Mirror going Maxim?

Doesn't the Mirror pride itself as being an alternative weekly? I just picked up this week's copy [July 29] - scantily clad Samantha Fox on the cover and one of those infamous full-page American Apparel ads (of the amateur-porn-Web-page aesthetic) on the back - and once again, the Mirror is proving itself to be anything but alternative.

Skin sells copy, it's true - a glance across any supermarket magazine rack confirms this. Sometimes it seems every single magazine and newspaper on the continent uses this trick to up sales. Even our beloved Gazette emblazons the front page of the news stand edition with a nubile, spandex-clad young lady every once in a while!

That the Mirror is no different than the Journal de Montréal, Maxim, or Marie-Claire in this respect becomes a little obvious - and dare I say insulting to you readers - when there's flagrant T&A on both covers. Is the Mirror really an alternative weekly? Alternative to what, I ask?

Come on - try resorting to interesting journalistic content and editorial integrity to attract readers. I'm sure even without a pair of tits on the cover people will still pick it up your paper.

» Jennifer MacDonald

Art and security

As part of the "everyone" supposedly being shaped by fear at Concordia, I'd like to respond to your article regarding Tom Shortliffe's paintings being stolen from the Visual Arts (VA) building ["The art of the steal," July 29].

I paint a mere six feet away from Tom, and as another painter who sells regularly, I also would hate to have my work stolen. What the article didn't note is that security has already changed due to Tom's complaint; studios are now locked any time they're empty, instead of only at night. Also, Tom's been given the unique privilege of storing his work in a locked room that no other students can access. I don't recall any other theft being followed by this kind of action, so I'd say the complaint has been effective. Besides, most of us have to leave our work around with notes saying, "Please don't touch!" for the simple reason that oil paint sometimes takes weeks to dry. Security can't do much about that.

The question of whether student work has value is interesting, but I completely disagree with Tom's take on the situation. It makes no sense to assume that a university should be assessing the market value of works produced by their fine arts students. Building a fine arts career isn't comparable to building a business career. You can't take your BFA or MFA out into the big bad world and say, "Hey folks, now you have to pay me $X!" The fact that Concordia doesn't want to commit to a price on student work seems wise to me; do we want a formula that says, third year work is worth amount Y; for fourth year work add 45 per cent? It doesn't, and shouldn't, work that way. There is no way to create standard assessments of dollar value of work out on the art market so I don't see why a standard would exist at the learning level.

» Meg Walker

Pink Panther props

As Chaos Organizer of the Infringement Festival, I would like to support and sympathize with les Panthères roses ["Radical Pink," July 29] for their efforts to fight the corporate ownership and control of yet another fun and artistic celebration of liberation and freedom.

It seems like we're in the middle of some huge pillage and resale of our culture's most poignant elements of resistance and free thought. This is a new type of segregation where what was once thought of as different and dangerous is now accepted, only because someone can make a buck off it. Resistance in its purest form is still taboo, therefore, this isn't a step forward at all.

Now the pride movement is getting co-opted just like the fringe movement has been in recent years. Voices like those of les Panthères roses need to be listened to now more than ever if we are to reclaim our culture.

I would also like to thank your paper for coverage of this group and of us. Considering you are a sponsor of both Divers/Cité and the fringe, it's good to see that your editorial board is independent.

» Jason C. McLean, Chaos Organizer, The infringement Festival

More American insights

As a regular visitor to la Belle Province, namely Montreal and Quebec City, I wanted to comment on the letters from my two U.S. counterparts ["Thoughts from Americans," July 29].

I agree with the first letter that the graffiti situation seems to be out of hand. It's painful to see a great city like Montreal covered with that crap. Sure, some say it is art. If so, put it on a damn canvas and not on a building or wall. As for the other letter writer I am guessing that this goofball is from Texas and supports the Bushie regime. Anyone who boycotts French or Canadian products is missing out on culture and beauty big time. I wash my face with Decleor products (Paris) and shower with Druide gels (Montreal) and would not have it any other way. Canada rocks!

» Jonathan Whitney

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