SHIFTING VISTA: NON-FICTION & CO

Within the context of a literary project, this denotes the specific methodology or systematic workflow adopted to ensure the comprehensive realisation of content within a prescribed timeframe.

A supplementary inclusion appended to the original text or edition subsequent to its initial publication.

Wyeth (1917–2009) was a pre-eminent American visual artist, renowned for a realist and regionalist aesthetic manifested in seminal works such as Winter (1946), Christina’s World (1948), and Evening at Kuerners (1970).

An intermediary who negotiates between the author and the publisher; formally designated as a literary agent. This mode of representation is particularly prevalent within the British and North American publishing landscapes.

A finite sequence of rigorous instructions or logical rules executed by a computational system to perform a specific task or resolve a complex problem.

A self-contained narrative that functions as a sophisticated symbol for an extraneous reality, thereby conveying a latent moral or political significance.

A portmanteau for 'alternative facts'; a contemporary designation frequently associated with the dissemination of 'fake news' or fabricated information.

AM Radio (Jeff Berg) is a pre-eminent American artist and Webby Award laureate, primarily recognized for his pioneering contributions to virtual environments between 2007 and 2010.

Refers to an American realist modern art movement that depicted realistic scenes of rural and small-town life in the Midwest.

The attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities.

Refer to machine intelligence.

An interactive (ludic) genre centered upon the experiential discovery of artistic themes.

Refer to the term free association →

An individual whose written work has achieved publication, for which originality is a prerequisite. Refer also to the distinction between an author and a writer.

A legally binding contract between author and publisher articulating the terms of publication, including stipulations such as translation rights.

An American novelist renowned for Girl in Reverse (2014). In mid-2021, she pivoted to the non-fiction genre. Stuber serves as an educator at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

A conceptual design or writing framework outlining the primary narrative arc. It facilitates the filtration and structural synthesis of information tailored to a specific audience. (I)

A pervasive descriptor indicating a volume’s commercial superiority over comparable works. Frequent and often indiscriminate use on platforms such as Amazon has significantly diluted its substantive value. (IV)

Acronym for Black Lives Matter, an American-born movement combating racism and championing the rights of the Black community. (IX)

A composite work, manifesting in either physical or electronic form, intended for the dissemination of information (fiction/non-fiction). Refer also to: E-book.

The formal acknowledgment of original sources for data and imagery utilized within a published work, typically executed through footnotes or endnotes. (I)

A recurring large-scale arts event convened annually in the western United States. It is renowned for its often imposing and extravagant desert installations symbolising radical self-expression, and its climactic fire ceremony, an tradition established in 1986.

A prominent virtual art gallery within Linden Lab's Metaverse, established in 2006 by Cecilia, a New York-based gallerist. Until her passing in 2013, the campus hosted hundreds of unique virtual works by both established and emerging artists. Although intended as part of the virtual heritage of the platform, the original campus and its collection were lost due to a systemic error.

The suppression of words, imagery, or ideas deemed or perceived as "objectionable" by a censoring authority.

Posenenske (1930–1985) was a German artist who achieved prominence within the conceptual art movement until 1968. She designed democratised art for the masses with the teleological aim of challenging social inequality through the medium.

Institutional safeguards designed to prevent the encroachment of power within organisations where diverse interests coincide. This manifests through clearly defined responsibilities for governance and internal oversight, alongside their effective enforcement.

An estuary and coastal bay on the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern United States. In 1781, it served as the backdrop for the Battle of the Chesapeake during the American Revolutionary War.

An Indonesia-born Singaporean author and translator.

Carbon dioxide; a naturally occurring gas in the atmosphere which, in excessive concentrations, retains terrestrial heat, thereby contributing to planetary warming.

A formal statement, typically positioned at the commencement or conclusion of a publication, providing bibliographical data regarding the work's production.

A genre that prompts intellectual reflection and the re-evaluation of entrenched conventions. In this context, aesthetic form is subordinate to the underlying conceptual premise.

The state of mutual agreement between multiple parties or individuals.

Infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is colloquially termed 'Corona' due to the crown-like (corona) appearance of the viral particles under microscopic observation.

An American poet and Professor of English at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City).

Refer to literary non-fiction →

A 1948 tempera painting by the American artist Andrew Wyeth. This vista focuses less upon the landscape itself than upon the psychological fortitude of the young woman in the foreground; Christina, unable to walk, navigated her surroundings with grit and resilience.

A Dutch shipyard founded in 1910 in Slikkerveer. Initially established as a repair facility, it subsequently specialized in the construction and conversion of vessels.

An American journalist and acclaimed non-fiction author, whose origins as a novelist are reflected in his narrative technique.

Whilst Dear Esther (2012) is categorised within the gaming genre, it functions—much like Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (2016), also developed by The Chinese Room—as an interactive narrative that offers the player/reader a non-linear experience.

Deceptiones in Terminis is a fictional volume. It serves as a bibliographic experiment—or rather, a conceptual blueprint for a work of fiction—centred upon the multifaceted nature of mendacity. The author delineates precisely how various elements of conceptual fiction are manifest within this framework.

A literary technique, predominantly employed in fiction, wherein the author utilizes the verbal exchange between two or more characters. Such dialogues provide psychological depth and facilitate the characterisation of the personas within the narrative.

The formal and exhaustive treatment of a subject through speech or writing.

Cultural heterogeneity; the variety of cultures within a society, derived from the presence of individuals with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds.

The protagonist—a self-imagined knight-errant—in Cervantes’ seminal two-part novel, The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha. The narrative frequently explores the collision between the protagonist's lofty idealism and the recalcitrant nature of reality.

An American businessman and real estate magnate. He is the proprietor of the Trump Organization, renowned for the iconic Trump Tower (formerly Genesco), a mixed-use skyscraper. In 2016, he was elected as the 45th President of the United States. Following a narrow electoral defeat to Joe Biden in November 2020, he returned to the presidency on the 20th of January 2025.

A digital book format designed for consumption on computers or handheld devices. A widely adopted standard is EPUB, based on the Open eBook file format. The 'open' designation signifies an absence of DRM (Digital Rights Management), such as Adobe ADEPT, thereby precluding the necessity for device authorization (e.g., via an Adobe ID). Another prevalent open format is HTML5, which offers near-universal compatibility across contemporary devices.

A Dominican-American poet and author, acclaimed for works such as With the Fire on High (2019) and Clap When You Land (2020). Acevedo pursued her studies in Creative Writing at the University of Maryland, College Park.

An American novelist and author primarily associated with literary fiction. Her work Olive Kitteridge (2008) was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009.

A Dutch textile designer (associated with Van Heek/Schuttersveld) and amateur painter.

An abbreviation for 'electronic publication'. It is a prevalent eBook format supported by diverse platforms, including Apple (iBooks), Sony (Reader), and Google (Play Books).

A partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water where one or more rivers converge. In this transitional zone, tidal influences facilitate the confluence of saline seawater and fresh river water.

Relating to the linguistic study of words. An enquiry is considered etymological when it interrogates the origins and historical evolution of a term’s meaning.

The conviction of inherent uniqueness. Within the context of this volume, it refers to the doctrine that the United States is fundamentally distinct from other nations and, as such, occupies an extraordinary status.

Within this work, it denotes the American facilitator of instinctive (digital) impulses that fail to achieve symbolic sublimation. Following numerous controversies, the entity rebranded as Meta—a nomenclature potentially referencing the Metaverse or the metadata harvested incessantly by the corporation.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (founded 1904) is an international organisation dedicated to promoting safe and sustainable mobility. Additionally, it serves as the supreme governing body for international motor racing, most notably Formula 1.

A literary genre in which the narrative is not predicated upon factual reality but emanates from the author’s imagination.

Formerly known as the 'Gouden Boekenuil'. A Belgian literary accolade awarded to original works of Dutch-language literature.

Information or ideas that necessitate profound reflection or warrant meticulous consideration.

Hydrocarbon-based fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, derived from the organic remains of prehistoric flora and fauna over millions of years.

The legal entitlements pertaining to the translation and publication of a literary work in international territories.

Frank Westerman (1964) is a prominent Dutch journalist and author, acclaimed for his contributions to literary non-fiction.

A village in the Toyama Prefecture of Japan, renowned as the 'Village where you can meet Buddhist statues'.

A distinguished contemporary art gallery in Paris, founded in 1966 by Daniel Templon.

A formal categorization utilized to classify literary, cinematic, and other creative works based on shared stylistic or thematic criteria.

A paradigm in which geographical location functions as a primary determinant of power in relation to the physical world; for instance, the presence of strategic natural resources within a territory can fundamentally alter the balance of international relations.

Used metaphorically: a specific perspective, outlook, or vision regarding a particular subject.

Stone Buddhist statues intended to offer solace to the souls of the departed.

An autonomous territory situated between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Since 1979, Greenland has exercised a substantial degree of home rule, whilst remaining formally constituent to the Kingdom of Denmark.

An alternative iteration of OpenAI’s GPT language model, specifically engineered for the analysis and generation of news articles. Grover was developed by the Seattle-based Allen Institute for AI.

The marigold (*Calendula*) is an annual plant noted for its rapid germination—frequently within a week—and accelerated growth cycle.

A pre-eminent Dutch author, most notably recognised for his novel and subsequent film adaptation *The Assault* (*De aanslag*), which was honoured with both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award in 1986.

A term derived from quantum physics, also known as the *uncertainty principle*. It refers to phenomena wherein the act of measurement or observation directly alters the state of that which is being observed. In *Shifting Vista*, this principle is applied as a parallel to subjective perception within works of literary fiction. The term is named after Werner Karl Heisenberg, a German physicist and a foundational architect of quantum mechanics.

An island in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, USA), named after the colonist Daniel Holland. In 2010, the final remaining structure was reclaimed by the sea.

Strictly defined, this refers to the genocide of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime. In contemporary discourse, the term also encompasses the Romani, Sinti, homosexual individuals, and persons with disabilities who were systematically murdered under the regime for ethnic or ideological reasons.

An imaginary line of sight which, as a vista, defines the silhouette of the landscape. Within *Shifting Horizon*, it primarily possesses a metaphorical significance, pertaining to the expansion and recalibration of one’s perception and cognitive field.

A Japanese syllabary used for grammatical inflections (okurigana) and particles. Refer also to *Katakana*.

Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts; also designated as the IDIA Lab (Ball State University).

The dissemination of a message through a hybrid format wherein information and entertainment are inextricably intertwined.

The methodology by which an enquiry is approached; a specific mode of observation or conceptual outlook.

A unique identifier assigned to books and related media, from which the publisher’s code can typically be derived.

Within this work, it refers to the eclectic synthesis of disparate elements—a hallmark of jazz music, wherein all components of other musical genres are incorporated and transmuted.

A Japanese river originating on Mount Kaore in Takayama and discharging into Toyama Bay. The river served as a vital arterial route for the 800 statues sculpted by Lu Jinqiao, now situated in the Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato sculpture park.

The 46th President of the United States, representing the Democratic Party. On the 20th of January 2021, he succeeded the incumbent Republican President Donald Trump following a contested electoral outcome.

The gathering, processing, and dissemination of news and factual information—under editorial supervision—conducted regularly in the interest of the public sphere.

A logographic system of writing utilised in Japan for the representation of nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verb stems.

The literary process of imbuing personas within a narrative with distinct identities through the description of their physical attributes, ethical stances, interior monologues, and actions.

A Japanese syllabary employed for various linguistic functions, most notably the transcription of loanwords from Western languages.

An urban district in Hong Kong, originally of Chinese origin; the nomenclature translates as 'Nine Dragons'. The Kowloon Walled City was razed in 1995.

The Royal Dutch Football Association; the governing body responsible for organizing national competitions and coordinating the national teams.

A generative creation, if not a profound illusion. It emerges from a creative process undertaken by the artist, serving as a reflection of—or meditation upon—societal or personal developments within the context of its time.

The simulation of human cognitive processes by computational systems and machinery. Generative Artificial Intelligence represents a specific subset tasked with content production based upon learned patterns. Given its lack of autonomous cognition or consciousness, it is frequently classified as 'Narrow AI'.

A former professional cyclist and author from the United States, who achieved seven consecutive victories in the Tour de France. Subsequent to being found guilty of utilizing performance-enhancing substances in 2012, his titles were rescinded, followed by a life-time ban from the sport. His 1993 World Championship title in Oslo remains upheld.

An American author with over thirty titles to his credit, including The Fine Art of Literary Fist-fighting—a title reflecting his lifelong ambition to establish creative non-fiction as a recognized academic discipline. Furthermore, he is the founder of the literary journal Creative Nonfiction.

An American novelist and journalist originating from Gastonia, North Carolina. Among her most prominent works is So Much For That, an incisive examination of the American healthcare system.

Pertaining to literature. Literature consists primarily of texts or expressions that distinguish themselves from the commonplace, often characterized by a high degree of artistic merit or a capacity to stimulate profound reflection. Therein lies its essential value.

Refer to the definition of Agent →

A genre that synthesizes elements of fiction and non-fiction. It possesses the narrative flow of a novel, employing storytelling techniques without compromising factual integrity.

A systematic list of consulted sources and references included within a published work.

A form of 'easy listening' popular music that traces its lineage back to the New York scene of Tin Pan Alley.

A Chinese master sculptor renowned for his white marble engravings; he was honoured with the title 'Chinese Artistic Master' in 1979.

Lullaby-book.com was a promotional website used as part of an official online marketing campaign for the novel Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. When Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) published his horror-satire novel Lullaby in 2002, Penguin Random House (under the Doubleday imprint) created a network of standalone web domains dedicated to his individual books. Alongside lullaby-book.com, they made similar sites such as choke-book.com and diary-book.com for updates, community forums, and information regarding the author's tour.

The philosophical notion that society can be intentionally shaped and directed at both micro and macro levels to achieve a desired outcome.

Traditionally a handwritten text; in contemporary terms, the raw digital body of a literary work.

Mari(e) Silvester Andriessen was a Dutch sculptor and artist, primarily known for his war monuments such as The Dockworker (1952, Amsterdam) and Man in Front of a Firing Squad (1949, Haarlem).

A prominent German pioneer within the AI art movement.

A pivotal leader in the 1950s and 60s struggle against segregation in the United States; he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In 1963, he delivered the historic "I Have a Dream" speech, articulating the hope that individuals would one day be judged by the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin. Despite his commitment to non-violent protest, he was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis; whether this was a political conspiracy remains a subject of debate.

A personal record or reminiscence wherein the author reflects upon their own life experiences, typically published in book form.

'Meta' signifies an underlying definition or description. Metadata describes other (underlying) data, such as an image or a dataset. Attributing a title and author to a web resource is a rudimentary form of metadata.

A virtual parallel world first conceptualized by Neal Stephenson in the novel Snow Crash. It is a 3D network of interconnected environments through which users navigate and interact via avatars. Technically, Opensim represents the closest approximation of a Metaverse, consisting of linked Grids that can exist both in the cloud and on personal computers.

A resolutive clause within a publishing contract, granting the publisher the prerogative to terminate a literary project should public opinion turn against the author, rendering the work commercially unviable. The factual veracity of the allegations against the author is secondary to the perceived reputational risk. Originating in the United States, this development has drawn significant criticism from advocacy groups, primarily as unfounded social media discourse may suffice to trigger its execution.

An (ethereal) persona or force that serves as a catalyst for inspiration, facilitating the creative process of writing or composition.

A prominent Japanese real estate magnate dedicated to the fostering of improved diplomatic and economic ties between Japan and China.

Carla Namwali Serpell is a Zambian-American author and academic. Her debut novel, The Old Drift (2019), was honoured with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for fiction.

A prestigious annual literary accolade bestowed upon works by American authors published by domestic publishing houses.

Neverland (alternatively 'Never Never Land') is a fictional island where the boundless manifestations of childhood fantasy are realised, featured in J.M. Barrie’s seminal work, Peter Pan.

Abbreviation for 'non-fungible token'; a digital asset secured within a blockchain, functioning as a certificate of ownership for works of art or other unique entities.

The Nikkei Hoshi Shinichi Literary Award is a Japanese literary prize named in honour of the science-fiction author Shinichi Hoshi, awarded annually since 2013.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a sovereign state in Northwest Africa, bordered to the north by Western Sahara. Zouérat constitutes the principal urban centre of its northern territories.

A genre dedicated to the dissemination of information predicated upon factual reality.

A coastal city situated on the Atlantic Ocean; with a population exceeding one million, it serves as the capital of Mauritania.

Oakfox refers to the Dutch name Eikvos, the publisher.

On Kawara (1932–2014) was a Japanese conceptual artist who resided in New York for much of his career. A central theme in his oeuvre was the intricate interplay between time and location.

A city within the Ordos district, renowned for its recent large-scale governmental developments, most notably the newly constructed Kangbashi district.

A San Francisco-based research laboratory dedicated to training 'robotic intelligence' in the realms of reading comprehension, composition, and translation.

Paul (Sudhir Arul) Kalanithi was an American neurosurgeon and author of the posthumously published memoir When Breath Becomes Air.

A somewhat contentious concept due to its evolving application. Originally, it pertained to linguistic utterances that effect immediate factual change, such as the solemnisation of a marriage. Within the visual arts, it denotes a contemporary expression that references or embodies a performance without constituting the actual act itself.

Benchley (1940–2006) was an American author and screenwriter who achieved global acclaim for the cinematic adaptations of his novels Jaws (1974) and The Island (1976). After the turn of the millennium, Benchley focused predominantly on non-fiction writing.

A metaphor for high-quality productions that iterate upon previous successes, thereby lacking genuine innovation.

Virtual, geometric building blocks which, following specialized instruction, can be combined and sculpted into nearly any conceivable form or colour within a virtual environment.

The verbatim reproduction or citation of an individual's speech or writing.

Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Tagore (1861–1941), of Indian origin, was a versatile Bengali polymath—author, poet, and artist. He was also a prominent advocate in the resistance against British colonial rule in India.

Institutional racism denotes systemic discrimination based on race, rooted in formal or informal regulations. This engenders a social framework that perpetuates inequality.

A collective body responsible for curating the content of a publication or report. Within the publishing lifecycle, it also pertains to the substantive and textual refinement of the work.

A form of ludic engagement wherein participants assume the personae of characters within a fictional milieu.

Rowan Wilcher is the pseudonym of a Dutch author.

Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and author.

A saga is a medieval prose narrative originating from Old Norse or Icelandic traditions, frequently encompassing chronicles of Viking voyages and lineages.

The Santa Fe Film Festival—not to be conflated with the Santa Fe International Film Festival (SFiFF), formerly the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival—is an annual American cinematic forum. It serves as a showcase for global excellence in contemporary cinema, addressing all facets of filmic art, both regional and international.

An author and art critic for the Washington Post. Smee is a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize (2011) for his distinguished contributions to art criticism within The Boston Globe.

A writer is an individual engaged in the craft of composition in its broadest sense; originality is not a prerequisite for this designation. A published writer, however, is formally recognised as an author.

A transient state of creative stasis, or the inability to translate an existing imaginative impulse into written discourse.

A speculative genre that explores hypothetical futures through the application of fictional or verifiable scientific and social concepts.

A German Formula 1 driver who secured four consecutive World Championships (2010–2013) with Red Bull Racing.

An specialist consultant tasked with reviewing manuscripts for potential misrepresentations, cultural stereotypes, unconscious bias, or a lack of nuanced understanding regarding specific lived experiences.

A colloquial publishing term for the accumulation of unsolicited manuscripts received by an editor or publishing house.

The nomenclature of a hypothetical publishing house used within the contribution Going Abroad to illustrate the various contracting parties involved in an author agreement.

A Chinese-born, New York-based multidisciplinary artist and researcher, primarily known for exploring the intersection of human and machine collaboration.

The final inhabitant of Holland Island, an American isle eventually reclaimed by the sea due to rising maritime levels.

A cognitive bias wherein specific traits or generalised perceptions of an individual are (disproportionately) attributed to an entire collective or social group.

A moniker for Kansas, a state situated at the geographical heart of the United States, so named for its pervasive sunflower fields.

Sylvia Plath (1932–1963) was a pre-eminent American poet and novelist associated with the confessional movement.

A concise analytical summary of the primary narrative arcs and thematic arguments within a manuscript.

A neologism coined by the author to describe writers who, upon completing a manuscript, find themselves unable to distil the work into a functional synopsis.

A French-British journalist and novelist, widely acclaimed for her historical fiction.

A transnational criminal syndicate of Chinese origin. The term 'Triad' originally designated the clandestine societies active during the Qing Dynasty.

Refer to Santa Fe Film Festival.

Catherine the Great (1729–1796), also known as Catherine II, was an autocratic Empress of Russia whose reign oversaw the Russian Golden Age (1762–1796).

A seminal Russian ballet for which Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the musical score in 1875.

The textual rendering of recorded speech, such as a podcast, interview, or lecture.

Unidentified Flying Object; a phenomenon in the sky that cannot be readily identified or explained.

An individual engaged in the investigation of derelict, abandoned, or secluded man-made structures, often with the intent of documenting the experience for digital dissemination.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; a transcontinental socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.

An idealised society or world, often regarded as unattainable, characterised by perfect socio-political conditions.

The structural framework of a narrative, encompassing the chronological progression of events and the psychological or emotional evolution of the constituent characters.

The rapid dissemination of a contagious pathogen, the repercussions of which escalate into systemic social and structural crises.

A historical period in the United Kingdom (1837–1901) defined by pervasive conservatism, societal complacency, and the strict enforcement of moral decorum.

President of the Russian Federation since 2000, with a four-year interlude as Prime Minister under Medvedev (2008–2012), an arrangement intended to circumvent constitutional limits on consecutive presidential terms. Putin commenced his career in 1975 within the KGB (Committee for State Security).

The historical epoch in Europe succeeding the Middle Ages and preceding the Modern Era. Spanning roughly from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, it is notably characterised by the intellectual and artistic flourishing of the Renaissance.

The spontaneous and unconstrained synthesis of disparate concepts or images, irrespective of whether the resultant connections correspond to objective reality.

A Japanese aesthetic philosophy rooted in natural simplicity; it emphasises the appreciation of beauty within the imperfect, the ephemeral, and the incomplete.

An English economist, journalist, and essayist of the Victorian era, who authored influential treatises on constitutional governance, economic theory, literature, and sociology.

A central character in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, inspired by Margaret Henley (1888–1894), the daughter of the British poet and critic William Ernest Henley.

Constructed in 1939, Westerbork originated as a refugee camp but was transformed during the Second World War into a transit camp for deportation to extermination centres such as Auschwitz and Sobibor. It was colloquially referred to as the Portal zur Hölle (Portal to Hell).

Post-2017: The state of being conscious of, and actively attentive to, systemic issues of racial and social injustice.

XYZ collectively constitute the three dimensions of a coordinate system. Horizontal lines (X and Y), intersected perpendicularly by the vertical elevation line (Z), delineate the precise spatial position of a point within a 3D grid.

Yelle Tieleman is a former crime reporter for the AD, currently engaged as an investigative journalist.

Yoga denotes the totality of spiritual disciplines intended to achieve and sustain equilibrium within the human psyche.

An (opportunistic) mode of censorship wherein the feigned demand for suppression serves merely as a conduit to generate visibility for an entirely disparate subject.