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.