From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #982 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, February 24 2003 Volume 01 : Number 982 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 17:53:14 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: [AML] D. MIchael's Film Lab 1: The Best of LDS Cinema D. Michael's Film Lab No. 1 Saturday, March 8, 2003, in the Salt Lake area. "The Best of LDS Cinema" Join us as we view and discuss the three best LDS films produced (so far): "God's Army," "Brigham City," and "Out of Step." LDS cinema is a new phenomenon, barely in its fourth year, and yet already the lines are being drawn between schlock and quality films. Someday we may torture ourselves with the worst ones, but for Film Lab #1 we'll treat ourselves to the best. 3:00 pm - God's Army Richard Dutcher, 2000 runtime 108 min PG, thematic elements The already-classic film that created the genre of LDS cinema, that gives us a candid glimpse into the mysterious world of Mormon missionaries. Perhaps for the first time, the world at large could see what Mormons acting like real Mormons are really like. And they could see for the first time what those boys in the suits coming to their doors are actually all about. 6:00 pm - Brigham City Richard Dutcher, 2001 runtime 119 min PG-13, brief violence, thematic elements Arguably the best LDS film made to date, this murder mystery with a religious twist is a pure model for what LDS stories should be like: no preaching, no conversion attempts, just real Mormon characters dealing with life in real ways, warts and greatness and all. And that ending (wow!) 9:00 pm - Out of Step Ryan Little, 2002 runtime 105 min PG, thematic elements, suggested sensuality A trailblazer in a new LDS subgenre for film: the cinematic slice-of-life approach. An aspiring dancer is accepted to a New York dance program, but as a Utah Mormon, finds herself "out of step" with what's going on around her. Her religious values and her goals and her social life clash in realistic ways that are the earmark of good storytelling: wrestling with dilemmas rather than black-and-white hero/villain conflicts. RULES OF ATTENDANCE: Because space is limited, please RSVP to dmichael@wwno.com. You will then receive directions for finding the location, which is in Sandy, Utah. You are welcome to show up at the door (if you know where it is), but seating preference will be given to those who reserve a spot. We'll try to fit everyone in, but you may be put in another room with an inferior screen if things get too crowded. You may attend any or all of the films. Discussion will follow the viewing of each film, analyzing and critiquing the merits and weaknesses and impact of the film from an artistic, cultural, and yes, even moral standpoint. No expertise is required to participate. Just a vocal opinion and a respect for the opinions of others. (Personal attacks will not be tolerated!) No admission is charged (this is just friends gathering to watch movies together), but we like to make a potluck party out of these labs, so please bring something to share with others. Utensils will be provided. To maintain balance, please be prepared to say what you would like to bring when you RSVP. PLEASE be considerate of others and do not bring anyone who will not be interested in viewing the films or be disruptive in any way. Be honest with yourselves--if your kids are little hellions, leave them home! No babysitting facilities are available!! We don't want to enforce age requirements, but we will enforce considerate behavior. Also be aware that there will be no attempt to select films or maintain a discussion that is "family friendly" (unless the theme is specifically intended to be family friendly). Frankness (but not crudeness) is an acceptable part of the discussion. YOU are responsible for deciding if attendance is appropriate for any particular individual, not us. Everyone attends at their own risk. We ain't got no commercial liability insurance. This is just for fun. You are welcome to bring pillows or blankets or beanbags if you like casually relaxing on the floor. Dress is as casual as you want to get. Heck, you can come naked for all I care (but others may care). D. Michael is the final arbiter of all rules. Come join us! It's bound to be fun. - -- 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, 20 Feb 2003 18:36:33 -0800 (PST) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: RE: [AML] Diversity of Mormonism (was: Singles Ward) - --- Annette Lyon wrote: > Thom: > I realize that Strugeon's Law holds forth even among Mormon artists, but > I've always secretly wished it didn't. > > Admitting ignorance here--what *is* Strugeon's Law? > > Annette Lyon Let me be the 100th person to reply. "Sturgeon's Law", named after the science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon who coined it: 90% of everything is crap. That means novels, non-fiction, television, movies, music, Mormon art, EVERYTHING. (Another science fiction writer, Harlan Ellison, added the category "people." But I'm not that misanthropic, yet.) I think the "bell curve" is a little more accurate description of everything, not 90% trash. Say, 20% excellent; 20% awful; and 60% mediocre. And God still loves the mediocre people, like me. ===== R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 18:51:21 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] _Ender's Game_ Movie Annette Lyon wrote: > Let me get this straight--if a reader isn't surprised by the end, a book > isn't powerful? Since when does a surprise ending = a powerful ending? (As > an aside, I highly doubt everyone guessed everything about the end--I'm > assuming we're talking about the "game" part.) I wasn't surprised, either, > but I was intensely moved by it. If the reader is supposed to be surprised by the ending, but isn't, then some of the power is deflated. We've all felt that sense of deflation when a "surprise" ending bombs. _Ender's Game_ is sufficiently powerful that it weathers the disappointment of the poorly handled surprise and remains powerful in spite of it--for the very reason you point out: lots of things besides surprise endings can be powerful. But had the surprise ending also been done right, the book would have been even more powerful. Anything wrong with that? - -- 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, 20 Feb 2003 19:16:00 -0700 From: "Eric Russell" Subject: Re: [AML] _The R.M._ >I hope we're not having the same net effect with The Sugar Beet. > >Chris Bigelow > Although The Sugar Beet is certainly more intelligent and more thoughtfully written than The RM, I don't see so wide a divide between the two when it comes to net effect. Whether you're reading about standardized Sunday School answers in The Sugar Beet or watching a deadbeat Priesthood in The RM, the effect is largely the same. They're both funny, and they're both depressing. Perhaps the argument in favor of The Sugar Beet article is that it summons a greater degree of self-awareness than the campy RM humor. Maybe that's true, but it's highly subjective and likely to vary greatly from person to person. When it comes down to it though, most people aren't going to give any more attention than a chuckle to either case. Eric Russell _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 20:17:13 -0700 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] _Ender's Game_ Movie >-----Original Message----- >From: owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com >[mailto:owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Annette Lyon >Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 7:06 PM >To: aml-list >Subject: Re: [AML] _Ender's Game_ Movie > > >Let me get this straight--if a reader isn't surprised by the >end, a book isn't powerful? If the ending is set up to be a surprise ending and then isn't, then, yes, the book isn't powerful. I saw the end in Ender's Game coming about one third of the way into the short story. Hated it when I found out that what I thought was reality actually was. Liked the book much better because of its increased depth, characterization. Thom - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 21:35:29 -0700 From: "Alan Rex Mitchell" Subject: [AML] Re: LeGrande Richards (was: Henry B. EYRING, _Because He First Loved Us_, Review) I would like to be like (my perception of) LeGrande Richards, which is that he had one single talk that could last 55 hours straight--longer than any senate filibuster. But at stake and general conferences, where I heard him speak, I had the impression that he was only giving us a sliver of it, and following those wonderful logic streams, he may not have been able to know in advance where it was going. I wonder if the Book of Mormon prophets had this style--they certainly spoke in unforseen streams. As far as LeGrande summing up, correct me if I'm wrong, but it wasn't so much a summation, but an arrival to a particular concept. Alan Mitchell - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 23:19:50 -0800 From: Julie Kirk Subject: [AML] Italian Art Instructor Needed I know this is a real longshot here, but am asking anyway because you just never know... I applied this last fall for a Fulbright grant to study in Italy for a year. My proposal is built around street painting and it's roots, and also around continuing my studies of painting in oils. So far so good, I made it through the first major cut, but then I ran into a big glitch today. It seems that the contacts I had for this proposal, one in Rome, one in Florence, both are not going to work as they are affiliated with American universities. Neither myself, nor the fulbright people here locally realized this would be an issue until this morning. I find myself in a last ditch effort to drum up at the very least a contact who is a painting instructor at an Italian school - an Italian person, not an American. I know this is a real long shot, but I am trying everything I can think of as this means alot to me and I actually felt I had a strong chance of making it through the process and coming out on the other side with a possible grant. Anyhow, if anyone on the list knows of an instructor, or can even put me in touch with a school, it would be most appreciated. It seems like all of the art schools I can find on online searches are basically American programs. Thanks for any suggestions! Julie Kirk ********************************************* Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness. Julie Kirk http://www.juliekirk.com http://www.streetpainting.net - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 18:44:50 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Programming as Art Aitken, Neil wrote: > I. Is programming an art? > ========================== > > Looking up "art" yields the following definitions: 6. a) A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a > set of activities: the art of building. > b) A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and > methods: the art of the lexicographer. > > 7. a) Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of > the baker; the blacksmith's art. > b) Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties > > 8. a) "arts" Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks. > b) Artful contrivance; cunning. > In the senses of #6, #7, and #8, programming can be considered an art -- ie. > the cunning application of device and material to create a desired effect. I would argue that these uses of the word "art" are actually metaphors that have been codified into the language, not literal definitions of art. This sort of thing happens all the time in English. Just because the word "fishing" can be used in a sentence like "He was fishing for an compliment" doesn't mean that actual fishing is going on. It's a metaphor. I could look at Jacob's astounding coding techniques and say, "Wow! That's a work of art!" But it would be a metaphor, not a literal statement. I can tell the distinction because his program will never be displayed as art or discussed among artists for its aesthetic merit or receive artistic grants so he can create more. It's the INTENT, the PURPOSE for which it's created, that matters. Frank Zappa was right when he said art is whatever someone puts a frame around. He said it was because it created boundaries where art can be distinguished from real life. But I say there's one more step involved in the framing process. A frame implies the intent to display. Saying "Hey, this is art," is not putting a frame around it. In fact, it sounds more like an afterthought to me than anything. The intent to define the boundaries of the creation AND DISPLAY IT AS ART is putting a frame around it. No one puts a frame around a picture unless they expect at some point to hang it up so people can see it. - -- 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 ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #982 ******************************