FOLKLORE FRONTIERS

Magazine Overview

Title: FOLKLORE FRONTIERS
Issue: No. 42
Date: December 2002

This issue of Folklore Frontiers, an independent magazine dedicated to exploring various aspects of folklore, contemporary legends, ancient traditions, and 21st-century culture, presents a diverse range of articles. Edited and published by Paul Screeton, the magazine offers insights into the bizarre and often humorous side of modern life, art, and human perception.

The Diary

Paul Screeton opens 'The Diary' with an anecdote about a phone call from Peter Mandelson, a former Labour Cabinet member, regarding Screeton's latest book. The column then shifts to a humorous recollection of a drunken Glyn Daniel on the television program 'Animal, Vegetable, Mineral,' highlighting his disheveled state and nonsensical pronouncements. The diary also touches upon the historical pub 'Jack Straw's Castle' and includes a personal reflection from singer Beth Orton about her experience on Hampstead Heath, where she felt she had found a 'magic circle.'

BritArt Crap

In a scathing review titled 'BritArt Crap,' Paul Screeton critiques the state of modern British art, quoting Anthony Julius and John Preston on the tendency for art to violate taboos and create a sense of alienation. Screeton finds much of contemporary art to be 'rubbish,' citing examples like Cecilia Floyer's 'Garbage Bag' and her 'Monochrome Till Receipt.' He also recounts Damien Hirst's controversial remarks about the 9/11 attacks and the incident where a cleaner binned Hirst's impromptu artwork. The article details the loss of a £60,000 glass sculpture from Reading station and the vandalism of Santiago Sierra's artwork at the Lisson Gallery. Further examples of provocative and often bizarre art include a performance artist stripping naked on a dead horse and a hammer attack on a corpse exhibit at the 'Body Worlds' show. The section also touches upon artists selling packaged litter, the controversial display at the Royal Academy of Art, and a live art performance involving a couple in a gallery window.

The Tate values excrement more highly than gold

This article by Catherine Milner reports on the Tate Gallery's purchase of Piero Manzoni's 'Artist's Shit' (merda d'artista) for £22,300. Manzoni created 90 tins of his faeces in 1961 as an ironic commentary on the art market, selling them for the price of gold. The Tate defended the purchase, calling it 'seminal' and important for understanding 20th-century art. The article notes that the Tate also owns paintings by Chris Ofili featuring elephant dung and quotes Manzoni's cynical view on collectors seeking something 'intimate.' The article also briefly mentions other art-related incidents, including a man attacking a statue of Margaret Thatcher and damage to a mural by Leliks Topolski due to a leaky tap. It also recounts the story of Marc Quinn's sculpture made from frozen blood melting due to a power outage and a report on an artist selling packaged litter.

States of Mind

Paul Sieveking's 'States of Mind' column discusses the controversial Swedish artist Lars Vilks, known for his sculptures and his declaration of the rocky site of his artworks as the 'independent state of Ladonia.' The column details how Vilks used legal loopholes to protect his sculpture 'Nimis' from demolition and how his declaration of Ladonia led to over 3,000 Pakistanis seeking political asylum in his self-proclaimed state, overwhelming his website.

The Ants are My Friends

This article by Paul Screeton explores the phenomenon of 'mondegreens' or misheard words and phrases, particularly in song lyrics. It provides numerous examples, such as mishearing 'jai guru deva' as 'John grew a K-Mart' from The Beatles' 'Across the Universe,' and 'scuse me while I kiss the sky' as 'scuse me while I kiss this guy' from Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze.' The article also includes examples of misheard phrases from movies and television.

Misheard Lyrics

Jennifer Linsel compiles a list of amusing misheard lyrics from popular songs. Examples include 'Me ears are alight' for 'The Israelites' by Desmond Dekker, 'no legs' for 'no name' in America's 'A Horse with No Name,' and 'Do you mince meat tonight' for 'Do you miss me tonight' from Elvis Presley's 'Are You Lonesome Tonight.' The list covers a wide range of artists and songs, highlighting the often humorous ways lyrics are misinterpreted.

The Misheard Messages That Match Musharraf's Blunder

This article by David Edwards details instances of misheard messages and translations that led to confusion and embarrassment. It begins with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf misinterpreting a message about '45 Commando' as referring to only 45 individuals, rather than a unit of 1,700. The article then provides a series of examples of mistranslations and misinterpretations, including a Japanese translation of a Pepsi slogan, an American Airlines slogan, and John F. Kennedy's 'Ich bin ein Berliner' remark. It also includes misheard song lyrics, such as Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind' being heard as 'The ants are my friends.'

Articles Elsewhere

This section features brief summaries of other articles and publications. It includes a piece on David Lee, who set up 'The Jackdaw' to provoke reactions and engage in a crusade against the contemporary art establishment. It also reviews Anthony Julius's book 'Transgressions: the Offence of Art,' discussing the shock tactics used in modern art. Another piece covers Iain Sinclair's views on roads and traffic jams, and James Van Praagh's claims about communicating with the dead, met with skepticism from James Randi.

Update

This section provides updates on various topics previously covered in Folklore Frontiers. It includes a mention of Marianne Faithfull's relaunch and the enduring 'Mars bar' myth. It also updates on 'Anorakphobia,' noting a positive article in 'The Railway Magazine' about trainspotters, and 'Dubious Transmissions,' detailing an incident where Formula One driver David Coulthard received taxi dispatch messages during a race. Finally, it updates on 'Booze 'n' Boobs,' regarding the insurance of a barmaid's breasts.

Books

This section reviews several books. 'Sir William Gray, who features in the new book The Man Who Ate A Domino' by Paul Screeton, is highlighted with a picture of Screeton next to a statue. A comical review of mix-ups and tall tales is presented, referencing Screeton's book which compiles anecdotes from contemporary newspaper accounts and personal contacts, covering local legends, bizarre events, and celebrity rumors. Other books reviewed include 'The Magic of Labyrinths,' 'Spell in Your Pocket,' and 'The Gods Were Astronauts.'

The Editor writes...

This editorial piece by Paul Screeton responds to a previous article by Jonathan Ward about his book 'The Man Who Ate A Domino.' Screeton expresses pleasure at Ward's positive review but playfully addresses some of Ward's 'half-tales' and 'misdemeanours' recalled by former colleagues. He clarifies details about an incident involving a concrete otter in Wolviston and mentions a prank phone call. Screeton also touches upon his experiences with train exits and a misaddressed package.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently features a critical and often satirical perspective on contemporary culture, particularly the art world, which is frequently depicted as absurd, pretentious, and out of touch. There is a strong emphasis on urban legends, misinterpretations, and the humorous side of human error and perception, as seen in the 'BritArt Crap' and 'Misheard Lyrics' sections. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensationalism and a preference for grounded, often humorous, observations of everyday life and its peculiarities. The magazine also shows an interest in historical folklore and the evolution of traditions.

This document appears to be a review section from a magazine, featuring two book reviews. The first review is of "THE FACE & THE MESSAGE" by JOHN MICHELL, published by Gothic Image, priced at £6.95. The second review is of "LIVING ANCIENT WISDOM: UNDERSTANDING AND USING ITS PRINCIPLES TODAY" by PAUL DEVEREUX, published by Rider Books, priced at £10.99.

Review of "THE FACE & THE MESSAGE" by JOHN MICHELL The review discusses a coded radio message beamed into outer space and the enigmatic reply received in the form of a crop circle formation near Chilbotton Observatory in Hampshire. The organization behind the space message initiative (CETI) dismissed the crop circle as a childish hoax. The crop circle's design differed from the expected reply, featuring a stylized creature resembling UFO 'greys' and the atomic number of silicon, suggesting a silicon-based lifeform rather than a carbon-based one.

Another crop formation, 'The Face,' also appeared in the same comfield, described as a rectangular, deceptive artistic device made of 412 small squares containing dots of standing corn, creating an image with shadows. The reviewer notes that while crop circles have evolved into complex designs, the 'Face' and 'Message' formations claim to be from outer space, which raises suspicion due to their perfection.

John Michell, the author of the book, suggests that these formations might be computer images created by a silicon-centred mentality, possibly by idealistic computer wizards using large-scale projection. However, the reviewer points out that this explanation ignores the strong psychic element. Michell eventually settles on 'daimonic reality' and an alchemical world ruled by Mercurius as an explanation for the phenomena, which brings about changes in human affairs.

In a personal communication, Michell states that this is the "best ET evidence so far," though not conclusive. The reviewer, however, suggests the book concludes more on an ultraterrestrial note.

Review of "LIVING ANCIENT WISDOM" by PAUL DEVEREUX Paul Devereux's book is described as the first practical book of its kind, offering exercises and activities designed to lead to changes in thought and perception. It is characterized as 'New Agey' but with a sound concept for approaching ancient skills and wisdom.

The book is divided into four main aspects of antiquity: sacred centres, pilgrimage, sacred geography, and divination. It explores what these sites and practices can reveal about their creators and users, providing practical techniques for readers to enter the ancient mindset and experience the world from a different vantage point.

The review notes that the book moves beyond Devereux's earlier work on ley hunting, taking readers on a global journey that includes Siberian shamans, American mound builders, and pilgrims from various cultures. It also touches upon the Aztecs, Mayans, and Nazca lines. The book covers a wide range of topics, from electronic voice phenomena and feng shui to mandalas and oracles, aiming to offer something for everyone.

Publication Details The reviews are followed by publication details for Emjay Reprographics, located at 117 Harwill Crescent, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 5LA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this excerpt are the exploration of unexplained phenomena, particularly crop circles and their potential connection to extraterrestrial intelligence, and the study of ancient wisdom and practices. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting different theories and interpretations while maintaining a degree of skepticism, especially regarding claims of extraterrestrial origin that seem 'too good to be true.' The reviews highlight the blend of scientific investigation, esoteric beliefs, and historical exploration within the reviewed books.