsor”).

Give $100: Thank you on social media and print edition (listed as  a “Patron of the Arts”); a free 1 year print subscription (for current subscribers, subscriptions will be extended); plus a personally written Christmas card from our president.

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Give $250 (Hopkins Level): Thank you on social media, print edition, and Christmas card; a free 1 year print+digital subscription; and limited edition print of artwork featured in the journal, signed by the artist.

Give $500 (Chaucer Level): All of the above, with a free 2 year print+digital subscription, and a signed copy of our first printed edition, featuring Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, Peter Kreeft, Michael O’Brien, and many others (or any back issue of your choice).

Give $1,000+ (Dante Level): All of the above, with a free three year print+digital subscription, plus a free Flannery O’Connor t-shirt (or other t-shirt from our store—your choice).

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Comments

  1. I like what you say in this and I also like what you don’t say , if you see what I mean .

    It’s such a pity that Dappled Things has to rely on money to continue & flourish .

    Couldn’t you just continue as a free WordPress blog ?

  2. Thanks for your kind words about DT Denis. To answer your question, we could become a free blog, but in that case we’d lose a lot of the content that makes us great, not to mention the lovely printed edition that attracts that content. Without that, we might remain a nice blog, but we could not be a hub for fostering the rebirth of Catholic letters, which is a big part of what we’ve been working on all these years (and which I believe we are starting to see the first signs of).

    • You have made the case very well. I too think DT plays a unique role in supporting Catholic literature and will continue to support it. You have produced something unique. The print journal is a beautiful thing and it is a forum for voices and artists that I (and others) would not otherwise hear or see. Obviously, this requires financial support and I will be providing my share next week.

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