Big bands vs. stardom
Regarding “U2 Is Still Out There Looking” (March 16): The problem with big bands becoming rock stars is the label’s commercial apparatus that tries to squeeze every dollar out of such stardom.
U2 took the world by storm with seminal tracks like “With or Without You,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”
They became obsessed with being popular, hence the “Pop Tour”, which gave me the creeps, in a bad way, when they announced it. Something and someone has to pay for the mega mansions. Along the way, two beautiful songs came out, “One” and “Beautiful Day”, for everyone’s taste.
The need to stay in business overcame the need to produce something inspired and relevant. Too much.
Michele Castagnetti
the Angels
Wide World of Oscars
The Oscars may have made a misstep by not including more South Asian dancers onstage (“Oscars Made a Mistake, Dancers Say,” March 17), but for me and my friends it was our first introduction to indian folk dance.
As a result, I have been streaming Bollywood movies for the whole week.
Randy Farhi
the Angels
::
Thank you for your spread of articles and photos about the Oscars, starting with Justin Chang candidly sorting out the what’s what and what could be what at all the awards for “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.”
Also, thanks especially for Mark Olsen’s “Year of the Comeback” article highlighting the fact that all of the acting awards went to veteran actors, including the notable Ke Huy Quan, who noted that his long journey on the world stage of Academy Awards started with him in a boat.
Lastly, thanks for the backstage photo of Jamie Lee Curtis, Oscar in hand, breaking down.
Oscar-winning supporting actress Jamie Lee Curtis gets emotional backstage at the Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
I am close to his age and I cannot tell why great and unexpected blessings make me cry. Maybe it has to do with the breath-holding that some of us older people do as a way of life; then something amazing suddenly comes up and our initial involuntary reaction is to catch our deep breath a bit.
jill peacock
Saint Barbara
Drag in American culture
Regarding “The Show Will Go On” (“March 15”): As a 75-year-old gay Christian, I’m so happy that a major political party is finally coming to our defense against icons like Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason , Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon, Harvey Korman and Robin Williams, who all dressed in drag for some of their performances.
They certainly distorted our American culture, right? (For those who don’t get it, look up the word “satire” – you might learn something useful.)
Richard J Follett
Van Nuys
Roots of Salvadoran Literature
As a Salvadoran-American scholar of Latino literature for more than 30 years, I am very fond of Christopher Soto’s story (“Salvadoran Renaissance,” March 19). Without a doubt, the talented Salvadoran-American writers mentioned in the article have shed a new light on the American literary landscape. However, the article’s contemporary approach ignores the influence of figures, editors, and movements that helped shape Salvadoran American literature into what it is today.
In 2009, for example, William Archila published “The Art of Exile,” the first collection of poetry that gives us an idea of the civil war in El Salvador. It was part of the “Canto Cosas” series under Bilingual Review Press. Established by Francisco Aragón, that series (and publisher) coincidentally also allowed me to publish my first collection of poetry.
Additionally, in 2001, Marcos Villatoro published “Home Killings: A Romilia Chacón Mystery,” which was named one of the Best Books of 2001 by the Los Angeles Times and was published by Arte Publico Press, a leading Latino book publisher. Not coincidentally, Red Hen Press, another courageous and progressive publisher that supported Salvadoran-American writers, would publish Archila and Villatoro’s other works (while Arte Público would also publish my second collection of poetry).
Furthermore, in places like Washington, DC, poets like Quique Avilés and Carlos Parada Ayala, through their performances and writings, have brought El Salvador to the consciousness of thousands.
jose gonzalez
Quaker Hill, Connecticut.
shipping terminology
The objects in the “Sleeping Figure” sculpture, reviewed by Christopher Knight (“A Witty Work’s Pointed View at Desert X,” March 15), are intermodal containers, not “railroad freight cars.” They are used interchangeably on railways, trucks, and ships. Their lengths are standardized at 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, 48 feet, and 53 feet.
jeff olmstead
The half Moon
More music coverage please.
I have subscribed to the LA Times consistently since 1967. As a music educator, practicing musician, and music lover, I have enjoyed reading the music reviews in the Calendar section. I remember the thoughtful comments of Martin Bernheimer. I also appreciate Mark Swed’s comments. I am disappointed that The Times has stopped publishing music reviews.
Los Angeles is blessed with a world-class orchestra and an outstanding conductor. My most recent concert experience was with Zubin Mehta conducting Crumb and Berlioz. This incredible concert was ignored by The Times just like most others.
It would seem that the Los Angeles music community deserves to be recognized in our flagship newspaper. I hope that the rich music community of Los Angeles will once again be a topic for The Times Calendar section.
Rodney Oakes
Saint Peter
