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WHAT, NO WRINKLES?
Re: Sharon Stone (534) Sharon Stone looks fantastic on the cover of your magazine this week; a true untouchable Hollywood icon. However. it is a pity this 40-something starlet has chosen for her image to be airbrushed to look like a 25 year-old. It sells her latest film. of course. and y0ur magazine too but it's dishonest. Is this the role model women really want?
Gordon Crandles
Edinburgh
We '// grant you some soft lighting. but there was no airbrush/ng. and 47 year-old Stone IS adamant she has never had plastic surgery . . .
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH We make no apology for supporting the Hi Arts ‘Embedded Poets' project. which has recently attracted attention for its focus on suicide. The Scottish Arts Council. as Our name implies. supports the arts: in all their glorious. life-affirming. challenging. untidy and illuminating forms. It is because we believe in the power of the arts to resonate with individuals. communities and nations that we also believe poetry can offer a new perspective on suicide. both for those left behind. and as importantly for those whose thirst for life is exhausted. Literature for its own sake remains fundamental to understanding human exrstence. In the right hands it can also be transformational. shedding light on the darker side of the psyche. We believe this prOject is more than simply ‘socially relevant'. It will allow both poet and community to lift the veil on a taboo subject:
The List,
why do so many of our young men feel that their lives are not worth continuing? If this project can provide some hope for those most affected by suicide. then its value goes far beyond the financial. Graham Berry
Chief Executive
Scottish Arts Council
WRITES OF PASSAGE On the first anniversary of the designation of Edinburgh as UNESCO's first City of Literature. I am honoured to share Edinburgh's remarkable achievements with the rest of the world. Embracing the power of collaboration and the exchange of ideas. the City of Literature is embarking on an enterprise that is realising real local impact.
Selected as the first city to host the inaugural Man Booker International Prize ceremony in June of this year. Edinburgh welcomed some of the world‘s renowned literary critics. novelists. translators and editors while displaying its own rich literary histOry and contemporary creation.
In its dedication to reach out to the international literary community. Edinburgh's International Book Festival hosted the UNESCO Cities of Literature Inaugural Seminar in August. bringing together delegates from four cities. including Alexandria. Amsterdam. Krakow and Vancouver.
However. what has been most admirable about the City of Literature is its success in not only bringing Scottish literature to the world. but also to its own peOple. Through writers' residencies in hospitals. retirement homes and schools. the City of Literature is engaging Edinburgh's own citizens in the
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City's literary initiatives.
I congratulate the city and citizens of Edinburgh in making creativity a true driver of their economic and social development.
Mounir Bouchenaki Assistant Director-General fOr Culture. UNESCO
MUSIC FOR THE MASSES Re: Support Acts (533) I read with interest Neil Cooper's illuminating article and while I agree with many of his points. I have to question his assumption that ‘few bands at grassroots level are aware of what NEMIS does'. NEMIS has one full-time staff member — myself — and since taking post two years ago I have done more than 600 one-to-one sessions with young bands. promoters. labels. photographers and
journalists. l have produced eight sampler CDs featuring 194 Scottish artists and these have been distributed at events like SxSW. In the City. Popkomm etc. NEMIS has showcased more than 200 artists in two years including 47 artists over three nights at Musicworks. I have personally attended more than 1000 performances. The cost of funding these and many more activities was $770,000 over two years. which I contend is exceptional value for money. Alec Downie
NEMIS
CORRECTION
In our travel feature about bothies in the last issue (534) we accidentally omitted part of the web address for the association that runs these havens. The correct url is www.mountainbothiesorguk
good at. Jessica Williams
OPEN AND SHUT CASE
Re: Sharon Stone cover (534)
When I read the smutty cover line on issue 534 of The Lust. sorry. The List magazine. my basic instinct was to write a letter of complaint. Firstly. it's more fitting to crap macho magazines like Zoo or Nuts. and caused me considerable embarrassment when I handed my £2.20 to the nice lady in the corner shop. Secondly. whether ‘Sharon Stone opened her legs for Bill Murray' is frankly bloody irrelevant. The tacky question bears no relevance whatsoever to the (excellent) feature about Jim Jarmusch's new film Broken Flowers nor the film itself. The film is gentle and thought provoking. and while we‘re left in no doubt that Bill Murray's Character sleeps with Sharon Stone's character. it's hardly the burning question on everyone's lips when the credits roll. Come on. guys (I'm assuming a woman wasn't responsible for that). stick to what you're
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE TWO BOTTLES OF
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Distinctiver Grahams.
GRAHAM'S
GLASGOW AIID EDINBURGH
What YOU Broken Flowers Cameo, Edinburgh, Fri 21 Oct
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felt.’
2 THE LIST 13-17 Nov 2005
Art and design tater
'It was quite unfulfilling but being a parent I could understand how the main character
Definitiver ‘The Tawny' 3...": Verity Kieran Art student Marketing agent ‘I found it very 'I thought it was slow
interesting and sad at the same time. I liked the shots. the setting and the music.’
and tedious and that the investigative trick was unnecessary.’
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CONTRIBUTORS Publisher at General Editor Robin Hodge
EDITORIAL
Editor Nick Barley
Deputy Editor Brian Donaldson Assistant Editors
Mark Robertson. Paul Dale Subeditor Ashley Dawes Research Manager Julie Graham
Research Henry Northmore (Film. Rock 8 Jazz) Ruth Hedges (Art) Rachael Street (Theatre. Dance. Comedy 8 Sport). Morag Bruce (Around Town. Classical. Folk 8 Kids)
SALES 8 MARKETING Advertising Sales Manager Rachel Shields
Senior Media Sales Executives
Carol Ferguson
Brigid Kennedy
Richie Meldrum
Media Sales Support Sharon Stephen Promotions Manager Sheri Friers Promotions Assistant Gemma Beard Circulation Manager Neil Earnshaw Circulation Executive Keith BenZie
Special Projects Amanda Mungall
PRODUCTION Art Director
Krista Robertson Production Manager Simon Armin Designer Lucy Reeves Production Assistant Russell Steedman
ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette Renwick Accounts Assistant Manager Donna Taylor
Reception
Tracey Fisher
Edinburgh Office Manager Katie Scott
Glasgow Office Manager Katharine Haslett
SECTION EDITORS Around Town Moraq Bruce Books Brian Donaldson Clubs Henry Northmore (with Sandra Marron) Comedy Brian Donaldson Comics Paul Dale
Dance Kelly Apter
Eat 8 Drink Barry Shelby Film Paul Dale
Gay Robin Lee
Kids Kelly Apter
Music Mark Robertson
(with Norman Chalmers Carol Main, Kenny Mathieson Fiona Shepherd)
News Allan Radcliffe
Play Henry Northmore
(With lain Dayldson)
Shop Katy McAulay Television Brian Donaldson Theatre Steve Cramer Travel Rachael Street Visual Art Alexander Kennedy