At a time of ubiquitous crisis this multidisciplinary anthology explores ampampquotbreathampampquot as an allegory and expression of the need for social transformationCollecting interviews critical essays and artist portfolios Lastgaspism considers matters of life and death in relation to breath both allegorical and literal. Bringing into mutual proximity the ecological political public health and spiritual crises of our time this book considers the compounding nature of these events and their impact upon one another illuminating how the act of gasping for breath is starkly exposing the eitheror that stands before us either we breathe or we die. Through aesthetic and socially engaged strategies of all kinds cultural workers are responding to the most urgent issues in contemporary life.