From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #474 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 Friday, October 5 2001 Volume 01 : Number 474 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 15:25:35 -0400 From: "Quinn Warnick" Subject: RE: [AML] Fw: MN 'New Era' to Drop Fiction [Ethan Skarstedt wrote...] | Other periodicals like "The Leading Edge" a science fiction and fantasy | magazine published by BYU: http://tle.clubs.byu.edu/wg.php and/or | "Inscape" a pretentious "literary" mag published by BYU: | http://humanities.byu.edu/inscape/submissions.htm Ahem. As a former editor of Inscape, I can confidently state that the journal is anything but pretentious. Case in point: a fabulous story we published a few years ago by Jim Richards entitled "Fruit Leather Suit." Granted, some students joined the staff with pretentious plans, but they were always disappointed when our staff meetings devolved into debates (and subsequent contests) over who could drink the most Peach Delight (BYU's hideous drink) in a single sitting. I'm not sure what Ethan's background is, but there's always been a bit of a rift between the staffs of The Leading Edge and Inscape, but I think that stems mainly from the fact that the two publications continually battle for use of the Humanities Publications Center and the computers therein. | I don't know about Inscape but I do know that "The Leading Edge" pays | for the stories they publish. Inscape doesn't pay for everything that gets published, but there is an annual writing contest sponsored by the journal with (extremely meager) cash prizes. | As a comment, I am saddened that while church leaders are calling for | there to be a literary tradition developed and refined in the LDS | culture (I remember such being said but can't remember specific sources, | someone shoot me down if I'm wrong) we are seeing less and less official | encouragement for LDS literary efforts. I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. BUT... | I for one would eagerly subscribe to a magazine produced by the church | that was devoted exclusively to fiction and LDS concerns therewith. | That is, I would until it turned into yet another propaganda mill for | Weylandesque fiction. I think anything officially sponsored by the Church would inevitably turn into exactly that. On the adult level, the Ensign sometimes publishes poetry, but it normally pales in comparison to the poetry published by Dialogue or even (the somewhat Church-endorsed) BYU Studies. It seems that in an attempt to keep its creative writing doctrinally and topically safe, the official Church publications end up printing rather bland fare. | I see many potential problems with a fictional mag endorsed by the | church, not the least of which being, who would vet the stories to | ensure that no shady doctrine slipped through? But then of course | disclaimers are wonderful things and the magazine could be founded | solely for the purpose of encouraging LDS literature and proclaim that | the views and the doctrine therein *did not* represent official church | views and/or doctrine. Inscape has such a disclaimer, and we still had to get everything approved by department heads before we went to press. Two different issues that I worked on had material pulled or significantly altered at the last minute out of fears that someone at Church headquarters would read the issue and impose additional restrictions on future issues of the journal. [From an earlier post...] | >But Richard M. Romney, director of the Curriculum Planning and | >Editorial Division of the LDS Church told The Scroll that fiction | >really wasn't the mission of the magazine. "The major role of the | >Church magazines has always been to carry the words of the Latter-day | >Prophets to the members of the Church worldwide." He said that | >aspiring writers should, "take advantage of other opportunities to | >publish fiction, such as in Church university publications and other | >wholesome periodicals." I can't think of too many "wholesome periodicals" that publish fiction. Any suggestions from the list for aspiring authors who are looking for a "wholesome" forum that publishes fiction and/or poetry? Quinn Warnick - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 14:13:02 -0600 From: "Morgan Adair" Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) >>> adamszoo@sprintmail.com 10/02/01 05:19PM >>> > >One of the difficulties I=20 >encounter in my research and study for this series is that as Latter-day= =20 >Saints, we have a far more flexible eschatology, with much more room = for=20 >variables, and more openness to alternate ways scriptural prophesy = could=20 >possibly be fulfilled. From what I understand, the events presented in = the=20 >_Left Behind_ series are as evangelical Christianity believes them to = be,=20 >in EXACT order, without variation. The method of the "Rapture" may = vary=20 >from what _Left Behind_ presents; but the chronology, sequence, and = even=20 >duration of each end-time event is very set and specific in their=20 >eschatology. Evangelical eschatology is much more defined and demarcated, compared to = Mormon eschatology. There are still variations. For example, when one of = my co-workers moved to Utah, he started looking around for a church. After = attending one for a few weeks, the pastor asked him if he planned to = attend regularly, and if so, does he believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture, = or a post-Tribulation Rapture, because this is a vital doctrinal question = to people who belong to that congregation. As for us Mormons, we're not even firmly Premillennialists or Postmillennia= lists. Premillennialists believe that the Second Coming will be preceded = by wars, famines, earthquakes, and the appearance of the Antichrist. At = the Second Coming, the wicked are literally burned, after which Christ = presides over an era of peace (basically the _Left Behind_ scenario). = These events are miraculous and sudden. Postmillennialists believe that = the gospel and Christ's church will grow to fill the earth, which will = usher in a period of peace, culminating in the Second Coming of Christ. = The growth of the church and the accompanying betterment of society is = brought about by the efforts of Christians. Premillennialism emphasizes = the growing wickedness of the world and the need for Christ to save us = individually; Postmillennialism emphasizes the potential of Christ's = teachings to save us as a society. You can find elements of both eschatologies in Mormon scripture and = teachings. Pres. Hinckley tends to be Postmil, but not exclusively; Joseph = Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie were firmly Premil. Joseph Smith and = Brigham Young seemed comfortable on both sides of the fence. The allure of the _Left Behind_ series is that Premil eschatology is full = of drama and conflict. A Postmil version of the story would pale in = comparison. MBA (Morgan B. Adair) - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 14:26:22 -0600 From: "Gae Lyn Henderson" Subject: RE: [AML] Reasons for Evil (was: Religious Fundamentalism) > Perhaps, though that doesn't have to be the case, and there's no > telling that > the good will outweigh the bad. We just hope that it will. In > God's grand plan > and his own time all bad can be turned to good, but I'm sure he'd > have been > happy to see the story run otherwise, the people seeing their sins and > resolving to do better without ever suffering the smiting - > Ninevah managed > it, afterall. > > Jim Picht > Last night I read Paris Anderson's essay in the Summer 01 _Irrentum_ , "On Growing Up Tough." Suddenly what Paris was arguing on the list about good coming from evil made much more sense to me. His story about suffering and then the fascinating and amazing results in his life--incidence of either the hand of God or coincidence (take your pick)--makes me feel humbled. I really don't know what God's will is. I can only guess. I wonder what other planned disasters may be avoided because God let us see what the terrorists were up to. Or maybe that has nothing to do with it. Gae Lyn Henderson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 14:24:01 -0600 From: "Todd Petersen" Subject: [AML] Re: LDS Last Days Lit I think that a novelist seeking to write about the last days would have to = decide if they were going to lead up to the end or span it or proceed from = the end. This set of choices would, I think, be what would primarily set = it apart as particularly LDS. The "lead up to" model would share much with other Christian works in this = vein, while the "spanning" or "proceeding from" models would begin to = explore our doctrine since we are one of the few churches with much to say = about the Millennial times in any detail. Since other churches don't have = continuing revelation, they pretty much have Isaiah, Ezekiel, and = Revelation to rely on. What they have in general (e.g. Christ operating = as a political leader, Satan being bound and released) we have in much = greater detail. What would be good in a novel on this subject, will be what I think will = mark the character of these times themselves: mundanity. This would have = to be a book about regular folks. Moreover, I think that this book would = have to be a kind of environmental book.=20 I think this because my wife and I are just finishing Deuteronomy and are = reading about the curses the Lord promises the children of Israel in the = day of they apostasy. The curses center around the land going south, = failing to produce, etc. The book of Enoch also mentions that the earth = will groan under this curse and beg for righteousness "for a season." I also think that a book like this would have to really explore "evil and = its consequences" which is something lots of LDS people don't like to read = about, even though Brigham Young said we had to pay attention to things = like that. I know a very intelligent woman, a historian, who stopped = reading the Old Testament because of the depravity and violence of it. If = the end times are to be worse than any of the preceding times, a novel = about them--if it is not to be "false" (as in not true to its subject)--the= n it will necessarily portray wickedness. I would not want to read a book = that tried to clean that stuff up. Cardinal John Henry Newmann once said that Christian literature was an = oxymoron--people can't expect to write perfection about people who are in = a sinful state. I'm not sure what I think about that, but I am thinking = about it, and it seems to apply here. A book like the one proposed might not be uplifting in a standard = sense--which is fine with me, but might not be fine with people, like my = friend, who don't even like the scriptures when they aren't happy--which, = incidentally, they mostly are not: they are full of warning, violence, and = the results of bad choices. Any happiness I get from the scriptures = comes, I feel, from the Spirit as he whispers to me that these things are = true. - -- Todd Robert Petersen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 23:44:56 -0700 From: kathy_f@juno.com Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) On Tue, 02 Oct 2001 11:22:29 -0600 Barbara Hume writes: > Tyler, what are a few major points where you think an LDS novel > based on > the last days would differ from a novel written by an evangelical > Christian? I know Barbra was asking Tyler, but I wanted to make a small comment. I checked out the _Left Behind_ official website after seeing the movie. I was curious to know the scripture references for their interpretation of what is to come in the "end times" as the evangelical Christians frequently refer to it. I was both saddened and fascinated to see that they looked to prominent "Prophetic Scholars" for their knowledge of the last days, while we look to actual prophets. Personally, I think this must be and is the biggest difference between an evangelical Christian's novel of the "end times" and a novel by an active Latter-Day Saint -- modern revelation and leadership, as opposed to scholarly research into ancient texts to determine the course of the novel. Another aspect of this that I would like to see is the same thing that interested me in that trilogy I mentioned a few days ago. In fact, is what interests me regardless of the novel -- the growth of the main characters as they traverse the various trials and opportunities "life" throws their way. I would like to see someone maybe use Brent Yorgason's steps to sanctification he outlined in his _Spiritual Survival in the Last Days_ as a basis for that character's growth (or some other book that does a similar thing, or else the writer has researched what sanctification really means in depth so that the book can actually carry all the way through). I say this because our understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ accepts that "Zion is the pure in heart" and that "Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself." (D&C 105:5). Sanctification is a requirement of the inhabitants of Zion, and sanctification comes by overcoming all things by faith in Jesus Christ (D&C 76:53, 60). This is a core belief of our church, and as such a Last Days novel can't even begin to really reach a wide audience without attempting to show this kind of character growth. That means spiritual experiences occurring to the characters as well as dire trials that bring the characters to the brink of destruction and despair, both physical and emotional. Tempted in all things, etc. For me, a novel that focuses more on becoming a Zion people, prepared to meet the Lord when he comes, rather than focusing on the outward signs and events will be a novel worth reading. Kathy Fowkes kathy_f@juno.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 00:54:40 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Fw: MN 'New Era' to Drop Fiction: BYU-Idaho Scroll 2Oct01 US UTSLC N1 Ethan Skarstedt wrote: > I for one would eagerly subscribe to a magazine produced by the church > that was devoted exclusively to fiction and LDS concerns therewith. > That is, I would until it turned into yet another propaganda mill for > Weylandesque fiction. It _would_ turn into another propaganda mill. How could it not? What art endorsed by the church has not? > I see many potential problems with a fictional mag endorsed by the > church, not the least of which being, who would vet the stories to > ensure that no shady doctrine slipped through? Why does it have to be endorsed by the church? Why can't the church just endorse the reading of good, moral fiction, and leave it to others to provide the source for that literature? The problem isn't that the church is avoiding publishing fiction itself. The problem is that the church is doing nothing to endorse the reading of fiction at all, making many assume by default that it discourages it. The occasional, unnoticed statements by a handful of General Authorities is not enough. > IMHO only an *officially > endorsed* LDS fictional mag would be able to get a large enough > readership to pay for itself. Something I suspect Deseret Book could not > do on its own. Why not? Deseret Book producing a fiction magazine would not be the church producing or endorsing it, yet many people would still consider it an endorsement of something that is worthwhile. - -- 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 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 00:55:49 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Lit Class for Enrichment Night Barbara Hume wrote: > Then you might tell them some of the great stories from literature. If > you're really mean, you can tell the stories up to exciting part and make > them go read to find out what happened! Not mean. Tough love. - -- 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 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 11:29:04 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Dean HUGHES, _The Writing on the Wall_ (Review) Jeff, great review. I just hope somebody as accurate as you are, and as thorough, will read my HOUSE ON THE SOUND. I may get in touch with you! Marilyn Brown - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 08:22:07 -0600 From: "Sharlee Glenn" Subject: [AML] Eudora Welty on Writing As most of you know, Eudora Welty passed away in July of this year. I ran across the following quote from her that I believe perfectly captures literature's highest aim: "My wish, my continuing passion, would be not to point the finger in judgment but to part a curtain, that invisible shadow that falls between people, the veil of indifference to each other's presence, each other's wonder, each other's human plight." What a writer! What a lady! Sharlee Glenn glennsj@inet-1.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 01:15:55 EDT From: Paynecabin@aol.com Subject: [AML] Re: _I Am Jane_ Performance Hey everybody, Tonight I finally saw the play I Am Jane. It's really good. Go see it. Today, Oct. 5, at 4:00 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Stake Center at 540 East 7200 S. in Salt Lake. You'll be glad. Marvin Payne - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 15:28:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Veda Hale Subject: RE: [AML] WHIPPLE, _The Giant Joshua_ Jacob remembered that Clory "was abused throughout the novel >with no succor in sight--except the savior and the gospel which were >supposedly all around her, but never, ever, a strength or comfort"=20 Mauirne did see strength and comfort all around Clory. Maybe Jacob is right,= that it is just too sad that Clory didn't partake of it enough. But she did= recognize it was there. The setting for the following quote is when she is= a teen in a testimony meeting and wants a testimony for herself. =20 >Clory "wondered about this thing called a testimony; this divine fire for= which men would give up family and kindred rather than renounce. All about= her tongues faltered, in an effort to express this gratitude of the heart.= 'Where much is given, much is required' -- the old, old saying of her= people -- housewives scooping the last cupful of flour, the last crust of= bread to pay dues to this church they loved. >"A testimony of the Gospel -- not something one could smell or taste or= weigh in the hands, or buy, or pick off a tree, but something so real and= rapturous that with it all life became a song, all death an adventure.= Either you had it or you didn't have it; no one seemed able to say exactly= how it came. All she knew was that with it, a man in rags was stronger than= a king. > >. . .The old phrases were glib upon the tongue: I know Joseph Smith to be a= prophet of God! But how, how did one know it? And you couldn't say it if= you didn't know it. . . Clory wondered again if this dreadful lack in her= soul would someday fester upon the surface for all men to see; she was like= a person born with a hand missing, or an eye. . ." (pp, 282-83) > >Jacob said "The gospel has nothing to do with sacrificing yourself >for the Common Good." It never occured to me that "The Common Good" is= different from "The Good of God." If we are all God's children, then he= cares for us all and wants good for all, which sounds like "The Common= Good."=20 >"Jacob also said "somebody who can live in unrelenting misery is doing= something wrong." I can think of those who would be hurt to have to believe= that. Does the abused woman and child need to ask: "It must be something= wrong I'm doing?" Clory loved to sing and dance and, contrary to what Jacob= remembers, gets plenty of chance to do it and is often very happy.=20 >To keep this discussion within the bounds of AML list. Mauirne's Clory is= like Maurine wished she were--in music, beauty, loveablility. Do any of you= write into your characters personality traits you wish you had? >So, she wrote what she knew, which doesn't bring forth much discussion,= because we all agree you should do that, but maybe not so honestly,= depending on how much we are willing to risk. How about writing what we= know and then discovering we know something else we didn't know? I think= that happened to Maurine and during the writing she touched something that= instead of naming "testimony" she called "The Great Smile." I know she= didn't understand why some so disliked her choice of words here or with= "The Grand Idea." To me "The Great Smile" isn't a substitute for God. It= was just the best she could come up with to describe the "feeling" one gets= when touching the thing described in the above quote about testimony.= Personally, I like it better than "A burning in the bosom."=20 As for "The Grand Idea". I think she didn't mean the gospel was "just" an= idea, but that the idea to love ones neighbor as oneself is an idea that= has to happen to each of us in our heart, and when it happens, it is= certainly "Grand." She wrote about people who were struggling to live after= they felt that.=20 As far as Maurine having Erastus say "You have to be brutal to colonize."= These people were dealing with a physical enviornment that was certainly= "brutal." Decisions had to be made by leaders that could be said were= "brutal," if you accept that sending people to the edges of the wilderness= is brutal. Those people would much rather have stayed in the heart of Zion.= But someone had to go to the edges.=20 >Veda Hale=20 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 13:08:31 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) At 06:55 PM 10/3/01 +0000, you wrote: >The Left Behind books may be interesting but are so far off >what Mormons teach that I'm surprised so many LDS even find them worth their >time. I don't believe in Middle Earth or hobbits, either, but I don't think that reading Tolkien is a waste of time. I don't read the Left Behind books to learn doctrine. In fact, I tend to talk back to the books a lot, but the story is pretty good and the writers got me to care about the characters. As a writer myself I can see the devices the writers are using, but I still want to find out what happens. So as fiction writers, these guys are doing something right, LDS or not! barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 13:25:46 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) [NOTE: Thom (or anyone else), you should feel free to *briefly* respond to Barbara's question. However, let's make sure that the focus of the discussion stays on literature, and not varying scriptural interpretations of the Last Days. (I'm permitting this post because, in addition to Barbara's query, she also goes on to make a general observation about the kind of scriptural exegesis that can and/or should inform literature of this sort.)] At 02:14 PM 10/2/01 -0600, you wrote: >Secondly, the Anti-Christ is not a single person, but more symbolic >of an attitude prevelant in the last days I'm not sure about this. Thom, can you explain your view a bit further? I've noticed that in general you interpret the scriptures as more symbolic and less literal than I do. OTOH, the Left Behind books take everything waaaaaay literally. Finding the right place between the extremes of "the Bible uses mythology to teach us stuff, you're not supposed to actually believe it happened" and "everything mentioned in the Bible is completely literal rather than figurative" is an interesting task that anyone writing about the last days must work with. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 13:31:28 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Lit Class for Enrichment Night >Not mean. Tough love. I remember how my high-school English teacher got us to read Chaucer. She has us read Chanticleer and Pertelote in class, then remarked that it was the only story from The Canterbury Tales that we were to read--the rest of them were too dirty. The school library was soon completely out of copies of Chaucer. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 12:38:20 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: Re: [AML] Dean HUGHES, _The Writing on the Wall_ (Review) I am easily touchable! Thanks for the very nice words. Of course, I'll be glad to read your book. I've enjoyed your writing for a long time. Thanks again. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brown" To: Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 10:29 AM Subject: Re: [AML] Dean HUGHES, _The Writing on the Wall_ (Review) > Jeff, great review. I just hope somebody as accurate as you are, and as > thorough, will read my HOUSE ON THE SOUND. I may get in touch with you! > Marilyn Brown > > > -- > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 16:49:50 -0600 (MDT) From: katie@aros.net Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) Quoting Linda Adams : > My question in this post might be moot from Tyler's POV (since he's > hoping > to acquire something for Covenant, and I'm already working with > Cornerstone), but of those of you who have read _Prodigal Journey,_ I'd > > like to know how well you feel my book fits within his hoped-for > expectations: > > >I too would like to see a book/series set in the context of what we do > and > >don't expect of the last days from a particularly LDS POV. > > > >I would like to see that the author has done her/his homework to become > > >familiar with what has been said on the subject--both from established > and > >speculative sources, and that they recognize the difference. > > > >I would like to see a gripping page-turner of a story that assumes an > > >eschatology distinct from that of evangelical Christianity. > > > >I would like to see a faithful tale that wouldn't alienate the market > with > >gratuitous inclusions (I imagine I'll hear objections from Thom and > others > >on this, so I'm ready), but which could still speak to a broad > >audience--something I would read even if I weren't being paid for it. > > > >And I would love to see all of this expertly woven together in > brilliant, > >artistic, gifted, masterful prose. > > > > > > I'd _like_ to argue that I've already done all this. Grin. But I won't > be > that vain. The book can speak for itself whether I managed it or not. If > I > haven't, I'll keep trying. > In many respects, Linda, yes, I think you have. (So you can pat yourself on the back now :). That doesn't mean that there can't be more from other writers. But I found _Prodigal Journey_ to be quite a page-turner. And while I'm smart enough to know that things will not necessarily go the way you've depicted, I don't remember seeing anything that I completely disagreed with or that seemed out-of-line. Of course, this is only Volume 1, and for the most part the signs of the times and all that are in the background. The characters' "normal" lives are really what the story's about. (Something Todd Peterson also mentioned he'd like to see.) As you move closer to the Second Coming in future volumes, there will be more doctrinal points that come up that may be harder to deal with. (Or not--you seem to have dealt well with everything so far.) Also, you set your story up in an environment where there's plenty of room for wickedness to run rampant. It's a matter of personal taste, I suppose, but I felt like you didn't hold anything back. It was all there, although gratuitous details were left out. And the "good side" was also there in full force. I thought it was a pretty honest depiction. Pretty well-written, too. So, all you folks out there who are looking for good LDS Last Days fiction, you should give this book a try. (And I'm not being paid to say this.) - --Katie Parker - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 19:15:43 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] WHIPPLE, _The Giant Joshua_ Thanks, Tory! I am SO looking forward to Maureen's biography by Veda Hale, who spent two years in St. George sitting with her and getting notes. It promises to be fantastic! Lavina is now working on it along with Veda. I have read an earlier draft, and was there when Maureen revealed that she WAS married, etc. I promise you, this is some book! Cheers to Veda for years of work! Marilyn Brown - ----- Original Message ----- From: Tory C. Anderson To: Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 3:44 PM Subject: Re: [AML] WHIPPLE, _The Giant Joshua_ > I think Whipple's _Giant Joshua_ is a wonderful book. Did it make me uncomfortable at times while reading it? Yes. Does she seem off on some of her portrayals of Mormon doctrine? Yes. Did I find the ending a little disappointing? Yes. But do I think _Giant Joshua_ is one of the very few novels (count fewer than the fingers on one hand) that can be called great, and did I love the book? Yes, YEs, YES! While being aware of the character Clorinda's faults and frailties, I named my first daughter (who is now five-years-old) Clorinda. > > I feel that Maureen, in spite of any doctrinal or historical mistakes in the book, wrote very honestly. Her end result in _Giant Joshua_ was honest if not accurate. I feel that many of today's Mormon novels are more accurate than they are honest. But putting aside accuracy and honesty, I have to agree with an earlier poster that _Giant Joshua_ was a dang good read. I visited St. George for the first time after I had read the book and I saw a richness there that I never would have seen without the book. > > Tory Anderson > > > > > > -- > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 19:08:57 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Juanita Brooks Query Yes, I just added that John Lee's 9 year old daughter had been tied to a fence and raped by seven (or so) men. When some Missourians came to the Cedar City mill and forced John Lee (who was alone) to give up grain, he followed them and purportedly killed them. I'm sorry it wasn't in the first volume. And then I was sorry I put it in the second, as someone told me they were upset with Lee for ambushing those robbers. However, they had bragged they were the ones who had raped his daughter. What would you do? Marilyn - ----- Original Message ----- From: Gae Lyn Henderson To: Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 6:00 PM Subject: RE: [AML] Juanita Brooks Query > Marilyn, > > I think I have the first version of your book. Can you summarize for us > what material you added and what significance that has? Thanks. > > Gae Lyn > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 12:05:50 -0600 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: RE: [AML] Fw: MN 'New Era' to Drop Fiction Couldn't we see this decision in far more positive terms? | I for one would eagerly subscribe to a magazine produced by the church | that was devoted exclusively to fiction and LDS concerns therewith. | That is, I would until it turned into yet another propaganda mill for | Weylandesque fiction. Man, I wouldn't. Anything published by the Church is going to be = correlated, and that means it's not going to be good fiction, for reasons = that have nothing to do with the Church, and everything to do with the = aims of any organization being fundamentally in conflict with the aims of = writers. Jim Picht asked some time ago if my cheerleader stance towards = artists included socialist realism. Of course it does; having decided to = be indiscriminate, I can't very well back down now. And I think it's = possible for some kind of personal testimony, some vestige of actual = humanity to even creep into art that has to pass through the heavy hands = of censors. But vestige-hunting can be a chore. We can find good in bad = art, but it's way easier to spend our time looking at good art. But here's the other point: why should the Church publish such a magazine? = Why is that the business of the Church? That's our job. We are the ones = who should be publishing, and creating publishing houses. Like, say, = Irreantum. Why not look at this announcement as a positive thing? Like, = we're now mature enough as a culture that our official magazines don't = have to worry about fiction anymore. Others outside the institutional = structure are taking care of it for us. Eric Samuelsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 11:03:54 -0400 From: "Debra L. Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN Internet: New Apocalyptic Books, Kent Larsen Newly Listed Mormon Websites: LDS Artworks http://ldsartworks.com/ Sculpture by Tucson, Arizona-based LDS artist Dee Jay Bawden. Includes galleries of Bawdens LDS sculptures and sculptures of the Savior, along with information about the artist and contact information. Millennial Glory http://www.millennialglory.com/ Website for the "Millennial Glory" series of novels by Wendie L. Edwards about an LDS family's experiences living through the last days until the time of Christ's second coming, reign and victory over darkness. Includes Adobe Acrobat files of the first two chapters of the book and an online order form. A New Model for Book of Mormon Geography http://www.geocities.com/jwarr87480/index2.html Extensive site details the author's theory that the Book of Mormon lands are located primarily in Costa Rica. Includes detailed description of the theory, maps showing location of the lands mentioned in the Book of Mormon and a list of publications the author used in creating his theory. Prophecy, History, and Mormonism by Anthony E. Larson http://www.mormonprophecy.com/ Website for books and subscription newsletter by Larson. His books examine the apocalyptic prophecies in the scriptures, describing the author's theories about the events of the last days. >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/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 11:04:52 -0400 From: "Debra L. Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN Planned LDS Film Festival Trying to Broaden Audience for Films: Kent Larsen 3Oct01 US UT Prov A4 Planned LDS Film Festival Trying to Broaden Audience for Films PROVO, UTAH -- In the wake of the success of "God's Army," the film that showed there is an audience for LDS films, BYU film student Christian Vuissa, 31, is trying to show that audience the variety in the work of LDS film makers. Vuissa has formed a non-profit venture, LDSBox.com, to hold the first International Young Latter-day Saint Film & Video Festival 2001. The idea is simple. LDSBox.com is holding the festival to showcase the work of young LDS film makers and screenwriters, letting them meet each other, exchange ideas and develop collaborations. In the process, he hopes to show their work to an broader audience of non-film makers. Prior to the success of "God's Army," the idea might have seemed silly, because few people believed that LDS film makers had a unique audience. But now, with at least 20 films in production or being planned, and a number of LDS film makers like Richard Dutcher, Keith Merrill, Lee Groberg and Don Bluth who have achieved a high profile among the LDS audience, Vuissa's idea doesn't seem so far fetched. Plans for the festival are built around a contest that will choose the best film and best screenplay submitted to the festival. Of course, the best of the films will be shown and awards for first, second and third prizes, as well as honorable mentions, will be made in each category. Winners will receive cash prizes. Other events during the festival may include a panel discussion on films made by LDS film makers and a retrospective of some of the early films made by LDS Church members. But Vuissa recognizes that the festival will need to reach out to get to its audience. He hopes to put together a traveling exhibit of the festival, essentially staging the festival in different locations around the US and the World, especially in the hometowns of those whose films are shown. He already expects to show the films in Europe, and expects to make arrangements to show the films in California and in New York. Vuissa is a native of Austria, and says credits his experiences there, before he joined the LDS Church, with giving him the background for this idea. Before joining the church, Vuissa was already trying to find ways to bring artists together. Film, as a medium, he says, already brings artists together, because it uses the work of so many different kinds of artists, from the scriptwriters to costume and set designers, to musicians. While the plans for the festival are falling into place, there's a lot of work to be done. LDSBox.com is still looking for qualified judges, in addition to submissions of films (up to 30 minutes in length) and screenplays by the October 15th deadline. Vuissa believes he has a venue to show the films, but is still looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of the festival. The goal of all this, says Vuissa, is to develop LDS film makers and show their variety. By seeing this variety and letting LDS artists work together, something uniquely LDS can arise. "Religion is such a strong part of our lives that if we portray things in an honest and sincere way, the spiritual aspect of the theme should fall into place automatically," he adds. Sources: Mormon News interview with Christian Vuissa Feature Films by Latter-day Saint Filmmakers http://www.adherents.com/movies/lds_film.html Film, video festival to provide a medium for LDS, non-LDS art BYU NewsNet 27Sep01 A4 http://newsnet.byu.edu/index.cfm?story=4022%2C33209 By Summer Mull: NewsNet Staff Writer >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/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #474 ******************************