From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #403 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, July 23 2001 Volume 01 : Number 403 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 15:29:53 -0700 From: Jerry Tyner Subject: RE: [AML] Utah Mormon Culture It is interesting to read this since we are taking our son to the MTC next week to go on his mission to Columbus, Ohio. Jerry Tyner - -----Original Message----- From: Tracie Laulusa [mailto:tlaulusa@core.com] Thanks for your observations, Rex. I'm from the Columbus OH area--in the Columbus OH Stake. [snip] - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 16:17:41 -0600 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: RE: [AML] Mission of Mormon Letters? I've thought along these same lines. Following is how I've posed the questions on a wish-list of questions I would ask Pres. Hinckley or another GA in an interview. My personal biases are pretty clear in the way I've worded the questions. Let's talk about the role of the creative literary arts as it relates to the mission of the Church. As far as "proclaiming the gospel," what do you think about efforts to present Mormon stories to a national audience? Must such attempts be missionary-minded, or is it valid to aim to portray the Mormon experience more accurately and realistically, with hopes that people will grow in appreciation of us as fellow human beings? As far as "perfecting the Saints," what role can literature play in helping us understand and avoid pitfalls in life? With that goal in mind, is it advisable to take morally challenging journeys through literature? As Latter-day Saints, we seem to allow non-Mormon writers, such as Shakespeare, to delve into darker, earthier material than we tolerate from our own authors. We easily embrace stories about faithful people dealing with adversity that comes from outside themselves, such as persecution or illness or the elements, but we get uncomfortable with literature that examines flaws and limitations within the Mormon culture or within Mormon individuals. Is it possible for our writers to depict something bad and have the end result be good? [I think I got the wording of that last line from someone else's AML-List post.] Chris Bigelow - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 22:39:33 From: "Eric D. Snider" Subject: [AML] KSL and the Church (was: Sex in Literature) >Chris Grant wrote: > > > > > > Furthermore, I don't think we should equate KSL's business > > decisions with the Church's imprimatur. Since KSL televises > > Jay Leno's monologues, are dirty jokes now okay with the > > Church? In the eyes of the Church, is watching "Fear Factor", > > "Spy TV", and "Weakest Link" an appropriate Sabbath day > > activity since KSL airs them on Sunday nights? > > > Thom Duncan: >KSL has in the past exercised editorial control over its shows. For >example, it stopped showing Saturday Night Live because of content the >management found offensive. > Not entirely correct, from my understanding. KSL and KUTV swapped affiliates a few years ago: KSL had been CBS and KUTV was NBC, and then they traded. (Well, it's more complicated than that, but that was the upshot.) When KSL became an NBC affiliate, that meant they should take on "Saturday Night Live" along with all the other NBC programs. But KSL already had some Saturday night sports or fishing show, or something, that did well for them - -- plus, "SNL" had been dropping considerably in the ratings lately. (This was during the down period of 1994 or 1995, I believe.) So KUTV agreed to keep showing "SNL" for a while, even though it was now a CBS affiliate. Once that time ran out -- a year or so -- they stopped showing it, and KSL had no interest in picking it up, so it went away altogether. The content of "SNL" may have been a factor in KSL not wanting to show it, but everything I ever heard them say had more to do with ratings and stuff. It hardly makes sense for it to have been just a content thing, though, since NBC has prime-time shows that are nearly as suggestive that still make it on the air. All of this is reason No. 1 why the church should get out of the TV business. As has been pointed out, KSL airing a show almost makes it seem like the church is approving of that show, when of course no church officials are previewing the programs before they air. It's an uncomfortable mix of business and religion. It results in a watered-down TV station ("SNL" is an extremely high-quality program these days, and KSL is missing out), and a church that sometimes gets embarrassed over what it's "endorsing." Eric D. Snider _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 16:08:06 -0700 (PDT) From: William Morris Subject: Re: [AML] Anti-Mormon Literature Thanks to Eric, Terry, and Ivan for the references to Chic. And especially to Eric for the excellent introductions to the world of graphic novels. After the diatribe on Blake in my last post, I will now cede the floor to those who know more about the subject. But one last comment about "The Visitors." I went to the Web site and read it in English and at the end the one Elder says that the other will be "shipped off to Timbuktu." I wondered if my memory was faulty, but then found that the site also had the Romanian (not Italian, Terry, but that's cool--the first Romanian Elders were flown over from Italy and the languages are somewhat similar. In fact, Romanian is the closest living language to Latin---articles at the ends of words and all that) version. I was not mistaken. It really does say 're-education center.' As you have probably already guess---this is not a simple translation change. The term has more sinister implications in Romanian, naturally, because of the way Communism tainted the language. In fact, more than once, investigators told me that testimony meeting was not only uncomfortable because of the implications of the word 'testimony'{marturie), but the form itself was too much like party meetings where people felt pressure to get up and sing the praises of Ceaucescu. Of course, most folks, even those who didn't join, embraced the discourse and terminology of the LDS Church. For most it was refreshing to speak in that way and have true feeling behind it. Now, I know of no instances where Anti-Mormon literature actually harmed the work in Romania, but I must say that Chic's translation program is quite impressive (in number of languages covered--not in the actual quality of the translations). ~~William Morris __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 17:37:11 -0600 From: "Alan Rex Mitchell" Subject: Re: [AML] Mission of Mormon Letters? Terry, I think the threefold mission of Mormon writers could be described as: 1. Exhume the Dead 2. Stretch the Gospel 3. Disturb the Perfect Saints Explanation: The Dead we have with us always, and we can always drum up new ways to interpret the past. History is always changing and we can give new perspectives on the crimes, punishments, heroism, error, war, tragedy, comedy, etc. New York, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, The migration west, later migrations, Mountain Meadows, Johnson's army, Mormon Battalion, polygamy, Missions, etc. Different biographies of saints from Rockwell, Gilmore, Hoffman, Widstoe, Fletcher, Romney, Columbus, Washington, Jefferson, Clark, Brigham Young to Phineas Young to Steve Young to Margaret Young to Wee B. Young. Wait--Steve and Margaret are still with us--oh, well, write the book and wait. Stretching the Gospel into new nations, kindreds, tongues, peoples, families, galaxies, dysfunctional families, conflicts, tribes. Or write about the Gospel in fantasy worlds, future worlds, future species, etc. It seems the Gospel and the Spirit touch people no matter what culture and changes them. The question is--into what new life form are they changed? Not the old, but not the form of their elders either? And how is change to be accomplished? Of course this may be based on their personality, experiences with persecution, etc. Either "realism" or "fantasy" could work. Both have limitations. Disturbing the Perfect Saints. Although I don't relate to much of Levi Peterson's writing, I think the short story, "The Christening of Cobern Heights," is a beautiful example of this point. The difficulty comes because the perfect saints are not likely to read Levi. The question becomes: How can Gerald Lund do this in a nice (correlated) way? Disclaimer: by "Perfect Saints" I mean those of us striving for perfection and need the occasional kick upside the head. Alan Mitchell - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 17:45:17 -0600 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Morality and Art - ---Original Message From: Eric R. Samuelsen >Thanks to Jacob's patient and generous post, I've been >wracking my brains to think of books we shouldn't read, or >that I shouldn't read. So here's the question: are there any >books that are just flat evil and that we just flat shouldn't >ever read, ever? Define we. Is this a personal we or a societal one? I don't think *any* book can corrupt a pure soul any more than music or movies can. I'm not prepared to say that there is any book that should never, under any circumstance be read because it can corrupt any person on Earth who read it. Such a book doesn't exist. But, on the same level, there is no such thing as the incorruptible person, either. Anyone who believes that no work in the world can harm them needs to watch their pride (unless their calling and election has been made sure). Art is the vehicle for ideas. Ideas don't *have* to equal sin, but ideas can certainly equal temptation. Art won't make us sin, but we need to be aware of the temptation. >Now these are the three most evil books I can think of, and >I've read them all, and not only don't regret reading them, >but am glad I did and think I learned a lot from them. And so >here's my larger point. > >Our reaction to any work of art, any piece of writing, is >governed by agency. I do not believe that are any books we >shouldn't read. But there are certainly books we shouldn't >read in certain ways, with certain intentions, with certain >outcomes. Books can be an occasion for temptation and sin, >just like any conversation or letter or e-mail can be an >occasion for sin. Just like a sacrament meeting talk can >become an occasion for sin. > >Does that include pornography? Certainly it does. I don't >know much about child pornography, but I know that it can lead >to the most horrendous crimes against children, and I know >that there are people who become experts in it in order to >catch those criminals. Can we say this? (I'm about ready >to.) All forms of communication, all art, without exception, >can result, can prompt good. And can also prompt evil, too, >if we let it. Again, I want to draw the distinction between personal and societal consumption. While individuals might be affected for good or evil depending on their agency, we need to deal with the effects of certain works on our society as well. So while it is certainly true that any work can be used for good or evil, there is a very real difference in degree that is important. Some books are better at prompting to do good than others. The reverse is true as well. A good example is stuff published by NAMBLA (North American Man-Boy Love Association). They publish tracts that describe how to perpetrate evil. Who to target, how to target them, how to defend against being prosecuted for your evil. I think that the publishing of that information should be illegal and that anyone who could write it should be put under serious, constant observation and ostracized by their neighbors. Law enforcement officers should have access to read the materials, but I don't want anyone else to do so, ever. I'm not prepared to condemn specific individuals who would read that filth because there are a lot of reasons to read anything (though certainly I would wonder about their motives and take my evaluation into account in my dealings with them). I am fully prepared to condemn the writer and publisher, however, and to authorize the power of the law to stop them. There is such a limited good use for the materials and such huge evil use of it that I don't want it generally available. I cannot depend on self-policing to limit the evils of their materials and am happy to resort to the hand of government to limit that material (which explains why I am an EX-libertarian). What about the argument that parents and teachers could use this material to help protect children? This benefit is so small that I can't take it seriously. We already know the steps needed to keep our kids safe from sexual predators. Those steps aren't secret and have been known for millennia. Sometimes, we need to update our methods (like recognizing the need to supervise our children in new public arenas like the internet), but the basics haven't changed in ages. >So let's not focus on what we shouldn't see or read. Let's >focus on how to read or see it. This is a good principle individually. I think we pretty much agree with respect to individual preferences. But I think there is a public policy level that is important to consider when we discuss art and the effects of art on consumers. A line needs to be drawn on a public level about what we want generally available. I think that line should be carefully considered and I give weight to a concern I detect in others that the line could be drawn too narrowly. I'm not prepared to go the route that anything that *can* do evil should be banned, shunned or avoided. Personally, I think a good point for public censure is when the only possible good of a work is to learn how to counter those who would perpetrate that evil. That's a sure sign of a work that needs censure. Jacob Proffitt - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 18:06:54 -0500 From: Ronn Blankenship Subject: Re: [AML] Freelance Writers--Help! At 02:32 PM 7/20/01, you wrote: >Ok, guys, another question from the newbie: > >I'm responding to a call for resumes/proposals for a new book called "A >Parent's Guide to Seattle." In their proposal guidelines they ask that >you specify a target completion date. Having never written one of these >lovelies I have no idea what would be a decent date and what would be >completely laughable. Any ideas???? > >Marianne Hales Harding The general guide to finding out how long a project will _really_ take is to make the best estimate you can, double it, then change to the next higher time unit. For example, if you estimate that a particular project can be completed in one week, better allow at least two months . . . - --Ronn! :) - --------------------------------------------------------- I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle - --------------------------------------------------------- - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 17:55:17 -0500 From: Ronn Blankenship Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Graphic Novels At 04:45 PM 7/19/01, you wrote: >At 12:01 PM 7/19/01 -0700, you wrote: >>Any comments on graphic >>novels as a form--possibilities and limitations? > >I tend to think of them as works for readers who don't want to actually=20 >read--as crutches for the semi-literate. Now, this is just an impression,= =20 >and I'm just answering a question! > >barbara hume OTOH, some studies (no, I don't have any links handy to share at the=20 moment) have shown that comic books can get kids interested in=20 reading. _Some_ of them do contain some fairly sophisticated words and=20 ideas (though the genre is certainly not immune from Sturgeon's=20 Law). Personally, I would credit some of the superhero=99 comics of the=20 early sixties or so, which frequently had stories by such authors as Otto=20 Binder and Edmond Hamilton, among others, as helping lead me on to science= =20 fiction novels. (Though I know that many English teachers would not=20 consider that a good thing, e.g. the one I had in 10th grade, who, after=20 she asked me what kind of books I liked to read and hearing my answer of=20 "science fiction," replied, "That's not the kind of answer I'd expect from= =20 an English 10X [i.e,. advanced placement] student." ) (=99 denotes a registered trademark of DC and Marvel Comics, Inc.) - --Ronn! :) - --------------------------------------------------------- I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle - --------------------------------------------------------- - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 18:25:46 -0600 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Utah Mormon Culture - ----Original Message From: Eric R. Samuelsen >Anna Wight wrote: > >>Utah Saints are in a different culture than Saints in >>the rest of the world. > >Absolutely true. And equally untrue. > >I'm from Indiana. I now live in Utah, and my kids are in >school in Utah. I've lived lots of places; I now live here. >There are some differences. The big ones are these: the >percentage of kids who are sexually active is a little higher >in Utah than elsewhere, the percentage of kids who do drugs is >about the same, the percentage of kids who LOOK LIKE they're >sexually active or doing drugs is quite a bit higher >elsewhere. Kids in Utah are a little better at hiding it, in >other words. That's the main difference. I have no data to >confirm this; I'm talking purely subjective impressions. But >polling data that suggests that Utah teens are much less >sexually active than kids elsewhere merely suggests to me that >Utah teens are a bit more prone to lie to pollsters. My son >is a good kid, preparing for his mission, BYU student, a solid >kid. I look at his twenty closest friends, and their lives >are every bit as much the hormonally driven soap opera high >school is for my friends' kids living in Indiana, California, >New York, Pennsylvania. I'll second Eric's observation with my own, though I'd like to add to it. First, this tendency to hide immoral activities can be a benefit to some teens. I went to High School in Phoenix Arizona where I was one of only two *visible* LDS youth in my High School (and the other was a nut). For spring break my Senior year, I visited a friend in Orem and attended Mountain View for three days (they only had two days off for spring break). During my three days visiting Mountain View classrooms, I saw drug deals go down, fights break out, and other activities that I knew about from my own High School in Phoenix. However, the friends I was visiting were *not aware* of those activities. They didn't know what marijuana looked like because they weren't confronted by it. They didn't realize that the two cowboys in a corner passing a bag of white powder could be anything significant. In my head, bags of white powder changing hands was something to flag in your head as something to avoid because of the potential for danger, they had no such association and didn't even notice. The same elements may be present, and even prevalent, but a certain degree of knowing about it is voluntary (or at least, it was 14 years ago). When I told my friends about my observation at their school, they seriously did not care to know what I was telling them. They didn't want to learn to look for what I was seeing because, unlike me in my High School in Phoenix, they didn't anticipate any danger from *not* knowing. Innocent Utah teens can forgo a level of knowledge--an option that I was denied by living in Phoenix. There is another difference than just that immorality tends to hide. I have found that at the same time that Utah has a visible Mormon element, it also has a visible (and active) anti-Mormon element. One of the things that shocked me when I moved here two years ago is how pronounced the anti-Mormon element is. Having lived in Arizona and Washington state for the prior five years, I was unprepared for that difference. In other states, I never found any actual antagonism for my beliefs. When my religious affiliation was revealed, most were indifferent though some were curious. In Utah, my religious affiliation has lead to actual confrontation and threatened violence. In Utah, you don't have to learn specifics about immorality because good and bad kids tend to group up based on religious lines (you don't have to learn to steer clear of drug dealers, you can simply steer clear of non-seminary students--if a seminary student will deal drugs, they'll hide it). I also recently learned of the existence of a Utah gang called the "Straight Edgers". This gang has strong morality at its core and intolerance as its banner. I don't know of any other state where a person's strong morals can tempt them to join a gang. Utah is a peculiar state, no doubt about it, but I'd hesitate to quantify that difference as easy or hard, or good or bad. Jacob Proffitt - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 19:17:10 -0700 From: "Rex Goode" Subject: Re: [AML] Utah Mormon Culture Thanks, Tracie. It was the Westerville 1st ward where we lived and I'm not sure why it has a reputation for being a tough ward to live in. It's different. It's very diverse. I think that the richest and poorest Mormons in the region live in that ward. The contrasts there are exciting: rich and poor, black and white, hearing and deaf, urban and rural. Every Sunday, a bus from the deaf colony nursing home brings wheelchair-bound people for sacrament meeting. My sons had to learn to sign the sacrament prayer. Every year they do the "Night of Miracles" cantata on Christmas eve and a concert at Northland Mall. One year, we were sandwiched between two black gospel choirs, one from the local Apostolic Faith. My rendition of "O Holy Night" was not exactly their style, but I got an enthusiastic round of applause. We stayed and enjoyed their music until the mall security told them to turn down their speakers or leave, so they left. Probably the most interesting thing I experienced in that ward was when the stake president was so impressed with our efforts to help same-sex attracted men be faithful to the Church that he asked us to do a fireside where I told my own story about my homosexual past to my own ward. I'm not sure if I'd be brave enough to do that in my current ward. Well, actually, I probably would, but I don't think it would be as calmly received. What stories we tell, whether autobiographical like mine, or fiction, will not find acceptance everywhere in the Church. I tell my story and don't worry how well it will be received. I was told that I really offended a lot of people who would have nothing to do with me, but I didn't notice. I felt well-respected there. I don't think we can worry about things like cultural biases when we create. I am the choir director in my ward. Last week, the bishop told me that there were at least two women who used to come to choir who said emphatically that they won't come as long as I'm the director. I have no idea why and I don't modify the way I direct, the music I choose, or the color of my socks hoping to get as many people there as I can. Yes, I did know the Riquinos. :) Rex Goode - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 22:17:04 -0500 From: "Rose Green" Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Graphic Novels >>Any comments on graphic >>novels as a form--possibilities and limitations? >I tend to think of them as works for readers who don't want to actually >read--as crutches for the semi-literate. Depends on what it is. I'd say that in the already-cited example of *Maus,* the graphic part is a separate aspect of the storytelling act. The drawings and the words tell different things, both contributing to the overall story. (Actually, there are several stories, the account of the father in the concentration camps and the present-day account of the son trying to relate to the father, and also the story of the difficulties of creating a graphic novel.) Sure, some comic books are just that--something for people who don't want to really read. But I think there are graphic writers out there who aren't just retelling something in simplistic pictures but rather creating a multimedia effect. Rose Green _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 22:07:47 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Mission of Mormon Letters? At 01:20 AM 7/20/01 -0500, you wrote: >I think the mission of my writing must be to redeem the dead, as they are >apparently the only ones reading any of it . . . > >-Ronn! :) LOL! Ronn!, for all you know, you're on the best-seller list in Paradise, or Purgatory, or any of the three kingdoms, or perhaps your works are distributed within asbestos covers to those most in need of distraction from their current circumstances. . . . . barbara hume - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 22:17:23 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Writing About "Good" Mormons At 09:57 AM 7/20/01 -0600, you wrote: >"It is also clear that the poet's job is not to report what has happened, >but what is likely to happen: that is, what is capable of happening >according to the laws of probability and necessity . . . the historian >talks of what has happened, the poet of the kind of thing that can happen." Sounds a lot like the conventional description of a science fiction writer. barbara hum - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 01:52:35 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: [AML] KSL and the Church (was: Sex in Literature) Thom Duncan wrote: > > Chris Grant wrote: > > > > > > Furthermore, I don't think we should equate KSL's business > > decisions with the Church's imprimatur. > I think D. Mike is right. If it shows on KSL, the Church must at least > tacitly approve. Before this goes too far, I never meant to imply that if KSL airs it, the church approves of it. I've no idea how involved the church is in influencing KSL content. But I do agree with Thom that KSL has exercised editorial control before, so the way it chose to air _Schindler's List_ is significant--for KSL. For the church, I've no idea. - -- 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: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 09:15:49 -0700 From: "Frank Maxwell" Subject: [AML] Re: Fiction in Church Mags Back on July 2nd, J. Scott Bronson wrote: > Jacob Proffitt: > > > > By implementing a no fiction policy at Church magazines on the > > > sly..., they imply things that they probably don't mean (that fiction > > > is bad). > > James Picht: > > > I think that making the reason for the policy explicit is possible > > only if the brethren can articulate it to themselves. > > Jacob: > > > > But then, explaining things is hard. And dangerous. > > Apparently there is an explanation out there. Frankly, I'm surprised > none of us have heard it. I was explaining this all to a friend the > other day and he said that in his ward a letter was read to them saying > that the reason the fiction is being removed is that too many members are > just unable to distinguish between fiction and reality when it comes to > church publications. Too much fiction, apparently, is being quoted as > doctrine, or near-doctrine from the pulpit. I think it's quite possible > that the Brethren would really like to publish fiction because they know > the value of it. Scott, in which stake does your friend live? And could you ask your friend to ask his bishop for a photocopy of that letter? It would be helpful if we on this list could know precisely what was said and who said it (First Presidency, Quorum of 12, Area Authority, Church magazine editors), rather than our speculating. I don't think such a letter has been read in my ward. Based on the information available thus far, here's how I would summarize the situation: Direction was given by general church leaders to the folks in charge of the magazines, to increase the amount of General Authority-authored pieces in each issue. (It's unclear whether this was phrased as a stringent rule, or as a goal to be worked toward.) Then, in order to accomplish this, the magazine editors made a management decision to not print any more fiction, so as to save space. People on this list disagree on the wisdom or appropriateness of the management decision, including some who disagree, by extension, about the original G.A. directive which prompted the editors' decision. Have I accurately summed this up? Frank Maxwell P.S. Scott, I'm cc'ing you on this post. Please reply directly to the list. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 12:21:53 EDT From: KGrant100@aol.com Subject: [AML] Re: Sex in Literature Linda, Thank you, thank you, thank you for your post. It was right on target. I could comment on each of the points you made, but I would mainly be expressing agreement :) So I will refrain. The talk you mention by Elder Holland is one of the best I've ever read on the subject. It's online at http://speeches.byu.edu/devo/87-88/holland88.html. It's worth reading more than once. Kathy Grant > From: Linda Adams > Subject: RE: [AML] Sex in Literature > > I want to respond to this thread and have been trying to collect my > thoughts to express my feelings on the subject. [snip] - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 12:41:53 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Graphic Novels At 12:40 AM 7/21/01 -0600, you wrote: >.) I >think 'missionary comics' are an intriguing idea. When I was a Baptist kid, one of the items I received in Sunday School each week was a comic strip featuring two young Christians in early Rome. I read those avidly. One character was named Nereus, I think--don't remember the other one. It was probably a good teaching device. I always loved church, even as a very young person. Something like that might be good for LDS kids. The only graphic novels I ever had were a series of 12 that were based on Star Trek episodes. I don't think the others were ever produced. I bought them because it was a link to the show, which I loved--it included shots from the show, of course. After video technology came in and I could buy the shows themselves on tape, those books became less important to me as a fan. Another interesting sidelight--the actor John Saxon was discovered because he used to be a model for the scenes in graphic novels, and some producer saw him in there and hired him for the movies. I didn't mean to put down the medium--I just told you what thoughts came into my mind when I saw the term. My point was that other people might have the same reaction. Your analogy to attitudes toward romance novels was a good one--same type of knee-jerk reaction. I can't be too hard on this art form, since one of my business partners, Dave Doering, owns a comics store in Provo (Imagine Nation). When I was a kid, comics were funny. I wonder if they need a different name for them now. barbara hume - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 20:13:18 +0000 From: "Tami Miller" Subject: Re: [AML] HULS, _Just Wait_ (Review) Anna Wright Wrote; My desire was to write something a 12 year old could read today that > > might get him talking with his parents about things that I fear too many > > parents are not addressing. Perhaps choosing the novel format was a > > mistake, > >I haven't read the book. But, I don't think writing a novel is a mistake. >Many people prefer to get their information in a novel form. I learned a >lot of church history from reading "The Work and the Glory". History that >might have been dull reading otherwise. > >It seems to me your more likely to reach your audience in a novel than if >it >were a pamphlet that gets handed out and the kid ignores. A novel makes it >more personal. > Growing up, I was an avid novel reader. Anything I could get my hands on (that was fiction) I would read. My parents are LDS, but were inactive through much of my life. So, while I was exposed to the church intermittently throughout my life, I never really took it to heart (and I'm happy to say my parents are now happy and active). When I was in highschool one of my LDS friends handed me a copy of First Love and Forever, by Anita Stansfield. That book is what got me reading other LDS Fiction. I found as many LDS writers as I could, and devoured their novels. When I found out that Orson Scott Card was LDS I started reading his books (Saints, Lost boys, etc.) Strangely, I cannot remember the name of the series I'm talking about, but I'm sure D. Michael has it memorized!) When I got to the books that he paralleled to The Book of Mormon, it made me want to read The Book of Mormon, just so that I could understand Card's books. - -and TA DA, a teenager who never would have picked up The Book of Mormon on her own, reads it and gains a testimony. - -Tami Rae Miller _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 22:07:14 -0500 From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] Mormon News Posts [MOD: Let me just express my gratitude to Larry for doing this for the List. It makes a real difference in our completeness. I hope someone will step up to the plate (I almost said "step up to the bat") and take over this, now that Larry isn't able. And I hope that his life gets less hectic sometime!] For quite some time, I have forwarded posts from the Mormon News List to the AML List that were pertinent to Mormon Letters (and Arts and Music and ... ). While I have enjoyed doing this, it has necessarily been on my discretionary list of things to do. Through absolutely no effort on my part, my schedule was recently and significantly readjusted. And with a total disregard for my own personal desires, my discretionary time was torn asunder and converted to immaterial matter. (Ok. The prophet said there was no such thing, but it surely feels as if there is -- or isn't?) So, is there someone on the list who would like to do this? Ideally, you would already be subscribed to Mormon News, and you would simply forward those items of interest (and many times on topic) to the list. I can't speak for Ronn Blankenship, but I have noticed that recently (while my discretionary time was immaterially converting) he easily scooped me on a few MN posts to AML. If Ronn or anyone else would be interested in doing this on a regular basis, please let me know. I won't be able to keep up with it much longer. (In the event of a tie, we'll let Jonathan determine the winner.) Before committing, should you wonder what work, if any, is really involved, feel free to e-mail me privately with questions. Here's your big chance to change the world, before it begins to reel to and fro in its orbit. Thanks. Larry Jackson ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 20:31:52 -0500 From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] MN 2001 PEARL Awards Huge Success: Faith Centered Music Association Press Release From: Faith Centered Music Association Press Release To: Mormon News Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 10:00:00 -0400 Subject: MN 2001 PEARL Awards Huge Success: Faith Centered Music Association Press Release 14Jul01 US UT SLC A2 [From Mormon-News] 2001 PEARL Awards Huge Success The best in the LDS music business are honored SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Colors, George Dyer and the legendary Kurt Bestor swept the 2001 PEARL Awards held Friday night. Each respective group or artist happily walked away with three awards in their hands. Donning dapper tuxedos and gorgeous gowns artists, presenters and other important guests made the 2001 PEARL Awards the premier event in Salt Lake City. Scott Christopher, the KJZZ Movie Guy, was the host of the evening. He quickly became the crowd favorite with his smart and brilliant handling of the crowd. Dazzling performances were given by 2001 PEARL Award Winners Peter Brienholt Jenny Frogley, Kurt Bestor, Tammy Robinson, Sam Cardon, George Dyer, and Colors, and others. Celebrities were on hand including Marie Osmond and husband Brian Blosil. Blosil received an award for producing the Contemporary Instrumental Album of the Year. Presenters included Carol Makita, Crawford Gates, Jon Bytheway, Dean Hughes, Kurt Bestor, Kenneth Cope and many others. Janice Kapp Perry received the well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. After the touching tribute to her immense contributions to the Latter-Day Saint community, she walked to the stage as the audience gave her a standing ovation that didn't seem to end. She delivered a heartfelt and teary-eyed thanks to all. All looked to her with great admiration. Other 2001 PEARL Award Winners include George Dyer - Male Vocalist; Cherie Call - Female Vocalist; Tammy S. Robinson - Inspirational Album; Julie de Azevedo - Contemporary Recording; and Kenneth Cope and Tyler Castleton - Sacred Album. The 2001 PEARL Awards were taped for re-broadcast. The 2001 PEARL Awards will be aired on August 26 at 8 pm on KJZZ TV. ### 2001 Pearl Award Winners Female Vocalist Cherie Call Male Vocalist of the Year George Dyer New Artist of the Year George Dyer Group of the Year Colors (Ryan Merrill, Brian Tibbets, Russell Dixon) Performing Artist of the Year Colors Instrumentalist of the Year Sam Cardon Songwriter of the Year Tyler Castleton Studio Musician of the Year Rich Dixon Sacred Recording "All Creatures of Our God and King" Wondrous Love George Dyer Inspirational Recording "The Olive Tree" Songs for Young Women Jenny Jordan Frogley Sacred/Insprational Instrumental Recording "Overture" The Lamb of God Soundtrack & Passion of the Lamb Cantata Kurt Bestor Inspirational Album The Color of Hope Tammy Robinson; Greg Hansen and Guy Randle Sacred Album A Prayer Unto Thee Kenneth Cope & Tyler Castleton Contemporary Recording - -Wings- Dive Deep Julie de Azevedo Contemporary Album Outside the Lines; Colors, John Hancock Contemporary Instrumental Recording "And the Moon" Soulmate Michael Dowdle Sacred/Inspirational Instrumental Album Where Love Is; Jenny Oaks Baker; Kenny Hodges Contemporary Instrumental Album Digability; Sam Cardon; Brian Blosil Themed or Concept Album Forward With Faith; Various Artists; Peter Breinholt & Jon Schmidt Musical Presentation or Soundtrack The Lamb of God Soundtrack & Passion of the Lamb Cantata; Kurt Bestor & Kenny Hodges Compilation Album His Love; Shadow Mountain Producer of the Year John Hancock Orchestrator / Arranger of the Year Kurt Bestor Holiday Recording "We Three Kings" Holiday Wishes: Enoch Train Enoch Train Engineer of the Year Barry Gibbons Best Album Design Heart Made of Wind (Steven Hansen & Tyler Gourley) Radio Show of the Year John Hair (KOSY 106.5) Record Label of the Year Highway Records Retailer of the Year Cardston Book, Lonnie Lockhart Source: 2001 PEARL Awards Huge Success Faith Centered Music Association Press Release 14Jul01 US UT SLC A2 >From Mormon-News: Mormon News and Events Forwarding is permitted as long as this footer is included Mormon News items may not be posted to the World Wide Web sites without permission. Please link to our pages instead. For more information see http://www.MormonsToday.com/ Send join and remove commands to: majordomo@MormonsToday.com Put appropriate commands in body of the message: To join: subscribe mormon-news To leave: unsubscribe mormon-news To join digest: subscribe mormon-news-digest - - 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 #403 ******************************