The Front
THE OPINION
Claims for the death of vegetarianism are greatly exaggerated. wants: Mark Fisher
tist how fickle are we‘.’ The fact of Madonna and Julia Sawalha deciding to pttt an end to their y'eggie days led to a host of ridiculous newspaper articles earlier this year telling its that the whole vegetarian experiment is a dead duck er. dead mock duck and that we should all
return to our carniy'orous ways with impunity. (‘ue a band of newspaper
columnists. more ridiculous still. announcing that despite having been yegetarian for 47 years. they suddenly felt the meaty urge oyer the ('hristmas turkey and haye happily stuffed their faces with all the flesh they could find ey er since.
I should say that these articles are only as ridiculous as those that appeared at the height of the BSli crisis when the papers decided ey'eiyone was turning
\egetarian and meat eating was on the way out. And it‘s ridiculous because if
you put food on your plate as some kind of fashion statement - your (bloc and your combats to go with your asparagus
risotto then of course you'll change your eating habits as quickly as Madonna changes is a
haircuts and houses.
Did you ney‘er question the staying power of those people who said: ‘()h. yes. I‘m a
\egetarian. btit i do eat chicken and fish"? ()1
course you did. They were fly-by-night
\eggies who had no more concern for animal your rights or global ecology titan McDonald‘s has h b-
concern for the promotion of lettuce. Their a_
habits continue to haye an impact on the
\qume of meat sold and animals slaughtered.
btit they were ney'er going to be at the
forefront of radical change for the food industry. For the vegetarian lobby to lose them is as significant as gaining them in the first place.
I read one article by a meat recidiy'ist of such dreatny fatuousness it was hard to image how the writer had had the presence of mind to become a \egetarian in the first place. It could be summed tip in one sentence: '()ne day I woke up and l was an omniy‘ore again.’ I don't object to the writer choosing to eat meat as much as her failure to acknowledge that there is a real. morally loaded choice to be made.
If you choose to eat meat you are saying: 'Yes. I accept my part in the commercial rearing and slaughter of animals. yes. I am manned by the fact that our meat-based global food industry leay‘es people starving and. yes. I am prepared for my health to take the consequences of this diet.‘
Many people are happy to say yes to all three. .»\s it happens. I'm not. liither way. it's a serious discussion with implications for us all and we're not
helped by empty-headed chit—chat reducing the argument to the level of
(hanging Rooms-type lifestyle options.
Disagree? react@list.co.uk
10 THE LIST A: '7 i-i Mi.
1 trip1ych
Music/Clubs Another long weekend of innovative sounds as the likes of Grace Jones. Sly and Robbie. Laurie Anderson and Carl Craig do their eclectic things. See feature and Clubs. pages 16 and 75. Various
2 Welcome to Colllnwood
Film Sam Rockwell hooks up again with George Clooney in this quirkin hilarious heist movie based on a quirkin hilarious 503 Italian caper. See feature and Film, page 20 and 26. Selected release.
3 Arab Strap
Music Moffat and Middleton may sound like a financral semces duo. but Monday at the Hug & Pint solidifies their rep as Scotland‘s spunkiest combo. See Records. page 105. Chemika/ Underground.
4 Sally Mk5
Art Along with a series of new photographs. Tykka gives us Cave. the final part of her acclaimed short film trilogy. See Art. page 88. Tramway, Glasgow.
5 Jam
DVD The mind of Chris Morris must be filled with dark oddities beyond most folks' understanding. Two discs of dreamy lunacy are further evidence. See Buy it this Fortnight, page 101. VCI/Channe/ 4.
6 Eric Schlosser
Books He’s previously taken on the American fast food industry and now Schlosser tackles porn. dope and labour in his coruscating Reefer Madness. See Books, page 102. Allen Lane.
7 Beck
Music Mr Hansen entertains us with a folk explosion to show that he's not just a 12-trick pony. Sea Change may be his most apt record title to date. See Music. page 45. Usher Hall, Edinburgh.
8 Camille
Theatre Taking a break from telly. Daniela Nardini treads the boards by walking the streets as the consumptive hooker in David McVicar’s production of the Dumas novel. See feature, page 22. Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
9 25th Hour
Film David Benioff‘s thrilling New York novel is turned into movie gold thanks mainly to the singular talents of Spike Lee and Ed Norton. See feature and Film, page 13. General release.
1 0 Toby Paterson
Art The Beck’s Futures head boy brings us New Facade, a solo show which offers a look at different responses to built environments. CCA, Glasgow.