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Aug 25, 2004 Hi Charlene. I hope you're well. I believe that you're beginning a new course at Law School soon, so allow me to wish you all the best. I am making a move too and am commencing a new position in the Department of Language and Literature at the University of Bahrain. I have not been so involved with Szirine recently and I thought it would probably be reasonable and appropriate to let you know why (briefly). I will not go into the most profound reason, which I think you know about already: I feel that the definition of culture as represented by Szirine is becoming rather narrow and constrictive. This is allied to my belief that, finally, the decision to avoid controversy creates a bland sameness in the articles ( though as far as they go, I am sure that they are informative and useful). The recent decision to concentrate on modern poetry also looks like an error to me (trying to be too many things to too many different people!). Szirine has failed to reach any kind of critical mass in terms of web visitors and, probably, the print version won't change that. In order to make a difference, this print version, due to appear in the winter of 2004, would need to sell extensively, garner critical acclaim in important and influential places and gain significant financing for Szirine in the future. I doubt that this will happen. More likely, it will die a worthy death and everyone involved with the magazine will give a sigh of regret before adding another useful paragraph to their CV. Personally, I believe that Remko has too much influence in the editorial policy of Szirine. Many of his ideas are eccentric and extreme, while in his dealings with contributors, he is sometimes immature and cowardly (note that I was knocked off the Masthead at a time when I was in the middle of some serious debate with him--but only discovered what had happened on later checking back. Certainly--and although a parting of the ways had become inevitable--it was not the right way to proceed, without consultation). Again, I remember being criticized for writing that the Yanbu terrorists were 'barely men.' It seemed that this might offend teenagers! I'm still not sure if he was being serious! Another example of quirkiness would be his contention that Szirine is mostly aimed at USA readers. This in spite of the fact, that the magazine clearly focuses on the world outside the USA--and I'm quite sure that most of the visitors to the web page are not from the US (and those who are would mostl likely be from immigrant families). To sum up, I believe that Remko is a man with a particular kind of bee in his bonnet-- and he can become fanatical and rather amoral while trying to show that he is right (and he is always quite sure that he is right!) Just thought I'd put some of these ideas down, because I felt I ought to and I'd been intending to write you for a while anyway. Of course, I wish you good luck in the future both professionally and privately). Best Wishes, Jon Aristides. ------------ About the author Jon Aristides: Read, 'The Black Scarab of Amun-Ra'. Visit www.jon-aristides.com Email: aristidesjon2001@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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