Editor’s Note

Scientists tell us that humans are born with only two innate fears: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. Yet soon, often in early childhood, many develop another: the fear of the dark.

As we grow up, we come to associate different things with darkness. For some it’s the nighttime, crawling with nocturnal life while our own circadian rhythms kick us into sleep. For others, life just begins — whether that means work, play or a rest from the constant rush of the daytime.

I’ll be honest. More often than not, my most memorable tales happen after 12 a.m., whether that be staying up late working on this magazine, bartending at a local student bar or enjoying my senior year in Wisconsin a little too much…

So this year at Curb, our team decided to challenge the notion that darkness is inherently villainous. Yes, darkness can be sinister, mysterious and even surprising. Yet some of our most important moments happen in the dark, the peaceful and the joyful. As this collection of stories will come out in December — the darkest time of the year — we are left wondering: can anything good really happen after midnight?

In this issue, we will explore all types of stories rooted in the dark — both literally and metaphorically. In reading “Out of the Dark,” we invite you to challenge your beliefs about darkness and discover what it means to the people of Wisconsin. We hope to reveal how they embrace it, expose injustices in the shadows and highlight the unseen with a celebration of the dark. And hey, maybe you’ll come out a little less afraid of it.

Cheers,