The first issue of “Argus Roadside Architecture Journal” seeks to explore the Great Continental Divide of the Americas. Submissions to the publication will be asked to explore the multiple dimensions through which this route has been represented, imagined, negotiated, and ultimately built. Our ambition is to reach architects, artists, institutions, and social realities crossed by this route, connecting the dots to form a better understanding of the Continental Divide.
The editorial team has identified five lenses through which the Continental Divide may be viewed. This list is not comprehensive, rather serving as the starting point for discussion and exploration. Contributions should attempt to respond to one or more of the prompts below but may venture into their own investigation if deemed necessary. Contributions may be presented in the form of essays, photo essays, interviews, project showcases, postcards, letters, stories, or other print media.
AS JUNCTION: Despite its divisive nature, the Continental Divide of the Americas is a line that connects two territories. The line, therefore, serves as a suture in a torn territorial fabric. The instances of suturing occur along the line in many ways, and it is particularly interesting to note those that manifest in certain psychological and social attitudes. In all these cases, the Continental Divide acts as a device of communion or community. How does that which divides land bring people together? What holes have been punctured by those seeking to reach the other side?
AS DISJUNCTION: Being on one side or the other of the Continental Divide of the Americas determines certain conditions that reflect themselves as a contrast between friend and foe. This division can act as a threat perceived from the other. In other cases, the Continental Divide results from the influence of a particular economic system or commercial activity, which invisibly produces a disjunction reflected in the territory's shape. How are contexts separate on either side of the divide? How do they differ geographically? Culturally? Is this apparent in structures on either side, or the lack thereof?
AS PHENOMENON: The Continental Divide of the Americas is geographically identified by certain landforms that also reveal the internal mechanics of ‘spaceship Earth.’ Geography clearly provides a key interpretative lens to understand the line as an ever-shifting geological phenomenon. How does it shape human actions and how do human actions shape it? How does architecture contend with the physicality of this continent-spanning line?
AS IDEA: The Continental Divide of the Americas is a rather confused idea. It is nebulous, misunderstood, and constantly re-interpreted, both as a natural landform but also as a cultural stimulant. Understanding these ideals or mystical features are imperative to understanding the line as a whole What mystique does the continental divide hold? How have these ideas shaped the Continental Divide? Have they been constructive or destructive? How might the idea of Continental Divide change in the future?
AS FACT: The Continental Divide of the Americas can be understood as a concatenation of facts that require a keen eye, trained to detect its linear architecture. These facts might also contradict each other or interrupt each other's meaning without necessarily corrupting the overall form of the line. What are the facts that give structure to the Continental Divide? What are the tools for measuring these facts?
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS (200 words max)
Argus is interested in receiving a variety of submissions that fall under the genres outlined below. Submissions may respond to one of the five prompts above in a variety of ways:
Essay - A text-heavy submission that may be opinionated or research-driven. Maximum of 3000 words, 0-4 supporting images
Photo Essay - A collection of photos taken by the author with optional text captions to support the author’s narrative. Maximum of 12 images
Interview - A transcript of a conversation held between the author and someone who has something to say about the Continental Divide. Maximum of 3000 words, 0-2 supporting images
Travel Report - An authentic, narrative-based submission meant to communicate a personal account of the Continental Divide. May include text, sketches, photos, poems, or something else. Maximum of 1000 words, 0-5 images
Project - An architectural intervention designed somewhere along the Continental Divide. Submissions should include images, diagrams, and descriptions. Maximum of 8 images
Review - A catch-all for events, media, and tools relating to the Continental Divide. Maximum of 1000 words, 0-5 images
