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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