Jornalism for Cool People Who Are Bohemianly Self-Aware And Proud
Monday, 23 July 2007
Right. I got back from Barcelona today, and one of the last things I did in that great city was to pick up a free paper. BCN Week, a self-proclaimed 'alternative news weekly,' is not like the free newspapers I am used to acquiring like so much textual detritus in London, in that it is not shit. In fact, it is very far from that. Far from focusing on celebrity gossip, incidents of petty crime, and covering anyone who handles it with a distinctly grimy film of poorly printed ink; BCN Week, the July 12-25th tackles all sorts of intriguing, relevant stories.
This issue had a special interest in the state of art in Barcelona. As I write those words, 'the state of art in Barcelona,' it makes me feel as if I might be writing pessimistic headlines for the Mail, deploring anything vaguely interesting or innovative in exchange for rave reviews of populist tripe. BCN Weekly however tackles the subject from a deeply philosophical, intellectually grounded position. Exotically named contributors ponder such issues in a refreshingly varied and challenging style. 'Esteban Esteban' writes of the failure of a centralised agency to propel forward art, noting in a way only he could that,
'Today we find BCN regretfully sitting in the post coital afterglow, smeared in the face with its own jizm.'Another writer, known simply as, 'Jordae' writes with a mildly pretentious but suitably trendy disregard for capitals.
Alongsinde these occassionaly erudite discussions are some quite marvellous shorts, which bring the paper right back into reality, and reassure the reader that the paper is not simply a talking shop for disaffected History post-grads, but a living, breathing entity; and most importantly one that, despite it's different flavours, manages a true cohesion. Among my favourite small features is an overheard in Barcelona column, where (admittedly dubious) quotes are picked up from a week in the city. Among my favourite is:
HOBO: Can you spare some change please?
HOBO MOCKER: No sorry, I spent it all on drugs and stinky glue to sniff.
The Astrology section is also suitably tongue in cheek. A quick glance down the page to check on Aquariu's reading reveals;
'Someone might steal your bike this week, or maybe the mirrors off your moto, someone might fuck your partner. Yes, I see the distinct possibility of you recieving a very close to the quick injury, one that takes your breath. Or what I see is you doing the stealing/fucking. Whatever happens, you'll be caught off your guard by odd behaviour, and it just might be your own.'
Alright, it's a bit edgy, but it's not crazily daring. And although it might give off a (faintly commercialised) smell of underground, it's not quite subversive phamplets. But bravo for a press where these newspapers are distributed throughout the city everyweek for free, unashamedly reporting the events of urban life in such an impressive and humorous style. It just goes to show, upfront and 'honest' reporting doesn't always mean unexamined right wing reporting, it can also mean sensible debate with a boheme twist. Bravo BCN Week. Now, why can't we have a paper like this in London!
Labels: journalism
posted by danny @ 10:32,
