Editorial

Abstract

This double special issue of TAJA might best be described as doubly transitional. First, it sits in between two editorial teams, and, secondly, we conceive this special issue as a transition towards new forms of scholarly presentations. As this double special issue titled ‘Epistemic attunements’ was nearing completion, the journal was transitioning between two editorial teams. Anna-Karina Hermkens, Jaap Timmer, and Jerrold Cuperus assumed their roles as editors-in-chief and managing editor, while the previous team helped to ensure this long-planned special issue came to fruition. In addition to the change in editors, we are excited to welcome Cammi Webb-Gannon as our new book review editor. We want to extend our gratitude to Andrew McWilliam and Thomas Wright for their work on the journal, and to Helena Önnudóttir for managing the book reviews.

We are honoured to feature this double special issue on ‘Epistemic attunements’. Its production has involved stimulating explorations of how to move beyond the limitations of the classical journal article. The guest editors and authors have created a wonderful space of ‘intermedial’ design and composition that powerfully demonstrates how anthropological knowledge practices can be expanded, and indeed, regenerated. Each contribution reveals richly diverse ways of knowing and sensing, inviting various forms of witnessing, learning, and caring through creative uses of text, image, and sound. Each attunes to what emerges in the in-between spaces that bring to life the affectivities and relationalities of worlds shared, cared, and traversed by different gatherings of beings, both human and non-human. Much of this cannot be captured in the traditional form of scholarly articles.

Thank you, Jennifer Deger, Victoria Baskin Coffey, Caleb Kingston, Sebastian J. Lowe, Lisa Stefanoff, and all the authors and everyone else who has helped to make this special issue happen. We hope that ‘Epistemic attunements’ will ignite stimulating discussions on how we engage with and care for our anthropological knowledge. As this special issue highlights, this endeavour requires a genuine commitment to expanding and embracing the unique forms and epistemologies inherent in the diverse histories and lifeworlds from which ethnographies emerge.

Looking ahead, we continue to invite submissions that focus on ethnographic research carried out in Australia and the Pacific and Asian regions, theoretical anthropological pieces, and research conducted by Australian anthropologists and interdisciplinary research teams. We especially want to invite First Nations authors and scholars from the region to submit their work. We are ready to support you with editorial advice and some financial assistance for language editing. We also continue to be a forum for special issues, especially if they emerge from panels held at the annual conferences of the Australian Anthropological Society.

In addition, we encourage proposals for thematic or key debate-oriented special sections, and, as indicated, we are open to multi-modal and intermedial contributions. Please reach out to the editors with your ideas so that we can determine the most suitable format. And, of course, we will continue to publish reviews of books, films, performances, and exhibitions. If you are interested in reviewing a specific item or event, please contact Cammi at [email protected].

To make your life as an author easier, TAJA now offers Free Format submission, simplifying and streamlining the submission process. Have a look at the author guidelines page to learn more.

Later this year, TAJA will feature a special issue on tourism in Timor-Leste. Following that, you will notice new sections, including exciting debates, interviews, commentaries, comics, and more. Keep an eye out for these upcoming features.

For now, dive in and enjoy exploring ‘Epistemic attunements – Regenerating anthropology’s form’.