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CLUBBED TO DEATH Re: 2006 Preview (539)
I am writing to follow up from Henry Northmore's gloomy prongOSlS for clubbing in 2006. It is true that 2006 will be a particularly challenging year for club promoters but the picture that Mr Northmore projects is far from the whole truth. at least in Glasgow. I do PR for a Glasgow night club that has been consistently busy throughout 2005 and in fact probably had their busiest year ever. Apart from that. I am out several nights a week and everywhere I visit seems to be doing well. There are also a host of nights doing something completely different too — Deathkill. Club New and the legendary National Pop League to name three. Perhaps straight up house and techno clubs aren't pulling in the numbers but then there are so many of those to choose from that are all so similar that this is perhaps the problem.
For me. though. now is the best clubbing time of my life. Robin Crutchfield Glasgow
CALL THAT ART?
I read your correspondent Jack Mottram's feature on the Selective Memory exhibition at the Venice Biennale. and felt rather cheated. l was in Venice in September. and visited this exhibition. However. there was no art on display. Instead. in one room someone had rather carelessly dumped the contents of their garden shed. In an adjacent room. some primary school children had cheekily stuck their rulers together in primitive animal shapes. Not being able to speak any Italian. I wasn't able to ask the attendant what had happened to the art. Still. I shouldn't complain. I had. after all. just
The List,
come across the square from the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. where I had stood in awe at Tintoretto's majestic 'CrucifiXIon'. So the day wasn't totally wasted.
Phil Woodhead
By email
To be fair. the show you saw in Venice has been significantly adapted and expanded for its Edinburgh showing. And there's a parallel show at the Collective Gallery too. Though something tells us you won't be gel/7g along.
BAG TO THE FUTURE Re: Letters (538)
Of course Mark Ruskell MSP is right to outline the benefits of a tax on polythene bags. However. in my opinion he doesn't go far enough. What we really need is a change in attitudes. We can all reduce our reliance on plastic bags by carrying fabric bags at all times and by explaining to shop assistants that we don‘t need a plastic bag. At the same time it would be really nice if shop assistants were trained not to force plastic bags onto people and to offer to help them pack goods into their fabric bags. Juliet Wilson
By email
GOING FOR BROKEBACK
Re: Cover (539)
This letter should be prefaced with an expression of admiration for The List's good work in promoting arts and entertainment events that reflect the diversity of central Scotland's residents. However. your cover featuring Jake Gyllenhall and the move Brokeback Mountain seemed to go against this spirit of inclusiveness. Here we have a film that attempts to seriously portray the emotional bond
14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE
or The List at the CCA
350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow GZ 3JD or email editor@list.co.uk
between two gay men and has the potential to have a significantly impact on the mainstream perception of gay people and same sex relationships.
COnsidering this. I was disappointed to see that your cover line to the film read ‘Camping In the Wild West' Call me Cynical. but while the film does indeed involve a night spent under canvas. I'm pretty sure that it was more the comical limp-wristc—xl connotations of the word you were going for. rather than actual event itself. Now I can laugh at a fag joke as much as any other homo. but Brokeback Mountain is not camp. Indeed. to call it so trIVialises the magnitude of the issues being portrayed in favour of a cheap laugh. If that's your aim. why
not really put the boot in and call it Bareback Mountain? Suzanne Hart
Edinburgh
YOU’RE NOT FUNNY Re: Cover (539)
Ha. ha. I see what you did there! Brokeback Mountain is camp? Or are you mistaking camp for gay? A glance at any dictionary would have saved you the error of assuming camp and gay are the same thing. Camp can certainly be funny. kitsch and frivolous — not words you would use to describe Brokeback Mountain. Lazy Journalism or do I detect the faint whiff of homophobia? Gwen Orr
Edinburgh
Homophobia? No way.’ But we do apologise for cracking a such a terrible joke.
provokes your people? C Davis Love Edinburgh
VERTICALLY CHALLENGED
It has recently come to my attention that shockingly few citizens of Edinburgh wear horizontal corduroy trousers. As an American. I know very little about Scottish culture. but wondered if any staff members at The List w0uld be so kind as to explain just what it is about sheer liori/ontality that offends or scares yOur nation. Are you a traditional people. '.'/|Ih a Burkean devotion to vertical waling? Does the dominant vertical striping of Scottish tartan prejudice yOur citizens against uniquely latitudinal striping? Please help an admittedly benighted fellow understand what is it about ITOTIYOITIOI corduroy trousers that
We had to look up what ‘vertica/ waling' is, but we are in complete agreement that the horizontal corduroy issue rs one of the hot topics of 2006. Style gurus wr/l probably be carrying corduroy bags for their shopping this Summer (see 'Bag to the Future 'i.
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE TWO BOTTLES OF BLANDY‘S ALVADA
Blondy's Alvedo ~ Thoroughly l‘v’ioderri Madeira
What you First Impressions of Earth by the Strokes Various record shops, Mon 9 Jan
Carrie
2 THE LIST if) Jan—2 Feb 2006
Senior sales assistant, Avalanche
I liked it. although I don't think it is as good as their first album. The best thing is the Barry Manilow rip- off of 'Mandy' on track but It's brilliant.
Jamie
ASSrstant manager. Fopp It's a real grower. The first listen was brilliant and it just gets better and better — a really raw album. The track 'Juicebox' is really shong.
Ali
ASSistant manager, HMV
The album starts off strongly but as it goes on you get the feeling they are trying to stretch out the muse. Needs more editing.
GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH
evens gm:
CONTRIBUTORS Publisher 8 General Editor Robin Hodge
EDITORIAL
Editor Nick Barley
Deputy Editor Brian Donaldson Assistant Editors
Mark Robertson. Paul Dale Subeditor Ashley Davies 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 & MARKETING Advertising Sales Manager Rachel Shields
Senior Media Sales Executives
Carol Ferguson
Brigid Kennedy
Media Sales Executive Richie Meldrum
Media Sales Support Sharon Stephen Promotions Manager Sheri Friers
Circulation Manager Neil Earnshaw Circulation Executive Keith Ben2ie
Special Projects Amanda Munqall
PRODUCTION Art Director
Krista Robertson Production Manager Simon Armin Designer Lucy Reeves Production Assistant Russell Steedman
ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette Rem-rick Accounts Assistant Manager Donna Taylor
Accounts Maternity Cover Gemma Beard
Reception
Tracey Fisher
Edinburgh Office Manager Katie Scott
Glasgow Office Manager Katharine Haslett
SECTION EDITORS Around Town Morag 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 Date
Day Robin Lee
Kids Kelly Apter
Music Mark Robertson
(with Norman Chalmers. Carol Main. Kenny Mathieson. Fiona Shepherd)
News Allan Radcliffe
Play Henry Northmore
(with Iain Davidson)
Shop Katy McAulay Television Brian Donaldson Theatre Steve Cramer Travel Rachael Street Visual Art Alexander Kennedy