Locating culture

I’m moved to ask two questions.

The film Milk has had wonderful reviews and been widely accepted. Why isn’t it shown in wider distribution in the Asheville area? Is this allegedly diverse community too innocent to deal with the content of homophobia?

Second question: Why do I have to go to Barnes and Noble on Tunnel Road (from Arden, often an hour trip) to find such mainstream publications as Vanity Fair and Atlantic Monthly? Is it felt that there is no one who reads in south Asheville? I would bet that any magazine purveyor who would sell these beside the standard bridal fluff and shooters’ mags would attract a new sort of customer who might be willing to buy other items while in the store.

Just two innocent questions.

— Howard Henze
Arden

Note from Xpress film critic Ken Hanke regarding Milk: This is a simple situation having to do with smaller movies and having nothing to do with homophobia. The Fine Arts Theater (the only locally-owned, non-corporate first-run theater in town)—in part because they’re the only theater that will show a lot of smaller films—got an exclusive from the distributor of Milk. This isn’t uncommon. Additionally, films aren’t booked into theaters within five miles of each other, which is why you’ll never see the Fine Arts, the Carmike and the Beaucatcher playing the same movies at the same time—which isn’t really undesirable. Not slicing the pie too thin ensures a healthy run for a film like Milk. I’ve seen too many art films crash and burn by being put into too many theaters, so that nobody made enough money to keep them.

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One thought on “Locating culture

  1. Jen

    Doesn’t Downtown Books and News carry the magazines that you mention? I’ve found a very wide range of magazines and newspapers there including international magazines. Downtown Books and News would be my first source before going to Barnes and Noble.

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