About The Seminal
The Seminal presents an independent media viewpoint outside of partisan politics and corporate control. Hailing from all over the globe, our writers bring you thoughtful commentary on current events. Click the links below to learn more:
Firstly, we have no explicit party allegiance. Secondly, we take world events into greater consideration than do many Americans political blogs - that is, we treat international news as having its own value and interest beyond just how it affects America. Thirdly, we promote independent, high-quality artistic works. Lastly, we structure our writing around monthly themes or "issues" while leaving ample room for daily writing on a wide range of social, cultural, and political topics. Through all of these features, we provide a unique perspective on politics and society, one that moves beyond partisan bickering and addresses the core issues that affect human lives.
We are here to foster a community among like-minded people. You don't have to agree with what we write to take part. We are looking for people who are willing to broaden their horizons and viewpoints, engage us in discussion, and share and share alike.
Since our inception, we've put together a few "anchor" articles that we believe represent the best writing we have to offer and clearly elucidate some of our views on various subjects. If you are looking for a place to get started here, we suggest you read these articles first:
- The Program to Renew America: Policy Proposals in Critical Areas of National Interest
- Two-Step Arguments
- People Powered Impeachment: Make your Voice Heard
- Hip Hop Isn't Dying, It Just Sucks
- Action: Congress wants to monitor all emails, IMs, etc.
The Seminal was founded in the fall of 2004 by four students at Northwestern University. Originally a print newspaper and production company, we immersed ourselves in Chicago's vibrant hip hop scene through interviews, album reviews, and concerts. In the spring of 2005 we released three print issues and distributed them throughout the city, earning major attention from the Chicago hip hop community as well as a feature article by the Chicago Tribune. Following the graduation of several founding members in 2005, The Seminal focused on concert promotion throughout 2005-2006, hosting a weekly concert series at the Evanston venue Bill's Blues, and events at mainstay Chicago underground hip hop venues Morseland, Lily's Lounge, and The Note.
The Congressional elections of November 2006 were the major catalyst for The Seminal's shift from hip hop journalism to political commentary. In the wake of the elections, Americans were hungry for a new kind of politics, characterized by greater honesty, accountability, and responsiveness to popular will.
The Seminal's coverage of Chicago hip hop had often indirectly touched on political issues, and our experiences traveling and living in countries as diverse as Senegal, the UK, Chile, and Russia had given us new perspectives on politics, society, and democracy. We decided to expand our focus beyond Chicago, and beyond hip hop: we decided to make a contribution to the political blogosphere as independent, creative journalists.
Taking our own approach to what online political writing could and should be, we broke with many common expectations for weblogs. Since November 2006, The Seminal has made continuous progress: we have increased our number of visitors exponentially, found our way to the front page of major internet news outlets such as The Washington Post, Digg.com, Reddit.com, and Daily Kos, and have sparked serious discussions and debates both on our own site and others. We have built important ties with other online communities and helped raise awareness about critical issues affecting American democracy, especially the battle for freedom of expression on the internet. Most importantly, we have attracted a crop of excellent writers whose contributions have tremendously enriched the site.
In short, we are becoming known as an important online destination for critical and original thought.
We thank you for your interest and invite you to explore The Seminal further. We hope that you will not only be challenged by what you read here, but will also feel inspired to participate in our community. As always, vital matters are at stake in America and across the world. We ask for your help in thinking through the issues that affect us all.
