Letter from the editor July 2003

Toward the end of musician Liz Phair's interview in this month's issue (beginning on page 62), the famously outspoken performer-whose much anticipated new album was just released-compares the music world as it appears to her now with the way it was about a decade ago when she first broke onto the scene. She tells her interviewer, fellow musician Ben Lee, that back then "it was sort of like Revenge of the Nerds, where people with different perspectives, the underdogs, became the heroes." Describing her view of the present atmosphere Phair continues, "Now, in music, it seems more like the popular crowd suppresses anyone who is different." That observation leads to a beautiful poetic exchange between her and Lee that demonstrates why she is such a wonderful songwriter. He says, "I carry a flame for that [earlier] time." And Phair answers, "It's an eternal flame. But it's definitely raining."

Phair's assessment of the music scene today is one that some people will agree with, while plenty of others won't. And that's one of the points of Interview: to be a kind of forum, in which creative people, and the leaders and shakers of popular culture, can feel free to speak their minds. One can witness them doing just that throughout this July issue. In fact, when I was reading it all together for the last time before we sent it to the printer, it struck me that I had good news for Phair. Picking up on her use of weather imagery as a metaphor for the state of the music world, I'd say that we're living in a time when there are lots of clouds, but also real patches of sunshine. This issue basks in those patches.

It's July. It's the month of Independence Day. And in that spirit, among our stories this month, we shine the spotlight on some truly independent individuals, from newscaster Aaron Brown (beginning on page 36) to new rap artist Caushun (page 28). July is a time to celebrate these people, all individuals who "carry a flame"-for truth, beauty, knowledge, liberty, equality... all those things that make our world a civilized place. It's a world that has produced an extraordinary new museum, Dia: Beacon (the story begins on page 76), where the thinking has been truly visionary. It's a world that has given rise to a brilliant young actor, Gael Garcia Bernal, who is featured on our cover this month. Bernal isn't just a ball of fire talentwise-as you'll see in his interview with Julian Schnabel (beginning on page 48), he is also thoughtful, smart, socially concerned, brave, and humane. What's more, he happens to be one of the hottest new actors to come down the pike, one we believe will be around for a long time--se tting off fireworks in his audience's hearts. Have a great July.

Ingrid Sischy, Editor in Chief

COPYRIGHT 2003 Brant Publications, Inc.
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