From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #939 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, January 10 2003 Volume 01 : Number 939 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 19:00:33 -0700 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Outstanding Movies of the Last 5 Years - ---Original Message From: kumiko > > I'll name the most important movie I saw this year: "John Q" starring > Denzel > Washington. From a purely aesthetic point of view the movie is not > outstanding. The fact that the movie is highly entertaining, very > competently made and features extraordinary actors and performances was > overshadowed (rightly so) by the topics it addressed: the American health > care crisis. Because this is the most pressing social and political issue > facing the U.S. today, and because no other feature film has addressed > this > topic so pointedly, this was the year's most important American film. You have *got* to be kidding. The issue is the reason I refused to see the movie. It was so obviously politically motivated and the issue is nowhere near as clear as the movie seems to imply. And I find it hard to believe that you can seriously call the American health care crisis the most pressing social and political issue facing the U.S. today. I question whether it is a crisis at *all*, and I put it *far* behind things like terrorism, global anti-Americanism, and our fatally wounded education establishment. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 10:43:22 -0700 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: [AML] Nedra Roney Profile Okay, there's this glossy promotional mag called Utah Valley, which mostly = features ads for upscale real estate and fine dining (in Provo?!), but = which also includes longish profiles of successful Utah Valleyeans. I get = the damned thing, heaven knows why; we certainly don't pay for a subscripti= on. Anyway, this month's issue, they hit the jackpot, a profile of Nedra = Roney, founder of Nu Skin.=20 Now, very quickly, let me add that I got nothing against rich folk. My = attitude towards wealth can best be summed by that song Tevye sings, "If I = were a rich man, badda bing badda boom! yahoo! whoopee! Boo yah! Yowzah!" Those lyrics may not be entirely accurate. Anyhoo, I'm for it. = I like rich people. I have this strong desire to pay lot of tithing. So, I shouldn't judge my brothers, or in this case, sister in the gospel. = She invented some goop, and sold it via pyramid scam and became fabulously = wealthy--good for her. She's surely had a tough life. It seems her = father was abusive, and at least one husband. She's probably a lovely = person, and undoubtedly admirably charitable. =20 Still. This article really tickled my funny bone. =20 =20 So. Source: Utah Valley Magazine, January/February 2003 edition. Author: = Jeanette W. Bennett. I don't know Ms. Bennett, but let me say this, in = Nedra and Jeannette, we have the perfect marriage of subject and author. = Apparently, you can check it out at www.uvmag.com. Photos by Kenneth = Linge, available apparently at www.Kennethlinge.com. Nedra herself looks = like a Gabor. Or Pamela Anderson in fifteen years. Or Anna Nicole 80 = pounds ago. =20 p. 26 "Nedra Roney's motto when creating the original Nu Skin products = was to include "all of the good and none of the bad." Her life's motto is = the same, although misconceptions about who she really is have led some in = Utah Valley to believe she might be more bad than good. It is true that = at first you might notice her five diamond rings, eight diamond bracelets, = colorful make-up and waist-length hair. But if you spend five minutes = with Nedra Roney, you will see the size of her heart." (This is just to = give you an idea of the prose style. It gets better.) p. 29 "Nedra owns a Gulfstream II jet, which is used for family purposes, = foundation causes and by religious leaders. Nedra owns homes in Malibu, = Cayman Islands, Mapleton, Las Vegas, Lake Powell and Jackson Hole, whihc = she considers her primary residence. . . . 'I saw it all from the = beginning,' Nedra says. 'I always saw jets.'" p. 30 "As she heads for town, she asks her colleagues, 'shall we take the = Porsche or the Mercedes.' She isn't being pretentious. She honestly = wants to know what her companions would find most comfortable." Again, p. 30 "For example, when Nedra first looked at real estate in = Jackson Hole, she wanted to buy a $262,000 home for her young family. = However, she felt she was supposed to keep looking. When her realtor = showed her a multi-million-dollar home, she felt an overwhelming prompting = to purchase it. 'I got on my knees right then and told the Lord that this = wasn't my first choice, but if he wanted me to have it, I would buy it.'" = (God does love his billionaires.) p. 30 "Nedra is sensitive for those around her who live 'normal lives.' = When she found out her Hispanic groundskeeper took on a second job, she = offered him a chance to earn more working for her. 'He must need money, = so he can work for me on Saturdays too,' she said." (Or, you know, I = could give him a raise . . . naahh.) p. 35 "Nedra has struggled with sometimes painfully public trials. She = has been married numerous times, and faced the death of her daughter and = several of her husbands." (And her least favorite people in Utah Valley = are all those pesky homicide detectives. Or, alternatively, eek!) p. 35 "Nedra's favorite place to be is her master bathroom, where she has = two couches, dozens of jewelry boxes, a phone, a TV, water cooler, = fireplace and--of course--bottles of Nu Skin products." (Lady, that's not = a bathroom, that's a west Provo single family dwelling.) p.35 "Fortunately, her creative juices that launched Nu Skin are still = flowing. Her current project is writing children's books that showcase = her religious beliefs in a non-denominational way--for example, when Nedra = talks about faith, she uses the word 'confidence.' (And when talking of = 'repentence', I use the word 'layoff.') =20 I missed a few things, like when Jeannette compares Nedra to a sort of = cross between Madonna and Hugh Nibley, or when she talks of 'home = schooling' her children, with the help of the private tutors she's hired. = I also like her description of how some of her brothers no longer work for = the business: 'the dynamics of family business can be difficult.' Like = Fredo, we had to send him to manage the casino in Vegas. =20 This is priceless stuff, y'all. I really recommend it. =20 Eric Samuelsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 16:42:48 -0700 From: Sugar Beet Subject: [AML] New Sugar Beet Contents The Sugar Beet ==================================================================== In This Issue: - - Seagulls Attack Main Street Protesters - - Missionaries' Controversial Tactics Lead to Baptisms, Arrests - - God Promises to Turn RM's One-Cow Woman into Eight-Cow Wife - - REVIEW: War in Heaven Video Game - - California Ward Handles Publicity for New Porn Shop - - Disciplinary Council Planned for Critic of Tabernacle Construction Seagulls Attack Main Street Protesters Chaos erupted yesterday in the hotly disputed Main Street Plaza when protesters were attacked by thousands of California Gulls. Witnesses described birds "dive-bombing," pecking, and grabbing signs and pamphlets right out of the hands of confused victims. [More] http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaWxbce7uze/ Missionaries' Controversial Tactics Lead to Baptisms, Arrests Elders John Wimmer and Dale Lynch have mixed proselytizing with illegal pranks for several months now and have seen success in the form of six baptisms. Unfortunately, they've also racked up several misdemeanor charges between the two of them. [More] http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaWBbce7uze/ God Promises to Turn RM's One-Cow Woman into Eight-Cow Wife Despite good looks, brains, a successful mission in Macon, Georgia, and a definite talent for charming the ladies, Nathan Goode somehow began his 27th year of life and his second year of medical school without any genuine prospects of marriage. [More] http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaWJbce7uze/ REVIEW: War in Heaven Video Game This real-time strategy game, set in the preexistence, uses cutting-edge graphics technology to make you feel as if you truly are part of the famous struggle. It was especially poignant for me when I realized that I actually was part of that war, though I cannot remember it. [More] http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaWVbce7uze/ California Ward Handles Publicity for New Porn Shop In a show of neighborliness and community fairness, the Carmichael Third Ward has agreed to help publicize the newly opened Sex-R-Us shop on Fair Oaks Drive. [More] http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaW2bce7uze/ Disciplinary Council Planned for Critic of Tabernacle Construction Unnamed sources claim that architectural student S. Frank Truman has been called to appear before a disciplinary council, the result of which is expected to be his excommunication. [More] http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaW7bce7uze/ For these and additional stories and columns, click here. http://click.topica.com/maaaKYMaaVaXebce7uze/ ==================================================================== Update your profile here: http://topica.email-publisher.com/survey/?a84D2N.bce7uz.YW1sLWxp Unsubscribe here: http://topica.email-publisher.com/survey/?a84D2N.bce7uz.YW1sLWxp.u Delivered by Topica Email Publisher, http://topica.email-publisher.com/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 18:55:32 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: [AML] More Sugar Beet Fun There are several AML-related stories in the new Sugar Beet: Mormon Novelist Refuses Deseret Book Distribution Richard Paul Evans Embraced by Mormon Literati New Mountain Meadows Massacre Book Fails to Shock Anyone Visit us today at thesugarbeet.com. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 04:41:57 +0000 From: "Andrew Hall" Subject: [AML] Year in Review Help Request I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years. I am working on my annual Mormon literature year in review columns, and I have some requests for information. First, does anyone out there subscribe to Exponent II? If so, can you tell me the titles, authors, and publication dates of any short stories published in it in 2002? Also, I am having a hard time tracking down who has published stories in literary journals. If you know of any Mormon authors with stories in literary journals last year, please let me know. I think I have all the novels and plays from last year figured out, but if you think you know a very obscure one that hasn't been mentioned on AML-list over the year, feel free to mention it to me. Thanks, I should post the columns next week. Andrew Hall _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 21:20:36 -0700 From: "ali ssa" Subject: Re: [AML] Intolerance and Diversity in the Church I must agree that I find it very difficult to express thoughts from outside the box in our culture. We have no place designated for such thoughts. I understand that many view sacrament meeting as an inopportune time to bring up controversial issues and Sunday School classes have been limited to doctrine. I worry that if we do not find a way to discuss more controversial issues we will never bring awareness to the "self-righteous and intolerant" members of our wards who will continue to infect congregations. Alissa Schertz - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:08:57 -0800 From: Kathy and Jerry Tyner Subject: Re: [AML] Dutcher Movies News Any truth to the rumor he way gay? Doesn't bug me, but it would probably be embarassing to the Church. Or could it be that the actor was both gay and a porn star? Hmm..... Still, I thought he did one of the best portrayals of 'Brother Joseph' I've ever seen. Such an interesting contribution to Mormon Letters. Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA - ----- Original Message ----- > Eric Dixon: > Well, according to urban legend (which may be true), the guy who played > Joseph Smith in "Legacy" actually WAS a porn star. So the casting of > Val Kilmer may be even more appropriate than it at first seems. > Eric D. Snider - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 17:05:47 -0700 From: "" Subject: Re: [AML] Stansfield Books Banned (FW DN) Quoting Christopher Bigelow : > The most interesting thing to me about the following is the news that > Deseret Book has banned three novels by Anita Stansfield. > Anyone know which ones? - --Katie Parker - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 18:48:56 -0600 From: Linda Adams Subject: RE: [AML] R-Rated Movies At 02:14 PM 1/3/03, you wrote: >Is it too weird to ask just what some >of those movies are, and why they were so effective? > >Stephen Carter Most of these are old films, before I pretty much quit. (_A Fish Called Wanda_ changed my mind on seeing R films, just about permanently.) I haven't seen any recently at all. Our Stake President has counseled specifically that Pres. Benson's counsel does apply to adults and that R movies should not be watched. I am choosing to obey, even though I have similar opinions about the MPAA, the system's lack of worldwide application, and so on, including the fact that going from that one guideline, _Goldmember_ is more morally appropriate than _Saving Private Ryan?_ That doesn't make much sense to me, but don't think I'm missing too much. But I can tell you about these: Silkwood (Meryl Streep) . . .based on the life of Karen Silkwood, who tried to uncover chemical poisoning at her work Witness (Harrison Ford) . . .an Amish boy witnesses a murder. (I guarantee that with no changes, Witness would be rated PG-13 today.) Frances (Jessica Lange) . . .the life story of Frances Farmer Heartburn (Meryl Streep/Jack Nicholson) . . .a couple deals with the husband having an affair (you'll never think of the "itsy bitsy spider" in the same way again) Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) . . . similar to Silkwood in plot, it has a much happier result, and the language was 100% necessary for her character to be 'real' These movies illustrate difficult choices and real consequences. You will not be the same. I guarantee they will make you think. I watched the TV version of Braveheart. My life was deeply affected by the themes of courage and fighting for freedom. Something about it resonated with truth and made me think that maybe, this is how it was at times for Captain Moroni. I was also deeply affected by the Last Temptation of Christ. Lots of people will differ with me on this, but I had an epiphany during the last 1/2 hour of the movie (you can skip the rest of it): it really brought home the point that his staying on the cross, his whole Atonement, was a _CHOICE_ he willingly made. He could have stopped, at any time. Lived a normal life. He did not. He *chose.* But this is definitely not a film for everyone and includes some graphic and disturbing violent and sexual images. I choose to interpret the "avoid violence" section of "For the Strength of Youth" to mean avoiding things that _promote_ violence and bloodshed and demean the sanctity of life. "Slasher" movies come to mind, also quite a few video games, where it's just plain fun to watch people get blown up or hacked in pieces. The most important, Greatest Story Ever Told includes severe, cruel violence. And we aren't to shy away from that. When Harry Met Sally, for *married* adults, is just plain funny. And eye-opening. Good fodder for discussion about issues concerning parts of marriage. (Same for What Women Want, which is PG-13.) The Matrix (I heard, has been downgraded to PG-13) totally fascinated me. It felt very spiritual. I still haven't quite placed why; something about Neo's character struck me. Something like, we all have to figure out why we're here. . . challenge what we are seeing, challenge what the world really is, figure out why we are really here. Accepting the Gospel is like taking the red pill. (Or was it blue? whichever one leads down Alice's rabbit hole. . .) It also felt like PG-13. I heard it got an R rating only because it came out right after the Columbine High School shootings, and the ending includes a shootout with the main characters in black trenchcoats. Can anyone back me up on that rumor? And I will not be sorry for reading _Beloved,_ ever. I haven't seen the movie, which was R and probably for good reason. But this is a book that ought to be read. By everybody. It is shockingly hard and difficult and very painful and graphic. But like the Holocaust, slavery and its ugly realities cannot afford to be forgotten. I will never be the same. I am glad. My eyes were opened. They _needed_ to be opened. Just a sample. Linda Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo/linda - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 18:02:34 -0600 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] Clay MCCONKIE, _The Ten Lost Tribes_ (Review) Thanks for this review. I'm interested in Ten Tribes research, partly because I'm trying to decide whether or not to bring them back en masse as part of one of my books. (The more I think on it, the more it's a crummy idea, where the series is going, and I'll probably pass.) It sounds like I would throw this book at the wall at least ten times before he got to the main point, which seems to be: yeah, they're together under the earth somewhere but REALLY, I'm not nuts to say that and the rest of this book explains why I'm not crazy. (!! I guess he would've used exclamation points. !!) So thanks for sparing me from reading it. If I could get a clear, directly stated version it might be worth dissecting. I can't stand "mysterious" writing. Too many scam advertisers use it. I like to get to the point. For my two cents, my research seems to indicate they could, somehow, still be in a group with some awareness of who they are; though I can't conceive of how that's possible. The main factor I use for this is actually Article of Faith 10: the "Restoration" of the Ten Tribes, and the "Gathering" of Israel were distinctly separate events, according to Joseph Smith. Though the meaning of "restoration" is up for interpretation, he did draw a distinction. Still, the dispersion theory (BTW, Bruce R. McConkie's, and he must be related. . .) is more plausible, and fits an Occam's Razor type of simple explanation. As to the "highway over the great deep" scripture, I have two fun explanations for that one. First, we *have* a highway over the great deep, if you mean the Atlantic and Pacific. We have airplanes. No such thing existed at the writing of that scripture, and maybe that's it. Very simple. Or, you could interpret the "great deep" to mean outer space--and if so, well, if there ever is a First Contact Day, don't come to me saying it wasn't in the scriptures. :-) We have, partly, made a highway there too; at least as far as Mars. Plus if you look up the creation terms used in Genesis, "great deep" could be interpreted as the vastness of space--that's the other place in scripture that term comes up. So I might not be out in left field with that conclusion, though I'm personally skeptical. I suppose it could mean the "depths" of the earth itself, or the "deep" of another dimension, but those explanations seem even more twisted that the outer space concept, which is already another tidbit of Mormon folklore. Hasn't this guy heard the one about the Ten Tribes living on the dark side of the moon? ;^) Anyway, I like the "wait and see" approach, myself. I'll just be kicking back and seeing what really happens. I imagine it's one of those things that will make more sense *after* it's all done. Linda At 02:38 PM 12/23/02, you wrote: >For instance, at the end of a chapter discussing D&C 133 and=20 >the whole idea of the "highway cast up from the deep," he calls=20 >for a literal interpretation of the scripture, Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo/linda - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:10:15 -0700 From: Russell Asplund Subject: Re: [AML] R-Rated Movies On Wednesday, December 25, 2002, at 10:06 PM, r talley wrote: > > > By the way, it's been interesting to note that no one > has defended X-Rated movies as being "art." Why? Why > skip an X-Rated movie? Why the debate over R-Rated > movies, but not X-Rated movies? > > Just wondering. . . > > Rebecca Talley > One fundamental difference is that people in R-Rated movies are acting. Very few murders are really committed, and while there may be some immoral behavior, in reality it stops short of actually being what is being represented. So they can be about immorality, without the necessity of committing immorality. X-Rated movies don't exist for the story or the character--their impact comes from the fact that people are actually being filmed performing those acts. That, to me, is a significant moral difference. A film of an actual robbery, or an actual murder, would be morally despicable, as are X-rated movies. The whole point is what is being committed, not what is being communicated. Russell Asplund - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 00:45:33 -0500 From: Justin Halverson Subject: Re: [AML] Outstanding Movies of the Last 5 Years At 02:39 PM 12/30/2002 -0800, you wrote: >So what would you say are the outstanding movies of the last 5 years or so? *My* Top Five Movies (that come to mind at the moment) of the Last Five Years are (in no particular order): - --"The Straight Story" (dir. David Lynch): don't let the director fool you--this was distributed by Disney and stars Richard Farnsworth in a beautifully filmed and wonderfully written story (AND it's rated G!!!) - --"The Thin Red Line" (dir. Terrence Malick): a far superior, much more spiritually moving film than the other WWII movie that came out the same year. Sean Penn's character almost--and the almost is heart-wrenching--finds hope in humankind through the sacrifice of Jim Caviezel's character. - --"The Third Miracle" (dir. Agnieszka Holland): compelling study of faith--Ed Harris plays a Catholic priest put in charge of investigating the claim for beatification of a woman who apparently abandoned her daughter (it's of course more involved than that, but I loved it). - --"Unbreakable" (dir. M. Night Shyamalan): Reminds me of Hitchcock. It's very sparsely but beautifully shot, and has an interesting story about responsibility for gifts. In my opinion, better than either of the director's other two films ("The Sixth Sense" and "Signs" although I enjoyed both of those as well). - --"Punch-Drunk Love" or "Magnolia" (dir. P.T. Anderson): loved both these movies for their characters, who are weird and funny and pathetic and imaginative (and who remind me of those who people the Coen brothers' films, but I've already cheated with sneaking two into this last one). This last one is a year outside the five-year parameter, but deserves special mention as the movie I've most enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) in probably ten years: - --"Bottle Rocket" (dir. Wes Anderson): subtly hilarious film that tries to redeem Generation X--we're not apathetic, we just don't know where to put our energy. (His other two more recent films--"Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" are also excellent, but not quite as fun, I think, as this first one.) Justin Halverson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 00:49:38 -0500 From: Justin Halverson Subject: RE: [AML] R-Rated Movies Stephen Carter wrote: >This might seem to be a strange request to send to the AML list, but I've >been >very intrigued by people saying that some of the most spiritual and affecting >movies they have ever seen are rated R. Is it too weird to ask just what some >of those movies are, and why they were so effective? I'd point to "The Thin Red Line" as the most Christian movie I've seen in a *long* time. The struggle between Sean Penn's pessimistic materialism and Jim Caviezel's faith in humanity set in the midst of one of the most gruesome battles of WWII (Guadalcanal, though it's never named as such) moved me like few films ever have. This one actually made me think about and feel more deeply what was at stake in the Atonement (instead of just leaving me cold like the (to me) awful "Saving Private Ryan" which began where it should have ended and/or ended where it should have begun). "The Third Miracle" and "Magnolia" also really moved me to reflection on the Savior: what it means to have faith even in--and especially in--the face of a world that offers very few uncomplicated answers. That said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend any of these films to "anyone"--meaning not that I'm superior in my abilities to understand them and appreciate them, but simply that people I know, people whose humility and testimonies I trust and respect, didn't find one or more of them as moving as I did. As has been reiterated over and over in the talk about appropriate films, different films will affect different people in different ways. Just as my wife doesn't try to force me not to watch R-rated films (even though she has chosen not to), I'm not about to suggest that she or anyone else who doesn't see these movies will suffer spiritually. I just know that I felt the Spirit teaching me during these films as powerfully as I've ever felt it in a church meeting or anyplace else. Justin Halverson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 23:32:28 -0800 From: "Wes Rook" Subject: Re: [AML] Agency and Compulsion Kim wrote: : There is more to the paper. I apologize for the length of this post, but I : felt Feguson's points were articulate, spiritual, and for me uplifting and : reinforcing of the things I believe. And I believe they have a direct : bearing on how we should view and create art in the LDS culture. Including : R-rated movies. Kim, please don't apologize for the length of the post. I was thrilled to read it. It is so encouraging for me when I learn I'm not the only one who thinks a certain way! Hahaha. Thank you for sharing the article with us. I have already directed a few friends to the web site you linked for us. Just me, B. Weston Rook - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 02:18:04 -0700 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Agency and Compulsion I'll respond, though probably not how some might expect. Personally, = I'm not impressed. Brian Ferguson's paper embodies so many of the defects = of smug intellectualism that bug me. Since smug intellectualism will be such a large part of this response, = I'd probably better define what I mean by the term. Heaven knows I don't = want to say anything against intellectual endeavors as such. I value intelligence. I value intellectual insight and theory and thought. And = I'm grateful for those who are willing to share their insights, even when I disagree with them (assumptions and/or conclusions). Intellectualism, on the other hand, is a much tougher pill to swallow. Frankly, -isms in general are questionable and this is an instance of = why. - -isms require adoption of an initial set of assumptions that are then = used to inspire action or interpretations of actions. Feminism, Marxism, Capitalism all adopt identifiable sets of assumptions. For = intellectualism, the assumption tends to be that the speaker is dispensing superior = knowledge to those less capable or endowed. But since those indulging in intellectualism typically have a good deal = of rhetorical training and opportunities to practice hierarchical discourse = on a regular basis, I find practitioners particularly hard to = bear--probably as a result of being so often in the power of intellectualists, unable to challenge repugnant, self-indulgent, and/or damaging ideas. My reaction to Ferguson is poisoned right from the start by his identification of a polar dichotomy and his obvious intention to = champion one over the other. It doesn't help that he begins with a particularly sneaky rhetorical trick--couching the discussion in (possibly = deliberately) prejudicing terms. Quarantine vs. inoculation is an analogy that *fundamentally* privileges his preferred pole over it's opposite. It = says to me that he knows what is right and will begin the discussion by using clever terms that *seem* to represent the poles while introducing a fundamental imbalance from the start. It tells me that he doesn't trust = me to come to the correct conclusion based on his argument so he needs to = use this sneaky trick to ensure that I will come through this safely = agreeing with him. There are a number of ways these poles could be presented = that more honestly represent their "opposition". For one, an important thing = to note is that those in the "quarantine" camp aren't typically trying to control people as much as they are trying to destroy what they consider evil. After all, the "quarantine" camp isn't so much about control as = it is about removing evil influences (control is an aspect, but not the = primary one)--not by killing or even isolating *people* (as quarantine implies), = but by identifying and/or removing their works. They aren't so much quarantining as they are disinfecting. After all, the best inoculations = in the world aren't going to work terribly well if you never scrub the bathroom. But then, telling people that we need to stop cleaning the bathroom = isn't going to make them agree with him, even if it better describes both the intentions and actions of those he is discussing. After all, it makes perfect sense that the church might split its efforts between = metaphorically running the dishwasher and explaining the importance of balanced meals. Which brings me to another aspect of the paper that I find = disconcerting, at least as presented here. In my experience, a correct course is almost *never* found at either pole of a discussion. And while Ferguson admits that there is *some* validity to "quarantine" activities, he never = discusses what kind of criteria might be used in considering those activities. Further, his terms when talking about these activities are again rhetorically tricky. Those applying quarantine are "adolescent", for example. And even sneakier, the church is apparently perfectly = justified in being "paternalistic" which *seems* to support church "quarantine" activities, but does so in a way that undermines that supposed support = (by using the charged term "paternalistic"). And why does he put "missions" = in quotes when he mentions missions of the church? Okay, that's all bad enough, but where he lost me forever is when he discussed "avoiding the very appearance of evil". First, amusingly, he partakes of a fundamental error/misinterpretation that is culturally = driven. The *actual* quote is "abstain from all appearance of evil." Second, he misidentifies the source of the quote (likely a result of the initial error). Then again, identifying the *actual* source (1 Thes. 5:22) undermines his ability to rip on hypocrites. Interestingly, the actual source *does* undermine those who believe in avoiding the very = appearance of evil because the scripture has a neat little footnote that apparently = not very many people read because it indicates that "appearance" could as = easily read "kind". i.e. the quote could as accurately be rendered "abstain = from all *kinds* of evil." Certainly a more sensible position than fearing = that some fool might misinterpret your actions (of course, I remember Pres. Monson giving an entire talk on avoiding every appearance of evil, which makes me cringe). Ferguson's misidentification of the source leads me to question his = care. It indicates that he is so interested in presenting his case that at the very least, he wasn't terribly thorough in gathering his supporting arguments. It deals the death-blow to an already battered argument. I don't want to say that I don't agree with much of what he says. Certainly, we need to teach each other correct principles and we need to = cut each other some slack. But I don't think we can afford to be so callus towards legitimate efforts to clean our surroundings, either (with the *care* requisite of a farmer striving to discern wheat from tares). As = a result, his argument takes on the worst attributes he decries--he comes across as paternalistic and manipulative, striving to limit my options = by applying cheap rhetorical tricks to make his point seem more important = than it is and to give him an opportunity to make little jabs at church leadership. If the church was teetering on the edge of dictatorship, such an = approach *might* be justified. Since I think the church actually has a careful = and considered approach to this tough issue--and indeed takes a better line = than any other organization I can think of--I'm not willing to give Ferguson = much credit for using this approach. Specific members and possibly even = entire wards might not live up to our ideals, but the doctrine is relatively = clear and like so many other aspects of the gospel embody two poles that are = at tension with each other because each possesses a core of = truth--requiring us to eschew easy answers and navigate a path that satisfies both. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 04:48:07 -0700 From: "Andrew W. Gallup" Subject: [AML] Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life - Release Party and Book Signing The Release date for =93Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life,=94 the authorize= d biography of Hugh Nibley by Boyd Jay Petersen, has been set for Jan. 15th= , 2003. The first place where this title will be available for purchase wi= ll be: Benchmark Books 3269 S. Main St. Suite 250 SLC, UT 84115 The release party and book signing will be from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. the eveni= ng of the 15th. For further details please call Benchmark Books at (801) 486-3111. I look forward to meeting many of you there. Thank you, Andrew Gallup Greg Kofford Books Inc. (801) 523-6063 Office (801) 671-7470 Cellular (801) 576-0583 Fax P.O. Box 1362 Draper, UT 84020 agallup@koffordbooks.com www.koffordbooks.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 10:56:50 -0500 From: cathrynlane@cs.com Subject: RE: [AML] R-Rated Movies Saving Private Ryan is my personal choice for one that affected me. =A0The= scene where the audience can see the farmhouse with the mother going about= her business, but we know the car approaching is bearing the news that her= sons are dead, is one of the best pieces of story telling using film that I= have ever seen. =A0The violence was difficult but added to the whole point= of the movie in that others had sacrificed so we could enjoy the lives we= lead now. =A0My husband and I watched it on the opening night and= seperatly, our 19 year old son saw it with his friends. =A0We had very= different reactions. =A0My son felt it was the most violent movie he had= ever seen. =A0I could only see the young men. =A0The movie made them my= sons. =A0=20 In contrast, violence just for the sake of having a great "blow you away"= action scene such as was in "Code Talkers" (a bad movie anyway) is not= anything I want to see.=20 [Cathryn Lane] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 09:25:14 -0600 From: pdhunter@wt.net Subject: [AML] Box Office Report Jan 3 03 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of January 3, 2003 Report compiled by: LDSFilm.com [If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as Courier - - Ed.] Natl Film Title Weekend Gross Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Actor Total Gross Theaters Days - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 20 The Santa Clause 2 816,138 1,202 66 Ken Daurio (screenwriter) 138,277,797 Cinco Paul (screenwriter) 51 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 45,450 5 976 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 14,705,708 64 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 17,846 7 696 Scott Swofford (producer) 13,813,133 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) 74 Jack Weyland's Charly 6,831 9 101 Adam Anderegg (director) 593,825 Jack Weyland (book author) Janine Gilbert (screenwriter) Lance Williams (producer) Micah Merrill (producer, film editor) Tip Boxell (co-producer) Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer) Aaron Merrill (composer) Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott, Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer, Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon, Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc. 87 Galapagos 1,590 1 1165 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 13,679,758 88 China: The Panda Adventure 1,307 2 528 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 2,990,483 114 Mark Twain's America 3D 215 1 1648 Alan Williams (composer) 2,292,236 BOOK OF MORMON MOVIE CAST - The cast for Gary Rogers' Book of Mormon movie has been announced. Photos of each cast member, along with a brief biography, can be found on the official website: http://www.bookofmormonmovie.com/cast/index.html MORE BOOK OF MORMON MOVIE - The "Filmmakers" section of the official website for Gary Rogers' Book of Mormon movie has been overhauled. http://www.bookofmormonmovie.com/filmmakers/index.html There are some new names and photos, including costume designer Anne Rose and art director Clark Schaffer. IN IT, BUT NOT OF IT - Trent Hanson, the director of "In It, But Not Of It," has provided an update about this production. Due to an increased budget and the actors' schedules production has been pushed to 2003. Pre-production has begun. The director anticipates using songs from some of the country's most popular recording artists in the soundtrack. Hanson named the distributor he expects will handle the theatrical release of the movie. We won't pass on the name yet, but it is a major niche market and "art film" distributor which has released about 30 feature films in mainstream theaters during the 10 years, grossing over $240 million total in U.S. theaters. An official web site for the movie should be online next week. A teaser for the film will be in theaters by the end of February. A line from the teaser: "Life, love, choices... Sometimes only one moment... to ... live ... in it, butnot of it. DAY OF DEFENSE - "The Day of Defense" will soon be premiering at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City using a High Definition Digital Projection system currently only available in LA and New York (also used for the premiere of Star Wars Episode II), and then will be released immediately following to theaters. The movie was the first feature film shot in Utah using High Definition digital video cameras, the same system used to film "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones." "Day of Defense" is a legal drama, and may be compared to such films as Judgment at Nuremberg, A Time to Kill, A Few Good Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird. The story in "Day of Defense" revolves around a Protestant-dominated Southern town attempting to prevent Latter-day Saint missionaries from doing missionary work there. A non-LDS attorney defends the missionaries -- and the First Amendment - -- in court. THE SHAPE OF THINGS - Here's a brand new movie trailer for Neil LaBute's upcoming feature "The Shape of Things." Plot Summary: The story of a man who becomes the raw material for a student's high-concept art project. "The Shape of Things" will be showing Jan. 20, 21, 22 as part of the Sundance Film Festival. 1 showing will be at Trolley Square in SLC and 2 will be in Park City. Trailer: http://progressive.stream.aol.com/aol/us/moviefone/movies/20 02/shapeofthings_014254/shapeofthings_trlr_dl.mov BOB HILTON - Here's a great article about Latter-day Saint news anchor and talk show host Bob Hilton. Hilton, whose son is leaving for a mission to Brussels in February, is the author of a new book: Weekend Dad: 101 Ways To Create Memorable Time With Your Children. His credits as host or announcer include: The Match Game (1991); Let's Make a Deal (1990); The Challengers (1990); Win, Lose or Draw (1987-1990); The $10,000 Pyramid (1987-1988); Double Talk (1986); The New Dating Game (1986); Body Language (1986); The Price Is Right (1985); Trivia Trap (1984-1985); Child's Play (1982); Blockbusters (1980-1981); Password Plus (1980); Card Sharks (1980, 1986-1989); The Guinness Game (1979); The New Tic Tac Dough (1980-1981); Truth or Consequences (1977-1978). The Sacramento Bee newspaper article about him is at: http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/5740748p-67125 16c.html HOPKINS IN LUHRMANN'S "LA BOHEME" - Here's a great article about Lisa Hopkins, the returned missionary who is currently starring in Baz Luhrmann's "La Boheme" on Broadway. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,450024350,00.html COMING IN 2003 - Latter-day Saint-themed feature films scheduled for 2003 release: Names in right columns are the names of the director, unless otherwise noted. Already Filmed, scheduled to be released in 2003: The R.M. Kurt Hale The Work and the Story Nathan Smith Jones Day of Defense Adam Lawson (may be direct-to-video) Suddenly Unexpected Mark Potter The Legend of Johnny Lingo Steve Ramirez American Grace (maybe) Curtis Taylor Scheduled to Be Filmed and Released in 2003: The Saints of War Ryan Little The Book of Mormon Movie Gary Rogers Love Logs On Tucker T. Dansie Baptists At Our Barbecue Robert Farrell Smith (writer) movie about home teachers John E. Moyer (writer) The Best Two Years of My Life Scott S. Anderson In It, But Not Of It Trent Hanson Also, already filmed 2003 releases by non-LDS directors featuring LDS main characters: - - Angels in America, directed by Mike Nichols, adapting Kushner's Pullitzer-winning play - - Latter Days, written and directed by C. Jay Cox - - Thumbsucker, directed by Mike Mills, adapting Walter Kirn's novel * * * * * * YEAR END REPORT 2002 - Included below are only films which were released during 2002. Although films such as "The Other Side of Heaven" played in theaters during 2002, if they were released during 2001 or previous years, they were not included in the following report. An asterisk (*) next to the title marks those films which are still currently in theaters. [If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as courier - Ed.] 
Natl  Film Title                                       
Prod.
Rank  LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Actor       Total Gross    
Budget
- ---   -----------------------------    ----------- 
- -----------
 14   The Santa Clause 2*              135,459,771  
65,000,000
      Cinco Paul (screenwriter)
      Ken Daurio (screenwriter)

 15   Minority Report                  132,014,112 
102,000,000
      Gerald Molen (producer)

 34   The Divine Secrets of the         69,586,544
      Ya-Ya Sisterhood

 55   Master of Disguise                40,400,000  
16,000,000
      Perry Andelin Blake (director)

 73   Murder by Numbers                 31,874,869
      Ryan Gosling (actor)

106   Punch-Drunk Love                  17,791,031  
25,000,000
      Actors: David Stevens
          Nathan Stevens, Jim Smooth Stevens,
          Michael D. Stevens (brothers)

135   Possession                        10,103,647  
25,000,000
      Neil LaBute (director)
      Aaron Eckhart (lead male actor)

163   ESPN's Ultimate X                  4,197,175
      Reed Smoot (cinematographer)

232  Jack Weyland's Charly*               577,143     
950,000
     Adam Anderegg (director)
     Jack Weyland (book author)
     Janine Gilbert (writer-screenplay)
     Lance Williams (producer)
     Micah Merrill (producer, film editor)
     Tip Boxell (co-producer)
     Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer)
     Aaron Merrill (composer)
     Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott,
        Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer,
        Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon,
        Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc.

240   The Believer                         406,035
      Ryan Gosling (actor)

241   Little Secrets                       405,182   
2,500,000
      Blair Treu (director/producer)
      Brian Sullivan (cinematographer)
      Sam Cardon (composer)
      Jerry Stayner (film editor)
      Actors: Jan Broberg Felt, Rick Macy,
        Tayva Patch, Caitlin E.J. Meyer

334   Handcart*                             70,000     
300,000
      Kels Goodman (director/DP)
      David Greenslaw Sapp (producer)
      Mark von Bowers (screenwriter)
      Eric M. Hanson (composer)
      Actor: Jaelan Petrie, Stephanie Albach
        Chris Kendrick, Shannon Skinner,
        Gretchen Condie


We do not have box office information for the following
theatrically screened films RELEASED during 2002 and
directed by Latter-day Saints: Out of Step (Ryan Little);
Cremaster 3 (Matthew Barney); Lewis & Clark: Great
Journey West (Bruce Neibaur); India: Kingdom of the Tiger
(Bruce Neibaur); The Princess and the Pea (Mark Swan). Also,
we do not have box office data for a number of IMAX films
directed by Latter-day Saints and released prior to 2002
which continued to be shown in theaters throughout the
United States and the world during 2002.




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