Issue No. 2

In the first issue we embraced generative AI to explore this emergent technology through a process we dubbed collaborative hallucination. The results were excitingly weird. Combining AI images with real reportage and analysis, the first issue provided a fascinating and troubling dive into humanity’s collective unconscious, processed through an artificial intelligence whose output was more inspired by a ketamine trip than a rational and planned expression of visual culture. The magazine is a cross-section of artistic, activist, and scholarly work drawing inspiration from the Situationist International, Neo-Dada, and the Yes Men, Mad Magazine, and Charlie Hebdo disguised as a high-gloss lifestyle magazine, such as “O,” Men’s Health, Vanity Fair, Rich Woman Magazine, Billionaire, or Entrepreneur. 

The second issue of the magazine will reject the corporate-driven and environmentally destructive reality of generative AI by embracing a human-centered approach. Issue no.2 of Elon Magazine will be illustrated exclusively with human-made collage work. We draw our inspiration from collage artists like Hannah Höch, Ray Johnson, Wangechi Mutu, Karel Tiege, Barbara Kruger, Koji Nagai, Martha Rosler, John Baldessari, Man Ray, Kara Walker, and David Maljkovic.

We are soliciting both written texts and collage contributions from all disciplines, social fields, and activist networks exploring the Muskist and imperial billionaire reality in which we now find ourselves. We are looking for opinion columns, feature essays, photo essays, infographics, biographies and profiles, interviews, as well as satirical horoscopes, book reviews, advertisements, gear and product reviews, etc. Essentially, anything that makes a magazine an exciting assemblage of diverse interests somehow related to Elon and his world. Contributors may create their own visual work or may choose to collaborate with the editors on accompanying collages. Each page will have a digital footnote, allowing for author notes, references, and elaborations. If you only want to write, we will pair your writing with collage work. If you only want to create a collage, we will pair your work with writing. While we encourage the submission of complete works, we also welcome submissions that emerge in collaboration and conversation with the editors.

Timeline

Stage 1, Proposal:

• Choose a magazine section you want to contribute to: opinion column, feature essay, photo essay, infographic, biographies and profiles, interviews, as well as satirical horoscopes, book reviews, advertisements, gear and product reviews, etc. 

• Send a first idea or draft (written abstract or first design) to the editorial team (gigacities-collective@proton.me) by August 1, 2025.

  • Contributor bio (around 100 words) and contact information

  • Proposal (max. 500 words). 

Stage 2, Invitation:

• Before September 1st we will respond to all proposals with either an acceptance or rejection. Accepted proposals then enter into a discussion and planning phase. In some cases this will require little conversation; in other cases we may open a dialogue on the contribution.

Stage 3, Submission, Review and publication:

• By January 1st all final submissions are due. 

• Submissions enter into an editorial review process and will be accepted, recommended for revision, or rejected for publication. We’ll share a publication agreement and prepare the magazine for publication. Note that this is a limited-run experimental publication and it will not be sold for profit. It will circulate for free as a PDF. Everyone who has published in it will receive a free printed copy and have the opportunity to order copies in advance (for the cost of printing and shipping).

• January - February (editorial review)

• March - April (revision)

• May-June, 2026: printing and distribution, both physical and digital.

Contact the editorial team with questions: gigacities-collective@proton.me