How to Cite: Ariza Parrado, Lucas. "Neither Inside nor Outside, but Moving". Dearq no. 37 (2023): 4-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq37.2023.01
How to Cite: Ariza Parrado, Lucas. "Neither Inside nor Outside, but Moving". Dearq no. 37 (2023): 4-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq37.2023.01
Lucas Ariza Parrado
Editor of Dearq
The title of this new issue of Dearq journal, "Off the Radar," is suggestive and, at the same time, holds a paradoxical or enigmatic quality. On the one hand, we question whether conceiving something that remains unrecognized in our peculiar world today is possible. Is there a means to escape the control mechanisms that locate, listen, measure, and entertain us? Can we truly elude the radar and exist beyond its reach? On the other hand, in these definitive times of alarming crises, murky uncertainties, and dramatic catastrophes, disciplines find themselves compelled to readjust and redefine more frequently than anticipated. In this context, does it truly make sense to draw a line that determines our inclusion or exclusion from any of these disciplines? Who has the authority to establish this line? What criteria does it entail? Does it possess an expiry date? If so, it becomes essential to comprehend its durability or, rather, to acknowledge that it is in a constant state of being redrawn and retraced without compromising its significance.
Such a contemporary and fresh paradox is presented amid these two extremes of concerns and unanswered questions. This issue brings together a series of reflections, perspectives, and propositions where —in some cases— authors meticulously lay on the table ideas that challenge what they perceive as off the radar. In other instances, they position themselves outside the gaze of predetermined radars as things manifest at their limits. It is in this space that it becomes meaningful for individuals, in a highly personal manner, to question their position within or outside that delineated boundary. For example, to enquire about the factors that anchor individuals to the pillars of their respective disciplines or, conversely, the aspects that are currently further or closer to the epicenters where the tremors are most strongly felt.
Perhaps, instead of being firmly on or off the radar, the suitable option is to embrace the movement. Intentional movement, which also entails occasional pauses, can cause the signal of our presence on the radar to flicker diffusely and simultaneously. As we navigate through space, new possibilities emerge, enabling us to explore, experiment, and engage in various fields. In this manner, it becomes less straightforward to delineate confined and restrictive areas. Instead, blurred territories emerge, where genuine happenings unfold, free from the constraints of preconceived notions and the scrutiny of categorizing radars. Instead, we can immerse ourselves in the richness of our vivid and complex reality, where people teach us invaluable lessons in their daily lives.
The following pages of this issue strive to instill concerns and foster the questioning of our practices, ultimately seeking clarity on our identity as a discipline. Being off the radar offers a necessary and desirable opportunity to explore alternative perspectives and disciplinary approaches. Perhaps, upon reading this publication, doubts will arise regarding the extent of our professional reach. Then we could set aside that instantly gratifying notion that everything is fine and instead embrace the belief that through acknowledging our constant motion, we can strive for improvement or at least remain vibrant and alive.
