LETTERS

From Intelligent Life magazine, November/December 2011

A wolf in sheep's clothing

Re: A man's guide to a woman's wardrobe (Style, September/October)

While Luke Leitch lamented the men who patiently tolerate women's fashions in a patronising tone, he engaged in similar behaviour. The article implied women's fashion choices were part of some great psychological mystery that men may never understand. He took the same condescending point of view as thinkers such as Freud and Nietzsche when they analysed the minds of women.What's more, the article focused on a small selection of women—rich and white—as if only their sense of fashion was worth exploring.While trying to present himself as the understanding, sympathetic hapless male who "saw the light" after being thrown into the fashion industry against his will, the author maintained a smug, you-poor-women-who-are-slaves-to-the-fashion-industry attitude. We need to get past it.

New Black Woman, Atlanta, Georgia

I thought Luke Leitch's article about women's fashion hit the nail on the head, with one exception: its comparison of fashion with sport. Fashion is not a matter of loyalty. For those who do take an interest in fashion it can be a distraction from daily life and a means of self-expression, but all women have their limits. Wearing a box on one's head, as seen at Dior Couture, is too ridiculous an ask. Men, however, will happily follow their team wherever it takes them.

But rather than trying to understand the opposite sex, should we not appreciate its enigma? Women will fail to understand why men care so much about sport, and men will fail to understand why women are devoted to clothes that are likely to be "last season" by next week. And what's wrong with that?

Hanna Duggal, Birmingham

Rock opera

Re: The King and I (Features, September/October)

While I understand Ray Connolly's love for the early Elvis, the atomic sensation of the 1950s, Elvis's voice was at its best in later years, even as his health got weaker. As Bono said, Elvis became an operatic singer towards the end of his career. You can hear that quality in his very last concerts. Elvis didn't die after he left the army, as John Lennon said.

Raffaele Greco, Frankfurt, Germany

It always intrigues me how Americans don't get the significance of Elvis. He inadvertently started the culture of youth. As Ray Connolly pointed out, before Elvis teenagers were simply mirrors of their parents. His music, his performance and what he came to symbolise changed all that. Suddenly youth had its own identity which is now taken for granted. Few people in history have caused such a transformation in society and culture.

Helga Mitchell, Constantia, Cape Town

As a follower of Elvis since the age of eight in 1956, when "Heartbreak Hotel" changed the world, I have devoured more than 400 books about him and, without any doubt, Elvis was the greatest interpreter of song who ever drew breath. What's more, no other artist treated his fans with more respect and gratitude. The annual Candlelight Vigil at his home in Memphis speaks volumes. What killed Elvis Presley was a combination of things but, at the core, was a controlling, greedy manager who knew how to play the entire Presley family for his own ends. Elvis was a southern gentleman of the old school and on a handshake he remained loyal to Colonel Parker at the cost of his own artistic dreams. It is the greatest crime in rock'n'roll history.

June Robertson, Middlesbrough

Karma in Kabul

Re: Cool under fire (Culture, September/October)

Rory Stewart writes of a "shattered Bodhisattva" which "seems to be mourning all the cracks and plaster joints of its reconstruction"; that "hero statues were destroyed" and "then repaired. Then smashed again by the Taliban, and again repaired."

This cycle of destruction and reconstruction will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Buddhism. Impermanence is deeply embedded in Buddhist philosophy. The fate of these glorious, tragic statues reflects the fate of every object, being and thought that ever existed or, more precisely, appeared to exist. Nothing lasts.

This does not make the treasures of the Kabul Museum in any way less precious: wanton destruction is wholly to be condemned. But change has its own pace. It is deliberate and inevitable. When we fail to perceive this, we are truly shattered—although never beyond repair.

Brendan Kelly, Dublin

Perfect for a staycation

Re: Being There—São Paulo (Places, September/October)

Helen Joyce writes that "what Paulistanos do, every chance they get, is leave". Sure we leave, but it is usually due to work. São Paulo has the charm of dark corners and broken sidewalks hiding wonderful bars and eateries, the vibe and energy of people talking aloud at tables on Vila Madalena, the traditional butecos (cheap bars), the padarias (bakeries) with amazing food. The city is considered as exciting culturally as many other famous cities—with international film festivals, art galleries, theatres and the lush Ibirapuera park. Although there is generalised chaos, traffic jams and violence, I'm a king here.

Mauricio Pupo, São Paulo

I agree with Helen Joyce's vision of São Paulo. The city has very creative businesspeople and entrepreneurs but it lacks long-term strategic politics.The last nine years, under the populist presidency of the Workers' Party, pushed the state and federal partnerships away from the city. That is one of the reasons for the lack of investment in infrastructure in the city.

Danilo Mozeli, Manhattan, New York

I lived in São Paulo ten years ago and I had a maid. She came every day, cooked, cleaned and shopped. I wanted her to spend every last real I gave her on cleaning products or non-perishable goods—anything but holding onto the currency. The fear of inflation and the cataclysmic erosion of the value of money were still strong. It's true that São Paulo was a bargain for those with American dollars—it was the sweet life. But the gap between rich and poor was painfully obvious. Although I had a great flat, I preferred Mexico or even Argentina. Both had more of a middle class, which was a buffer between me and a stark reminder that I was playing the "capitalist pig".

Francine McKenna, Chicago

Careers advice

Re: Inspiring women (Supplement, September/October)

Elin Hurvenes's quote from Elizabeth Grieg about "expanding your platform"really resonated with me. As a young woman who is in the early stages of her career, I often try to look forward and think about what I want to achieve, but it can be really difficult to identify the right pathway. The advice that you can only launch yourself from your current base of knowledge and experience was useful for me. It has helped me to concentrate on what I can build up now, in order to achieve what I want to in the future.

Susannah Fitzherbert-Brockholes, London

Not a sausage

Re: Stove Notes (Intelligence, Summer)

With all due respect, I must disagree with some of the ingredients Simon Hopkinson chose for his paella recipe. Chorizo is only used for a kind of rice-based dish called Arroz al Horno which is not cooked in a paella pan. Chorizo in paella, especially if it is chopped up—when it releases so much paprika and flavour—is extremely alien to the Spanish.

Javier Leal

The god of condiments

Re: Just awesome (Intelligence, September/October)

I once sat down for lunch at a bistro in Toronto and ordered a chicken wrap with a side of salad. The waiter asked if that would be all. I said yes. "Awesome," he replied, "I'll get right on that." I couldn't take it any more. I turned to the waiter and asked, "Awesome? Really?" He looked confused. "I'll tell you what would be awesome," I said. "It would be awesome if somehow, the hand of God lifted the ceiling from this place, reached in and passed me the salt. That would be awesome!"