Historically, academic journals and traditional publishers have left out entire groups of people, namely the young and unknown, who have incredible stories and work to share. Moreover, there is much foul play in publishing that perpetuates rivalries and discord in academia. Still, we can contribute more meaningfully to a body of work by being inclusive.

The Journal of Art and Identity (JAI, pronounced ‘jay’) is a genuine academic ground-roots interdisciplinary initiative founded to expand scholarly work. Academic journals are at times stifling, and we want to infuse play into everyday storytelling. We want to collaborate with educators, researchers, artists, and writers to replace the current culture of competition. Through their art, we hope you can more clearly see their true identity.