From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #141 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Monday, August 28 2000 Volume 01 : Number 141 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 21:38:48 -0700 From: Jeff Needle Subject: [AML] CALDWELL, _The Principle_ (Review) Review ====== Kathryn Smoot Caldwell, "The Principle" (c) 1983 Kathryn Smoot Caldwell Published by Randall Book, Salt Lake City Hardback, 193 pages, price not known Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle Few subjects in Mormon history have produced such a large corpus of literature as has Plural Marriage. We seem to have an insatiable appetite for history, and non-history, dealing with this very controversial topic. The book opens with a woman named Shelly rummaging through some items in the attic of her late aunt Zella. Shelly is pregnant with her fourth child, which she learns, through pre-natal testing, is deformed. Her husband is insisting she have an abortion, but she can't bring herself to do this. Shelly is on a quest to discover her roots, to come to terms with the struggles she's having with her current family. She sees herself as weak and faltering, and believes that, if she can find the secret of the strength of her ancestors, she can draw from them and pursue a path she knows is correct. Among the papers are letters and mementos of life in Utah under "the Principle," or polygamy. The book focuses on a family line that begins with the marriage of Horace Carter to Polly (the first wife), and subsequent sealings to two other women, notably Sarah, an English emigrant. Because PM was actively persecuted by the local authorities, Sarah's daughter, Caroline, was never told of her true parentage. She was told her father had died, and that Horace was her uncle. When Horace began having financial difficulties, he had to close the house where Sarah and Caroline lived and move them all into Polly's household. It is only then that Caroline learns the truth about her heritage. The ensuing tensions between the two "families" and the scorn their fellow Saints displayed against the "cohabs" fill out the book in an intriguing, and sometimes chilling, manner. I had hoped to learn more about Plural Marriage by reading this nicely-written book. But I found myself questioning some of the information presented as "fact." For example, when Caroline learns that her mother is actually Horace's second wife, she asks her mother why the marriage took place: "He did it because he was told it was his duty. He was called to the Quorum of the Seventy, and when he reached that important position, it carried certain responsibilities. One of them was to enter into the Principle of Celestial Marriage. That means having more than one wife." (p. 21) This was a new thought to me -- being a Seventy required a man to enter into Plural Marriage? I've asked around, and can't find anyone to substantiate this claim. If any here have information, I'll be glad to have it. Behind the story is Caroline's on-going struggle with the moral basis of Plural Marriage, and the accommodations made (including lying) in order to evade the authorities. It also addresses the important question of how far one should go in explaining such difficult concepts to young children. Are they equipped to understand? Can they accept the ideas of their parents despite their inner uncertainties? And there is an additional storyline following Horace's strained relationship with his son, Sam. One needs a scorecard to keep track of who belong to who -- who is whose mother, who are really sisters and brothers, or only half-sisters and half-brothers? Interestingly, the story begins pre-Manifesto and follows through the 1890 proclamation to just a few years afterward. I don't know how accurately the author portrayed the disdain the general Mormon population displayed toward existing plural families. If she's even close, then these must have been very hard times indeed. I went away from this book appreciating the difficulties such families must have encountered. I liked the book; it would make a nice casual read. - --------------- Jeff Needle jeff.needle@general.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 00:03:14 -0500 From: Brent Hugh Subject: [AML] God's Army Reviewed in Kansas City _Star_ Today _God's Army_ was reviewed in today's Kansas City Star. Below are some excerpts; the entire article can be read (at least for a short time) at http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/fyi.pat,fyi/3774b328.822,.html - ------------------------- MOVIE REVIEW: GOD'S ARMY `God's Army' preaches to converted By ROBERT W. BUTLER - The Kansas City Star Date: 08/24/00 22:15 "God's Army" Showing at the Cinemark Merriam Theatre. `God's Army' preaches to converted Mormon director's film makes good material for recruits Made by and aimed largely at practicing Mormons, "God's Army" will be dismissed by many as religious propaganda. Thing is, the film's observations about the nature of faith are insightful enough to arouse the interest of just about anyone with a spiritual bent. In telling the story of a young Mormon missionary assigned to spread the message of the Latter-day Saints in wicked old Los Angeles, writer/director/actor Richard Dutcher clearly is preaching to the converted. Mormon beliefs are referred to in an offhand manner (the intended audience is already familiar with them), and a scene in which missionaries convert Hispanic Roman Catholics clearly wasn't designed to increase ecumenical harmony. But the film's real subject is the test of faith that occurs when religious conviction collides with the cold, hard wall of reality. . . . Dutcher obviously has drawn upon his own missionary experiences in an effort to re-create this world, one frequently punctuated by practical jokes and the tensions that arise when young men are crammed together in cramped quarters with virtually no outlets except prayer. No coffee, alcohol, drugs or sex for this bunch. The casting emphasizes Mormonism's one-umbrella outlook; among the missionaries there's an African-American and a Latino, and a new convert is from Taiwan. From this description "God's Army" may sound heavy-handed and didactic. Curiously, it doesn't play that way. Though Dutcher the writer leans on melodrama -- one principal character has a fatal disease, and an unrelated subplot involves a faith healing -- as a director he possesses the skill and conviction to finesse his way around the objections of non-Mormon viewers. He's assembled a cast of talented unknowns who give "God's Army" a believable, lived-in feel that eludes most "Sunday School movies." Though it's receiving a single-screen commercial run in Kansas City, having already earned back its $1 million investment in Utah, the future of "God's Army" clearly resides in video. Virtually every Mormon congregation, and probably a majority of Mormon households, will end up with a copy of the film, which will serve innumerable young men, and some women, too, as an introduction to the rigors and joys of missionary work. . . . - ------------------------- - --Brent ++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh@griffon.mwsc.edu ++++++++++++++ + Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO + + Piano Home Page: http://www.mwsc.edu/~bhugh + + Internet Piano Concert: http://www.mwsc.edu/~bhugh/recit + ++++ Classical Piano MP3s: http://www.mp3.com/brent_d_hugh ++++ - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 23:35:34 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] History and Fiction Nan McCulloch > I agree with Violet and I cringe when anyone makes William Law out to be a > villain. He was a highly respected, faithful member of the church who took > issue with polygamy. I'll bet Judas Iscariot was highly respected for a while too, but no one cringes when he's made the villain in anybody's historical fiction. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 23:05:56 -0600 From: "Morgan Adair" Subject: [AML] Ric ESTRADA, "Peace with Honor" While unpacking some boxes after moving, I ran across a book I=20 found on my mission. It's a DC comic book called "GI Combat,=20 featuring the Haunted Tank," Feb 1974, No. 169. The last third=20 of the book is a story called "Peace With Honor," with the byline=20 "Art and Story (adapted from the Book of Mormon) by Ric Estrada." The story is narrated by Ether, who warns Coriantumr that his=20 bloodthirst will lead to the destruction of his people. The great=20 battles between Coriantumr and Shiz's armies end with millions=20 dead, rejected peace terms, and new vows of vengeance.=20 Finally, it came down to the final battle, which ended with only=20 two wounded generals standing. Shiz stabbed Coriantumr, who=20 with "a last mighty thrust (THWACK! AIEEEE!)" cut off Shiz's=20 head. Ether moralizes on the tragic victory, then says he will "bury this=20 true account in the ground, that future generations may learn." The title, "Peace With Honor," is an obvious allusion to Vietnam,=20 which would have been a fresh memory in '74, and befitting the=20 anti-war theme of the story. I checked Ebay and found several Haunted Tank comic books=20 (but not this particular issue) listed with opening bid of around=20 $3, so it may be possible to find copies of this highly collectible=20 work of Mormon literature. MBA - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 13:46:33 -0600 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: Re: [AML] Didactic Literature On Thu, 24 Aug 2000 10:51:47 -0600 Thom Duncan writes: > One of my favorite plays is _Death of a Salesman_. I like the > play precisely because it is a tragedy. Willie Loman's suicide > tells me volumes about how people ought NOT to live their lives. Which is exactly why I would LOVE to mount a production of Marsha Norman's "'night, Mother" here in Utah Valley sometime. It forces you to ask yourself so many questions about how to prevent the kinds of feelings and thoughts that Jessie had that led her to decide to kill herself. Wonderful play ... and I can think of a few actresses here that could do it justice. I don't know if the community would allow it though. scott - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 12:19:04 -0600 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: [AML] Tim SLOVER, _March Tale_ Let it be known that Actors' Repertory Theatre Ensemble presents this year for its Castle Theatre Festival two plays; one by the bard, and one about the bard. The Merry Wives of Windsor, by Will Shakespeare, and March Tale, by Tim Slover. The festival takes place in the historic Castle Amphitheatre located on the grounds of the Utah State Hospital at 1300 East Center Street in Provo, Utah. Opening night for Merry Wives is Saturday, August 26th with further performances on September 1st, September 7th, 9th, 11th and with closing night coming on Saturday, September 15th. Opening night for March Tale is Friday, August 25th with further performances on August 31st, September 2nd, 4th, 8th, 14th and with closing night coming on Saturday, September 16th. All performances begin at 8:pm, or as soon as the sun goes down. There are no reserved or advanced tickets available for these shows. Tickets must be purchased at the door. Ticket prices are $9.00 for general admission, $7.00 for senior citizens and students with I.D. and $4.50 for children 8 to 12. No children under the age of eight will be permitted into the theatre. The amphitheater is outdoors and made of stone. For your comfort we suggest that you bring pillows and/or blankets. There is a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the theatre itself; if you are handicapped or in any other way are disabled feel free to have someone drop you at the theatre entrance. Now, on a personal note, I love this play. I saw both productions of Tim's Joyful Noise at BYU and loved them as well. Tim is simply an extremely fine writer. It has been a joy working with his script; I consider it a great honor to have had the opportunity. By-the-way, list member, Thom Duncan pulls off a delightfully bawdy Willam Kemp. For those of you in the area, I highly recommend you come see him and the rest of the wonderful cast in this play. For further info call 801.377.ARTE or me at my home, 801.226.7876 J. Scott Bronson--The Scotted Line "World peace begins in my home" - -------------------------------------------------------- We are not the acolytes of an abstruse god. We are here to entertain--Keith Lockhart - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2000 12:39:28 -0700 From: "Frank Maxwell" Subject: [AML] Re: History and Fiction Responding to Violet Kimball, Thom wrote: > Joseph had a lot of enemies in those final days, Joseph Jackson, > John C. Bennett, to name just two more. To tell a completely > accurate story would so muddy up the narrative that your readers > would get lost. I think those writers on the list who complain > about historical fiction not adhering enough to known events > ought to try and actually write some and see how difficult it is > to remains true to reality while at the same time telling a > compelling story. This raises the issue of form -- an issue I've thought about much while reading this thread. What literary form have you chosen for your history-based story? Depending on the form, you will have different constraints and limitations. If the form you've chosen is a drama, then your story must be told within the constraints of that form. Such constraints would include running time (probably no more than 2 hours), and cast size (which affects your budget). In such a case, I'd agree with Thom that trying to make the narrative completely accurate would confuse the audience. However, if the form you've chosen is a novel, you needn't have those constraints. You may be able to tell the whole historical story -- okay, a larger percentage of the whole historical story -- with more of the twists & turns and ins & outs, than you could in a 2-hour theatrical presentation. Personally, I don't expect historical dramas, like those Thom writes, to adhere to the same standards that I expect of historical fiction. I prefer them to be accurate, yes, in what they *do* portray, but because of the form, I don't expect them to have the accuracy of *scope* that can be found on a larger canvas. And when I say "larger canvas", I'm not dissing the theatre. However, theatregoers have only 2 hours to experience and make sense of the story, and they can't rewind it or pause it if they get confused. Readers, on the other hand, may spend 10 to 20 hours experiencing a historical novel. The novelistic form does allow for more complexity, and more explanations. If a writer bends history because of the constraints of form, that's not so bad. But I can't think of any other reason that would be as acceptable. For instance, does the novelist think that the actual sequence of historical events is too "confusing"? Well, it's up to the novelist to make sure the readers don't get confused. Or would a telling of the "true" historical story fill up more pages than the simpler story you started out to write? Examine your prior decisions. What's more important -- to tell the story that wants to be told, or to not exceed a maximum number of manuscript pages? Each choice has its consequences. Or maybe you can find a way to satisfy both criteria, by doing something differently. Regards, Frank Maxwell - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #141 ******************************