ARTEM Academic Zine

Epistemic Syncretism: The Self as a Site for Inquiry
by Yecid Ortega PhD

This second issue introduces Epistemic Syncretism, a concept born from Yecid's lived navigation of multiple worlds such as Catholicism, Indigenous cosmovisions, artistic practice, and academic research. Moving beyond interdisciplinarity, Epistemic Syncretism names the dynamic and often uneasy interweaving of spiritual, artistic, and rational ways of knowing. Drawing on pluriversality and posthumanism, it challenges the universalizing tendencies of Western epistemology by affirming knowledge as relational, embodied, and always plural. Through personal vignettes (a noise music album deconstructing Catholic prayer, the Indigenous concept of Puququy (thinking with the heart), and the transformation of an academic rejection letter into blackout poetry) the zine illustrates how knowing emerges from the entanglements of memory, affect, and critique. Ultimately, it proposes the self as a vital site for decolonial and epistemic inquiry, where fractures and frictions become generative spaces for new understanding.

Keywords

academia, publications, qualitative research, epistemic syncretism, zines

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Slow Scholarship:
A More Humanizing (Academic) World
by Yecid Ortega PhD

In this first issue of ARTEM Zine, Yecid Ortega critiques the fast-paced, neoliberal pressures of academia that prioritize quantity over quality in research output. Ortega argues that the relentless "publish or perish" culture fosters stress, mental health issues, and a decline in scientific integrity, particularly affecting scholars from the Global South. As an alternative, Ortega introduces the concept of Slow Scholarship, a ritualistic practice that emphasizes intentionality, reflection, and meaningful engagement with research. This approach advocates for fewer fast-paced publications, prioritizing depth over speed, and fostering genuine connections with research participants and communities. Ortega outlines practical stages for implementing Slow Scholarship, including intentionality, community collaboration, and strategic dissemination through alternative platforms like fanzines, poetry, and social media. Ultimately, Ortega calls for a transformative shift in academia, urging stakeholders to prioritize accessibility, equity, and human-centred scholarship over profit-driven, elitist practices. This academic zine document invites scholars to rethink their academic rituals and contribute to a more inclusive, purposeful, and impactful scholarly world.

Keywords

academia, publications, qualitative research, slow scholarship, zines

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