“Metamorphosis” Revisited
Above: METAMORPHOSIS: The front and back cover of the 36th volume of the iliad Literary-Art Magazine are shown. iliad Managing Editor Finley Sleppy analyzed the magazine to share her thoughts on its contents. “The evolution of the iliad from 2012 to 2025 serves as an impactful reminder of the legacy that has allowed the current iliad Editorial Board to explore transformative themes in our publications,” Sleppy wrote. Cover photographs by Porter McLeod, graphic by Finley Sleppy
The 2012 edition of the iliad Literary-Art Magazine “Metamorphosis” presents themes of transformation and evolution through its submissions.
Published in 2012, the 36th edition of the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, “Metamorphosis,” explores themes of change, growth and transformation throughout 72 pages of creative works. The magazine consists of Clarke Central High School students’ art organized into six subsections, each representing a different aspect of the theme.
The theme letter written by the 2012 iliad staff states, “We subdivided the pieces into the thematic categories of Birth, Atrophy and Standstill to represent the beginnings, developments and perpetuations of form described by the submissions.”
The staff created three additional subsections, “Growth,” “Death” and “Rebirth” as a way to include submissions centered around grief and reminiscence, as well as pieces submitted by rising middle school students.
The magazine includes a collection of poems and prose like “Childhood,” “Strength,” “To Be Ready?” and “Autism” that dive into complex emotions that illustrate an individual’s growth through difficult experiences. These pieces are spread throughout the first three subsections and are paired with detailed photographs, drawings and paintings that help connect the spreads to accurately reflect the theme of “Metamorphosis.”
Illustrations, oil paintings and photographs like “Ballerina,” “The Big Issue,” “The Girl Who Waited,” “Ian” and “Passage” communicate ideas of adolescence, grief and resilience. This edition of the iliad was printed in black and white, so the visual art included is presented in a bold and more personal way, which allows for deep and nostalgic reflection.
The evolution of the iliad from 2012 to 2025 serves as an impactful reminder of the legacy that has allowed the current iliad Editorial Board to explore transformative themes in our publications.
“High school is the transition space between being referred to as a child and holding the responsibilities of an adult,” 2012 iliad Editor-in-Chief Annie Jenkins wrote in her Letter From the Editor. “Each year contains exposure to new concerns and priorities. It is a standstill marking growth, and while it is usually a dramatic time for us teens, it is indeed a turning point.”
As the 50th Edition of the iliad Literary-Art Magazine has begun production, it is important to look back at past issues to reflect on the growth that the program has seen, but also to connect with and celebrate past staff members and the work they have proudly created.
Stand Out Spreads from the 2012 iliad, “Metamorphosis”
Story by Finley Sleppy
Finley Sleppy is a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and is the Managing Editor for the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. This year, she hopes to grow as a leader and overall creative person by trying things out of her comfort zone and supporting the CCHS community creatively. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, eating all different types of food and hanging out with her friends and family.