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Variant
| 12 Spring 2001
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A conversation with James Kelman -
William Clark
This is an informal conversation which nevertheless sets out a poignant
indictment of the ignorance, small-mindedness and vested interest which
dominate the controllers of Scottish culture. It ranges over contemporary
and historical developments, attitudes and concerns providing a compelling,
honest insight and testimony as to what it is like to work as an artist
in Scotland. It proved a bit too much for that illusory entity the 'Scottish
Arts Establishment'. Sometimes the truth hurts.
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zine & comics reviews - Mark
Pawson
The regular guide (until he went missing in New York) and round-up of
an aspect of sub-culture where art is still a labour of love. More than
enough to confuse and amuse.
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United States and NATO Inspired 'Psychological Warefare
Operations' Against The 'Kurdish Communist Threat' in Turkey: Part One
- Desmond Fernandes and Iskender Ozden
This sets out the extent of US and NATO responsibility for Turkish death
squads. This is viewed as part of the secretive and unaccountable agenda
of the Cold War. Fully sourced it is an excellent starting point to understanding
the Turkish coup and its aftermath, particularly the rise of an apartheid
oppression of the Kurdish people and their culture.
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Identity and Interpretation in Literary Practice
- Jim Ferguson
An imaginative idiosyncratic work (part literary
criticism, part essay), it adopts the forms of its subject matter: Robert
Tannahill, W.S. Graham, Burns, Kafka and finally a study of Flannery O'
Conner's 'A good man is hard to find.'
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Metaphysical Pathos - William
Clark
The title is a sociological phrase which 'describes
the underlying mood of pessimism informing analyses of bureaucracy'. Taking
the example of the SAC's 'Care Diligence and Skill', the article
explores the careers of those who put it together and their ulterior motives.
The context is widened further to encompass a range of material including
reports of government intrigue with political patronage and the appointee
system and the non-existent appeals procedure. It ends with a socio-economic
observations on the nature of arts policy compared to the evidential experience
of artists and organisations.
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Tales of The Great Unwashed - Ian
Brotherhood
A rare thing - a truly great work of fiction. We would defy just about
anyone not to find this short story genuinely funny and beautifully written.
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Contracted Culture -
Leigh French
A very impassioned attack on the pseudo market waffle
which underpins the basis of most arts policy, using Scotland as a particular
example.
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20 reviews - 20 mins - Mr
Tayto & Mr Tayto
A satirical review of the state of both art reviewing
and the hopeless, infantile, shallowness of contemporary art. The aliases
used by the pair (of art reviewers!) are an oblique reference to the Tate
gallery and a packet of crisps. There goes another potential ad.
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Mistaken Identities - Manuel
Rafael Mancillas
The history of Maclovio Rojas on the Mexican American
border draws on the point of view of the Border Arts Workshop. The nature
of the struggle is for land illegally taken from the people by the multi-national
Hyundai in cahoots with an appallingly corrupt government. Its a moving
tale of the courage of the people involved.
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