Miller’s Time

The responses you chose to print to the cover story on Tim Miller certainly were frightening (Letters, Dec. 15). Rob Marcarelli’s letter, which excoriates Calendar for giving its cover space over to someone who hasn’t made millions entertaining him , does not need deep explication or a reading of its subtext: “significant” accomplishment is based on screenplay credits, books published, mainstream theater credits and big bucks.

Certainly Miller--co-founder of two still-operating performance spaces, UCLA instructor, leader of free workshops for people confronting AIDS and performer in 1991 alone on stages in London, San Antonio, Washington, L.A., New York, San Diego, etc.--is no artist in Marcarelli’s “capital of the entertainment industry “ (emphasis mine), even if by some folks’ lights Miller is an industry unto himself. (Though more often than not a nonprofit one.)

Important artistic and political questions were raised in the Miller interview (and Christopher Knight’s accompanying essay), but these are not issues for Marcarelli or other letter writers. Their issue: that someone like Miller even be allowed to speak and perform and be interviewed by Calendar. They want Calendar to censor itself and accept their notion of art and entertainment: Mickey Mouse, Michael Jackson and Archbishop Mahony.

NEIL HATHAWAY

West Hollywood