Mourning 'Six Feet'

In response to Rob Owen's "Six Feet Under" review (Aug. 18): To call the end of "Six Feet Under" a "blessing" is to show Mr. Owen's poor taste and obviously amateur judgment when it comes to quality television. "Six Feet Under" is one of the few, if any, programs that consistently demonstrate all of the elements of a great story: It is extremely well written; contains complex, intriguing characters, unparalleled creativity, suspenseful plot lines and intelligent dialogue; and one of my favorite writing techniques -- coming full circle. For you to dismiss all of this due to the show's underlying element of "bleakness" is to frivolously and irresponsibly ignore the reality of life and death -- as is the show's true premise. The public needs more shows like "Six Feet Under," and I along with many "educated" viewers are sorry to see this one end! It's too bad someone who may have influence over what is seen on television doesn't recognize quality programming. Maybe that's one of the reasons television seems to cater to the lowest common denominator.

Claire Wallace
Mt. Lebanon

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Born in Pittsburgh

I welcome the dialogue provoked by Terry Young's recent article ("Presentation makes the difference for video art," Aug. 9) and Graham Shearing's response (Feedback, Aug. 18), but I take issue with Young's characterization of Pittsburgh as a city where "nothing seems to be born or die." As head of the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University, I have had the pleasure of being associated with recent and past faculty and students who contradict this poetic but not entirely true pronouncement. Andy Warhol (pioneer of pop art), Mel Bochner (pioneer of conceptual art), and Philip Pearlstein (leading contemporary realist painter) were all raised in Pittsburgh and educated at Carnegie Mellon. The landscape of contemporary art would not be the same without their contributions. The newer generations are no less promising. Countless artists launch their careers from their studies here. The School of Art and STUDIO for Creative Inquiry have incubated several innovative artist collectives and their founders (subRosa, Institute for Applied Autonomy, Carbon Defense League, Nine Mile Run Project, 3 Rivers/2nd Nature, etc.) that are at the forefront of art's intersection with media, bio-engineering, environmental and technological issues. Redefining the role of the artist and creating new contexts for art entails of lot of birth pains (and joys).

Of course, innovation in Pittsburgh is not limited to our campus. We are fortunate to have several cultural venues beyond the venerable Carnegie Museums that have promoted installation and new media art when they were nascent, notably The Mattress Factory and Wood Street Galleries. Art critics are inherently and necessarily obligated to challenge us (and I certainly support raising the bar across all our endeavors and waving farewell to provincialism). Critics also owe artists and their presenters solid arguments for the faults they find and praise when it is due, especially when they premiere new works, hardly settling for the "good enough for Pittsburgh" attitude that Young laments. In the current economic and social climate, presenting arts organizations can use all the help they can get in developing audiences and stoking the creative energy of the city. It takes all kinds, from the budding galleries on Penn Avenue to the august Frick Museum in Point Breeze, to cover the spectrum of what has been and is possible in the arts.

Between the artists in our midst and those departed, I have seen a lot being born and more on the way and am happy that Pittsburgh has played midwife so well.

Susanne Slavick
Regina Gouger Miller Head of the School of Art
Carnegie Mellon University

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Body as a temple

I could not read and yet not be perplexed by Rabbi Freedman's reminder (Feedback, Aug. 18) that our bodies are created in the image of God and that keeping one's body "as is" is an act of faith.

Surely my friends of Christian and Jewish faiths need to question the widespread and medically unnecessary practice of male circumcision.

Michael Delano
Mt. Lebanon

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Sticking up for tats

I am a 40-year-old woman. I have been employed by the same company for 18 years. I own a home and pay taxes (probably more than my fair share, being single and child-free, but I digress.) I support local charities, both by simple donation and through benefits, even treading upon the well-groomed lawns of Sewickley. I have never been arrested -- in fact, I've never received more than a parking violation. I even have a great relationship with my parents.

I have six tattoos or, dare I say, "tats."

If Mr. Jim Phillips' antiquated prejudices lead him to believe that this negates everything else in my life and leaves me afloat in that "tsunami of offal and raw sewage" (Feedback, Aug. 18), then so be it. I assure you, I am much happier to spend my time there, among the prostitutes, ex-cons and "outlaw" bikers that apparently populate my world, than spend a moment living in a myopic world worrying about what the Mr. Phillipses out there think of me.

Marci Maleski
Sheraden

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Looking for Christopher

I enjoyed reading Chris Rawson's article "Looking for Richard" (Aug. 21). Through his articles, Chris has taken his readers on road trips to old neighborhoods to look into the past of celebrities with local ties like Frank Gorshin and Jeff Goldblum, but I was just as interested in reading about Chris's past.

Chris' father-quest reminded me of a time when Chris himself was an important mentor in my life. Back in the early '80s, Chris taught a freshman class called "Arts in Performance." We would see plays and review and discuss them in class. Chris gave us the opportunity to talk about theater, our lives and the freshman experience. The class gave a shy kid a chance to connect with other freshmen in a way that orientations and dorm life never could.

A leading player from a small high school in West Virginia, I was in my first year at the University of Pittsburgh studying to become an actor. I was more than a little disappointed when I got my first part, as the Second Officer in a college production of "A View From the Bridge." It was only when Chris told me that he had played the same part once that I was convinced there are "no small parts, only small actors."

Chris asks in his article, "What would [the late Richard Hart, Chris' actor father] think now of his son the drama critic?" To one freshman actor of 22 years ago, Chris was a kind teacher and a friend. I know Chris' dad could only be proud of that.

Joe Comm
Greensburg

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Keep the good faith

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's press release of Aug. 1 says it all: "PBT continues to negotiate with the Pittsburgh Musicians' Union in good faith in an attempt to restore music to the 2005-2006 season." They have taken the music out of the art or they wouldn't need to restore it. Half of the art experience will be gone if the PBT remains on its current path to perform with tape recorder.

Does one buy a suit without a jacket? How about a pair of glasses with just one lens? Does one buy only one shoe at a time? How much money would somebody pay for just one shoe? In such a way the PBT has devalued its product. which will only lead to its financial and artistic demise. Not only is it a poor financial and artistic decision, it's unfair to the dancers, the orchestra and, most of all, the audience.

I urge the management and board of the PBT to immediately restore live music back into the 2005-06 season and to begin bargaining in good faith with the Pittsburgh Musicians Union. To do otherwise is socially irresponsible to the vibrant and sophisticated community of Pittsburgh.

Larry Gardner
Fresno, Calif.
Vice President
Regional Orchestra Players Association

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Too much force

I'm a strong supporter of law enforcement professionals, and I am thankful for the service they provide, but thanks to the absurdly violent action of an overzealous county policeman at Sunday night's Los Lobos concert at Hartwood Acres, my young children are now terrified of policemen. What terrorist action prompted the officer to grab a man by his throat and drag him in front of the stage? The man, after hearing requests by the band, attempted to gather up some beach balls and bounce them to the audience.

Grossly disproportionate actions such as these should not be tolerated in Allegheny County. An enjoyable evening for my family was ruined, and I now must encourage my children to trust and respect policemen even though they witnessed a totally unreasonable act of police brutality.

Edward K. Prem
Hampton

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Happy at Heinz

I wanted to mention my experience at the Styx/Kansas concert on Monday at Heinz Field. I want to commend the staff there for one of the most pleasant concerts I have attended. The staff was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I have been to so many concerts in every venue possible, and this was run like a well-oiled machine. We need to have more concerts at this venue instead of driving forever to the Post-Gazette Pavilion, which is a traffic nightmare. Parking in the city and walking to Heinz Field was a breeze. Keep up the good work, and I, for one, will definitely attend more concerts at Heinz Field. Your great customer service skills really paid off. Also, special thanks for keeping up with the policy of being smoke-free.

Judy Hockensmith
Cranberry

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Law of averages

Did you really have nothing better to write about than Big Ben's rating in "Madden 06" ("Video game gives Big Ben no respect," Aug. 23)? He got a slightly better than average rating and ... guess what ... he's a slightly better than average quarterback. We're talking about someone who didn't throw 20 touchdowns last season (despite throwing more than 10 interceptions), which is about 1.5 TDs per game. Mediocre. He also threw for fewer than 200 yards per game, which is pretty Mike Vick-esque, and no one praises Vick for his throwing prowess (because he has none). If you're going to write an article ridiculing Madden's ratings for your hometown boy, make sure Madden isn't correct in assigning those ratings. Get off your hometown boy's jockstrap and write about some real sports news.

Alex Lord
Gaithersburg, Md.

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Game over

Get a life, Poindexter. Here's a piece of advice. Put the Madden game away and go to the gym.

Michael Bollon
Dover, Ohio