Morocco

In my cultural class this video was shared. I think it does an amazing job at giving us a glimpse of Morocco. I think it is amazing that we are able to see the world without leaving. If our great grandparents saw videos like these they would be amazed.

http://vimeo.com/73605534

Lamb of God

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to watch a performance of Rob Gardener's "Lamb of God". I have never been so moved by music as I was by the music of that program. If you haven't heard it before (or even if you have) I challenge you to take the time to do so. It is a wonderful message of hope and is especially appropriate at this Easter season.

Lost Gem from Childhood

Here are videos that my siblings and I listened to quite often in our childhood years. Strangely enough, although it has been years since I heard them...I can still remember the words. I think it goes to show how much children take in media (that serves as a caution to what I will allow my children to be exposed to).

Regency Period Media

Today I watched Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightly version) and it got me thinking: What was the media of their time? what set off controversies? and what were the hot topics?
Without Youtube, Saturday Night Live videos, and movies...what did they do?
MUSIC!!!
LITERATURE!!!
ART!!!

Jane Austin's books were revolutionary in their own way. Authors were the movie stars of today. Artists were the satirists. Composers were sometimes viewed as the death of music (kind of like how our parents see modern pop and hip hop).

It is interesting to consider how media has been an active force in society for a very long time.

All through the night

This is on my favorite song list. No matter what, it has the ability to calm me down. I hope to learn the words so I can sing it to my nieces, nephews, and my own children one day. It is beautiful! Listen to it :)



http://grooveshark.com/s/Ar+Hyd+Y+Nos+All+Through+The+Night+Folk+Song/4YPowI?src=

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night.
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
I my loving vigil keeping,
All through the night.
While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night.
While the weary world is sleeping,
All through the night.
O'er they spirit gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing,
Breathes a pure and holy feeling,
All through the night.
Love, to thee my thoughts are turning,
All through the night.
All for thee my heart is yearning,
All through the night.
Though sad fate our lives may sever,
Parting will not last forever,
There's a hope that leaves me never,
All through the night.

Iron Jawed Angels

So last week I went to the International Cinema on campus and watched Iron Jawed Angels. It was a life changing film. It was about the struggle of Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and other suffragists. It depicted what life was like for women before we had the vote, the extreme treatments and punishment for these strong willed women who fought for their sisters, daughters, and granddaughter's futures. I am not going to take my opportunities lightly anymore. The "right to vote is a fire escape" (in reference to the triangle shirtwaist fire) was a slogan for the suffragists in the working class...for me the right to vote is about opportunity, about voice!

SO this movie was super powerful and I felt empowered and enthusiastic to make changes...until I saw the movie poster for the film:

Who does that!!! Took a movie about female freedom and then sexualized women on the cover! Now I do not know what to think. The sexualization of women in media has got to stop. The movement to stop this misrepresentation will start with us individually and then with us as women.

Miss Representation

The video we watched in Media class today was insane! Oh man, it got me so riled up. I have despised the way women are portrayed in the media for as long as I can remember. Even when there is potential for a strong female character, she is either turned into a sexual object or made to be ridiculous. The documentary "Miss Representation" highlighted the things that I hate most about media. Why is it necessary to add so much sexual content to even children's movies. Why are we allowing a few individuals to fill our media, our schools, homes, and children's lives with filth? ARRRGGGGHHH it drives me CRAZY. Something has to change.

Cultural Media

In one of my other classes we watched the movie "Under the Same Moon" as an assignment. It was a movie almost completely in Spanish (so it was subtitles in English for the whole 2 hours). The plot was that a Mexican illegal immigrant mother to L.A. works hard to bring her 9 year old son to join her in the U.S. The mother and son had been separated for 4 years. The movie depicts the amazing struggle of the son as he leaves Mexico, crosses the boarder, and makes his way from Texas to LA.

The story is one of strength, sacrifice, and family. It was a touching movie full of emotion. My eyes were opened to the world of Latino immigrant workers in the US. I can not imagine the life of living from paycheck to paycheck. This piece of media influenced my perceptions and was effective in touch its audience.

Media & Sports

The media has greatly impacted the way sports are viewed and played. Media has followed sports since the very beginning. Newspapers gave highlights, pictures, and scores. Radio stations broadcasted the games live across the air. Television allowed people from all over the world to watch the games, to learn about the players, the coaches, and the politics behind games.

I mean think about how many sport broadcasting stations there are on cable. On my basic cable provided by my management we have 5 just sports channels (not including the major networks that show big games and Saturday games.)

What about the Olympics . . . 24 hour coverage. Not only has media affected the availablity of watching sports, it has also created even bigger celebrities out of the athletes.

What about all the sport related films, books, tv shows, etc...

Sports and Media are best friends.

Survivor: Season 28!

So in honor of my media class's discussion of reality TV...I am going to blog about my lifelong show: SURVIVOR.


                               
  I have watched Survivor diligently since grade school, starting from about its 3rd season. Why? because my best friend and her family watched it...so I watched it...and we talked about it. As I have grown up, I have continued to watch Survivor out of tradition and also as I have come to appreciate the deeper complexities of the show. The strategies, the endurance, and the social game. And although I know that many of the participates are far from normal, the characters and drama pull you in.

An interesting side note is that there have been a couple LDS people on the show...including Dawn (who teaches part time here at BYU)

Season 28 of Survivor begins tonight. Will I be watching? You bet!

Books, Books, Books

I adore books! There have been times that I have spent all day in a book. When I first read the book "The Hunger Games" it was in the middle of a winter semester. My roommates had to hide the book so that I would do my homework.


Books have a great power to expand horizons and imaginations. There is great power in the written word.

One of my favorite books is Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women". I love the character development and the sisterhood. Growing up in a family with 5 daughters, I understand the power of sisterhood. Josephine (Jo) March is a such a powerful and independent female character. She is a great example of not allowing your identity be defined by expectations. The historical perspective also draws me in.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Evolution of Dance

In middle school a group of my friends recreated this video for a talent show:



It was fantastic. Recently I saw this video posted:

Music and Dance videos. It is because of music videos that these dance moves have become part of popular culture. Of course the internet has helped popularize them as well. What videos do you know that have gone viral--becoming part of our media culture?

Soundtracks: Subtle advertisements?

Does anyone else have those moments when they hear the soundtrack of a movie and they suddenly really want to watch that movie.

Are soundtracks a method of advertisement? Have you noticed the power of music in movies? I noticed it multiple times this week. Maybe it's the stress of papers and midterms, but I have basically been craving the opportunity to watch movies (when I hear the soundtrack music).

Exhibit 1: My sister was doing homework and listening to a movie soundtrack station on Pandora...every single song I recognized made me want to watch the movie...even when they were not my favorite movie. It started with Jurassic Park. Then Batman Begins. Then Pride and Prejudice. Oh, man! Doing homework that night was torturous.

So what soundtracks make you want to jump to a TV and start the movie?

Olympic Media

I am super excited for the start of the Olympics. I absolutely love watching the sports, the stories, and the coming together of nations. The Olympics can be a great force for good in the world. Not only do citizens within each nation join together to support their athletes, but we also connect with other nations and cheer them on (as long as they don't defeat the USA).

I also love the opening ceremonies! The energy during that ceremony is awesome. Here is my favorite highlight from the last Olympic opening ceremony:

Impact of Music

In honor of the class discussion today here are some songs that hold meaning to my life right now:

1. Frozen Soundtrack: my siblings and I learned all the words and now quote/sing them to each other all the time. 
2. Nimrod by Edward Elgar: this classical piece moves me.
3. Life and Death performed by Paul Cardall: as my I just had a new nephew join the family but I see my grandparents starting to draw closer to death, this song has added meaning beyond its haunting melody.
4. Music by Frank Sinatra (and alike...including Michael Buble): Bring me cheer and energy.

Music: A song of the heart

I love music!!! It has the ability to make me relax, cry, laugh, ponder, jump into action, and sing along. Music is so prevalent in our lives. Think about it. You go to a store...music is playing. You go to a movie...which has a soundtrack. You go to the gym...music. Church...music. Dentist's office...music.
Our lives really have soundtracks. We have songs we listen to when we are excited or sad, when we are by ourselves in a car or with a group, and when we are doing dishes or cleaning the house. 
I have a love for music and I am grateful for it. 

A Miracle of Media

This week my sweet and awesome Grandpa suffered a stroke. Although stressful, these past few days have been manageable because of media. My family is super interconnected and close (emotionally...not in location). Because we are spread out all over the United States and the world, we have been relying upon emails, text messages, Skyping, videos, and pictures to help relay information to each other. It is instances such as this that remind me just how amazing technology and modern media is. The fact that all my family far and wide are able support my grandparents through media is amazing!

My secret love: Hallmark Movies!!!

Okay, so its not so secret anymore...and I guess it never really was. One of my favorite things to do is watch the virtually constant stream of cheesy Hallmark movies during the Christmas season. I watched a Hallmark movie this weekend and it cheered me up so much. They are such lovely movies--rather predictable, but lovely. I really appreciate how they are clean and wholesome (as my grandma would say). Watching Hallmark movies has become a bonding event. I watch them with my mom, my sisters, and most recently my Grandpa and Grandma. Its adorable to see my grandparents holding hands and watching a romantic Hallmark film together. Wonderful sight! I think the Hallmark channel and Disney company have got me hooked for my lifetime. If you haven't already experienced a Hallmark movie, you should do it! No pre-judging. Just sit back and enjoy the simplicity & the warm fuzzy feelings. 

Diversity is Good

In belated honor of MLK, I thought I would share some thoughts and an examples of media reaching across cultures. 

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day I spent some time reflecting upon my freedoms and how blessed I am as I watched the movie "Hotel Rwanda". That was one of only a few times that I have been exposed to images and stories of the horrible genocide that took place in Rwanda. This film touched my humanity. It hit the core of my soul and made me want to go back in time and give all I have to save those people. I find it hard to swallow the inequality of the past.
Watching films such as "Hotel Rwanda" and "The First Grader" further strengthens my desire to be an agent of healing, to stand up against inequality, and work to prevent horrible atrocities such as the Rwanda Genocide or the Holocaust. 
I think Martin Luther King Jr. would be hopeful when saw the way that this generation and the generations to come will embrace our diversity, celebrate it, and learn from each other.

After seeing the depths that humanity can reach (when watching and learning more about the Rwanda Genocide), this video from LDS.org lifted my spirits and was a healing agent for me. The video was shared in one of my other classes and it touched my soul. 

Diversity is Good

The professor who showed me this video was Dr. Jonathan Sandberg, who gave the BYU devotional address yesterday (January 21, 2014). If you didn't get a chance to hear his address, go here read it. It was amazing. Through media such as these videos and devotionals such as Dr. Sandberg's, I can feel myself becoming more open minded and accepting, and also getting closer to being an agent of healing.

The theater, the theatre

Yesterday I went to West Valley with my dear cousin and we enjoyed a night of laughter and culture. There is something special about going to a live performance in a theater. Although both watching a play and a movie are relatively passive, there is more energy between the audience and the actors during plays. This play added a special dose of culture because of its plot line: a "Foreigner" visiting a cabin in Georgia. "The Foreigner" is a wonderful play full of funny twists and puns. There is good character development and humor. 

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I laughed. This was a clean and family friendly show. I am so grateful that quality theater is still around for our enjoyment.

I'm A Mormon

Although they have been around for a while, I have recently become reacquainted with the "I'm a Mormon" videos. For a class we have been looking at examples of diversity in the messages. As I have watched more and more of them, I can see the amazing impact that they can have. These are ordinary people who are living their lives, finding happiness through hardship. I think these are wonderful examples of media making a positive impact in the world. Here are a couple of my favorite clips:

This one has inspired me to go to Bulgaria with the One Heart Bulgaria Project:

This one touched my soul:


This one is my brother's favorite:

I like Zoos...does that make me a bad person?

I recently watched a documentary called "Black Fish"



The film reports incidents of Orca whales (in captivity) attacking, injuring, and killing humans, and also shows the inhumane elements of parks such as SeaWorld. 
This film was well done and definitely had an impact on me. It was full of pathos, ethos, and logos. It was intense and thought/emotion provoking. I have never been to SeaWorld and I always wanted to go...but after watching that movie, I am not so sure. Going to Zoos has always been one of my favorite summer activities and school field-trips. And now, I don't know how to feel about having wild animals in captivity. No artificial habitat is ever big enough-enclosures are never as big as the wild's open spaces. Yet, I will likely go to the Zoo this summer and I will want to take my own children to the Zoo one day.

Does liking the convenience and the opportunities available at a Zoo make me a bad person?
Needless to say, the message of this documentary was clear and it hit home. 

First time blogger

This is a monumental event everyone: My first blog post ever! 
The main reason for this blog is as an assignment for a college course (Media, Family and Human Development) that I am enrolled in, but I have decided to make this opportunity more than just an assignment. The majority of my posts will include media I have seen recently and then my reactions to said media. However, other things might pop up as well.
So for my first post I decided to discuss and comment on the show that I watched most recently:

 

The 4th Season of Downton Abbey premiered in the United States on 1/5/2014. I have seen all the previous seasons and I am excited to see this newest season unfold. 

For those of you who have not yet viewed Downton Abbey, the show is (in a very rough summary) about the Crawley family, who are from English nobility, and their household staff. The show chronicles the lives and experiences of the family and staff, beginning from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, through WWI, and into the Flapping 20's. The show illustrates the inequality between the classes and the traditions of the old English aristocracy conflicting with the rising generation's need to modernize.

I am a huge sucker when it comes to historical fiction. This BBC show combines many of my favorite entertainment elements: history, drama, romance, mystery, and England (I mean who doesn't like an English accent right).
Downton Abbey is both entertaining and educational as viewers see the lifestyle and traditions of early 20th century England. There is great character development and I have become invested in the story-line and characters. Some characters have great moral fiber...others, not so much. Some characters you love, some you love to dislike. I'll admit it...they've got me hooked. 

There is one beef that I have with the show...the unnecessary sexual content. The few scenes and the innuendos in the series are not needed for plot. Also, there is one of the household staff members that is portrayed as having same-gender attraction. I do no see why that element is needed in the show. Beyond the historically inaccurate reactions to these less than stellar elements, the abundance of tension and drama, makes them unneeded.
This is all just my view. Due to those couple scenes and some intense elements of the show, I would not watch the show with my nephews in the room. But it is perfect for a girls night or sister bonding: my sister and I both watch and analyze the show.