Fireside Chat

Our Fireside Chat was one of the greatest experiences I have had all semester.  I was so surprised and truly touched at how amazing it was.  I was extremely impressed by everyone's stories and by the atmosphere of the night.  We have all gotten to know each other pretty well this semester, being in so many classes together.  However, I felt that our Fireside Chat allowed us to exceed the level of comfort and understanding of each other that we had previous.  I loved getting to know everyone at an even more personal level.  Furthermore, I was impressed by peoples' willingness to share things so personal to them.

After the performance, I realized how high of an opinion I have of everyone in this class.  I always looked up to everyone and thought they were wonderful people, but this night just increased that sense I had exponentially.  Everyone truly is amazing and has so many amazing qualities.  I have grown to love and appreciate this group of people, and the Fireside Chat only enhanced these feelings.

Much like my impressions from the Exercise in Empathy, I also realized how humble and full of wisdom everyone is.  Sometimes we go through life feeling alone and that nobody else understands us.  If we have this negative attitude, we cannot get help and advice from anyone because we are too blocked off to the idea.  This night helped me realize that a lot of people are going through just as difficult, if not more so, trials than I am.  I am so impressed by how everyone in our class has responded in certain situations.  This gives me a feeling of happiness and hope for the future that I, and others, can handle tough situations and get through them in one piece.  And the wisdom of everyone was tremendous.  I could feel the maturity of everyone, based on the specific story they told, or their reaction in the situation when it happened.

My performance went a lot differently than expected.  I usually love performing in front of people.  I do not get nervous, or shake, or anything of that matter.  But when I told my story, everything changed.  I was so overcome with emotion.  That story is not one that I have told many people.  It is a very personal moment that is hard to return to because of the fear and pain I went through.  Deciding to tell that story was definitely hard.  I was uncomfortable with the idea because I feared how emotional I would get.  As I practiced, it really was not that difficult.  I thought I was going to get through telling my story easily.  But the moment I began, a switch turned inside of me.  I would not say I had the typical nerves.  Rather, I was shaking so much because of what I was saying.  It hits home so much.  And saying everything out loud in a way felt like I was reliving it.  Telling that story was harder than I had imagined.  I actually felt some of those terrifying and angry feelings that I felt ten years ago.  But in the end, what hit me most was talking about my sister today and the beliefs I have in her.  I love that we talked about our beliefs.  That is what made all the difference to me in this project, and honestly that is why I got so emotional.  Our beliefs define who we are; they are what motivates us through our days.  I hold my beliefs so near and dear to me because they are the essence of me.

Extra Credit Assignment

I have noticed a general trend in society that very few people overcome.  Not only are people too busy for anything besides work or school, but there is such a strong emphasis on perfection.  Because of this tendency, people stick to the one thing they are good at and very rarely branch out.  I believe this to be a great sadness in how society runs today, and I would love to see more people doing more things, because it is fun and enjoyable.  I would love for us to return a little bit more to the Renaissance Man.

I propose an assignment to do just this.  I would include it in our Belief section because it deals in the belief in human capabilities and the belief in ourselves.  In class I would start by talking about this idea of the Renaissance Man; how people used to have so many talents because they worked to become great at many things, including language, music, dance, poetry, etc.  I then would direct the class discussion to self confidence and self esteem.  I would talk about how people become discouraged when they are not good at something.  It is important to emphasize the busy society we are in - that people only have time for work related things.  People so often load their lives with so much work that they have little time to rest or do anything else fun.  Because of this specialized world we live in today, people become amazing at a specific talent, but lack in others.  But a more "Renaissance" type person is much more rounded and fulfilled.  Yes, it is wonderful to be so skilled at something in particular, but try to have other talents.  Try to make time for other things.  Try to enjoy life and do those things you are too busy or too scared to do.  This assignment deals with Belief because it is the belief that we are capable people and that humanity truly can be amazing when people "spend themselves in a worthy cause."

The media example I would use for this project is my favorite quote, The Man In the Arena, by Teddy Roosevelt.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

This relates to what I would discus because it highlights the act of actually TRYING.  So many people give up, even before they start.  But in this quote, Teddy Roosevelt emphasizes how the importance is in TRYING.  We do not need to be the best.  We do not need to live in fear of failure.  We do not need to let others determine what we will do in our lives.  We should decide what we want to do, and not be limited to one thing, and the one thing we are good at.  This quote shows the belief in a strong person who desires to do better and be better.  Trying new things, whether we are good at them of not, is better than the bitterness of never trying them at all.
 
Assignment Description:  Choose something that you have always wanted to do, but either never have time for, or were too afraid for fear of failure.   This could be creating a painting, writing a piece of music, exercising, trying out for something, etc.  Make sure this is something that you have thought about before but do not do on a regular basis.  Spend the week creating or doing this particular work or activity.  How did you feel after completing the project?  Did you feel more accomplished?  How did this activity help you grow?  Did it help you grow?  Keep a journal of your impressions and feelings during your progress.  Did this help you find meaning and purpose in doing different things?  Do you think you will keep doing it or other things you don't usually have "time" for?  Do you feel it is important to be more of a "Renaissance Man?"

Concerned Citizen

By Jessica Marquis and Kirstin Anderson



 

We did our Concerned Citizen documentary on Diena Simmons. She is the station manager of KBYU, Channel 11, at BYU Broadcasting. KBYU is Utah’s local PBS channel, and is part of the bigger organization, BYU Broadcasting, which is nationwide, as well as international.

We originally planned to interview and follow BYU Broadcasting Managing Director, Derek Marquis. When we showed up to do the interview, he suggested that we interview Diena. He explained that she works more on the community level than the global level, and that she is really passionate about her work. We were glad he made this suggestion, because Diena turned out to be a great interviewee.

Diena is in charge of what goes on the air for Utah’s PBS station. She is very passionate about providing wholesome content. In the interview she mentions that no matter what, people are going to use media, so she wants to provide something that is worthwhile.  Toward the end of the documentary, she mentioned that she has had opportunities to work in the commercial media world. But when it came down to it, she felt more proud to be doing this work at KBYU. Other employees at BYUtv have had similar opportunities to work in the commercial media industry, but choose to work at BYUtv. Even though the salary is often lower, many of them feel better about the work they are doing there.

We happened to be at BYU Broadcasting to interview Diena on the day before a big event she was running, and she invited us to come back the next day and shoot some b-roll. This is one of many events that she is in charge of. We discovered that they have a lot more going on than people realize. She said in the interview that not all of the work they do is on the air. This event, among others, aids the community on a physical level. Diena feels it is important to provide service wherever she can, in fun and interesting ways that will get people to want to participate.

We could tell that Diena is a genuinely caring person. While editing, we talked about how comforting it is to know that there are people like Diena who care enough to try to improve the community. There must be more people like her in our community who work hard in different ways to better their environment, and that is such a great thing. We hope this documentary can inform people about how dedicated people are to creating better environments, and how anyone can help out even if it is a small contribution.

On the technical side, we got to our interview and didn’t have a 9-volt battery to power our lav mic kit, so we just had to use the camera audio. If we could go back and redo it, we definitely would have gotten a battery so our audio could have been better. However, in the end, we are really happy with how the documentary turned out.

Protest Poster

“...But the spirit told me, that we should get married!”  I love BYU so much, and I really enjoy living in Provo.  But for the last four years, I have despised one thing about this culture; the idea that a week after meeting someone is the time to get engaged.  I fear our community thinks the faster you get married proves you have a better relationship.  Reflecting the last four years of my life, I realize this engagement problem is the one I continue to run into, and the problem that seems, not only to bother me most, but hurt me most. 

My research for this project was somewhat different than any traditional style.  I searched around the Provo/Orem area looking for things that urged on, not just marriage, but weddings in particular.  I noticed the large number of engagement ring adds, couples workshops, bridal stores, and also the marriage and family classes offered at BYU.  These places are all over the community and all over BYU.  My research also consisted of thinking back to all of the experiences I have had, as well as asking many others how they felt about the issue.  I found that I am not the only person feeling this way; however, I am still shocked that, although people claim to this feeling, engagements after a week are still popping up all over the place. 

My understanding of this issue has grown because I am realizing what the motivations are.  After my research, it seems clear that people do not see beyond the initial marriage and their first few years as a newlywed couple.  People I have asked have big plans for the future, but when it comes to logistics, nothing is worked out.  I hope to bring awareness that can inform and change people's lives; I know too many people my age, here at BYU, who have been divorced. 

My goal was to make my poster look like adds I see everywhere, but tweak it so my audience takes a second to really understand the meaning.  My poster reminds me a lot of ring adds from Jared’s, Kay’s and all of those stores. To express my point of view, I chose the very popular song, “Call Me Maybe,” to show that getting engaged so quickly is a trending thing in our society.  Furthermore, the lyrics suggest the ridiculousness of the proposal; the subjects do not understand because they cannot see beyond the excitement.  I also wanted the whole image to be clouded by red to represent how clouded peoples’ mindsets can be when they care only about the wedding.  The red shows they are so lost in the romance that they lose sight of reality.  I wanted the man proposing to be in casual clothes and casually handing over the box to call strong attention to this “chill” attitude people have about getting married.  Marriage is a big deal, but our culture seems to strip that commitment and turn it into something purely fun rather than serious.

After posting this on my social network, I received interesting feedback.  Some people from home in California agreed with me wholeheartedly.  However I wanted to focus on those living here who experience this.  For the most part, people really agreed with my poster.  They even liked the humorous aspect and felt it complimented my idea.  I do think though that I received so much positive criticism because those who disagree with me would not say it, even if they ponder the image.

Webspinna Final Links

http://blog.widp.de/medien/click-the-squares-am-laboratory

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/not-the-olympics/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8pQG4y/naturesoundsfor.me/Anza/

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/autumn-leaves/

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/salt_pepper/

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/chopped-and-stretched/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2oj4wJ/:11ZIwwGlr:LcJhWhdS/balldroppings.com/js?1/

The Websipinna was a completely unique experience, unlike anything I have ever participated in before.  Preparing for my performance was particularly interesting.  At first, I was confused where to begin.  I did not know websites that had specific sound effects, and I certainly did not know how I was going to mix everything (that is if I could find anything).  I began with my interests.  Finally something popped into my mind.  Many years ago my dad got me into listening to books on tape.  My favorite was by an astro-physicist, Brian Greene.  I decided the approach I wanted to take was to tell part of my life story through sound.  I searched the internet for a clip of this book because physics, math, time, and space have occupied my thoughts my entire life.  From there, I decided to find other sounds that expressed who I am, like the nature sounds I fall asleep to every night, and the montage of athletic noises to show the sports I have played my entire life.

In mixing my sounds, I wanted to begin with Brian Greene and introduce the audience to the workings of my brain.  I wanted this to last throughout the whole piece to show my curiosity that is always under the surface, even if it does not seem to be the most dominant thing at the time.  Then I used the magic squares website to slowly introduce an addition of new thoughts, dreams, and ideas that “pop” into my mind.  The noises of the athletes were added in half way through the performance because after part of my life had progressed and I was in high school, sports became so important to me and dominated much of what I did.  This narrator feel extended through my entire performance to give a representation of my life through sound.

The actual performance was interesting because I was surprised how much it matched up with my life just as the sounds did.  When I first got up, the sound from the previous person died out before I had a chance to begin.  I thought this was interesting because it left a gap between me and the person before.  This parallels my life because I was born quite a while after my siblings.  My brothers are close in age but significantly older than me.  Similarly, the person after me had troubles and the noise quit.  I also have younger sisters that are close in age, but born eight years after me.  In a way, this can represent how distanced in years I am with my siblings.  We are all extremely close and similar, just like the class performed the same sort of thing, but there is a separation of time between me and everyone else.  Another thing that I noticed performing is that no matter how well I thought I had things planned, it turned out differently than expected.  This is hugely representational of my life.  I am what you would call a “type A” person and love things to be in perfect order.  However, as the years go on, I realize that things change and you cannot control everything, no matter how well you plan.

Finally, I had a great time listening to everyone else’s Webspinnas, socializing and of course eating food.  I felt like the whole night really brought us together and we were able to express ourselves in different ways.  The thing I loved most was that we were able to come and share our lives with each other from farther back than we knew each other.

Webspinna

Links to Websites

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/not-the-olympics/

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/salt_pepper/

http://www.jeffwu.net/?page_id=967

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/autumn-leaves/

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/chopped-and-stretched/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/8pQG4y/naturesoundsfor.me/Anza/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/30mf62/:hsd81pDx:LcJhWhdS/everyonesmixtape.com/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2oj4wJ/:11ZIwwGlr:LcJhWhdS/balldroppings.com/js?1/

Medium Specificity

Bob Ross - Landscape painting

 

One of the most fundamental aspects of art is the use of color and mixing those colors to make a specific image, whether it be a literal representation of something, or an abstract piece.  Unique to two dimensional art forms, like painting, is the use of color in whatever way the artist seems appropriate.  Unlike photography where an image is captured in its natural colors and can later be manipulated, painting and drawing can alter color from the beginning.  As such, color plays a vital role in artistic works by representing either physical manifestations or altering reality.

I wanted to explore this notion of changing color and the effects it can have when compared to the same piece portrayed in natural colors.  I chose to draw (using colored pencils) an already painted landscape; however, I used the original piece's opposite colors on the color wheel in my representation.  For example, wherever there were blues in the original, I used oranges.  I also used a more detailed color wheel to get correct shades because there are so many blues and greens in the original.  By doing so, I wanted to show that because the medium of two dimensional art allows for complete artistic representation, particularly with color, the artist can portray something however they desire - even to it's most extreme, like opposites on a color wheel.

What I found interesting was how easily people could tell what I drew.  After showing my work to multiple people, not a one hesitated in what it portrayed.  I find this intriguing because although color is so important to a picture, it only changes emotion rather than the image itself.  That emotion is the basis of my take on this assignment.  Because a person can paint using whatever colors they desire, they have complete control on the emotion forced onto the viewer.  This art form then allows for the artist to insert their views onto others more poignantly than other art forms, like photography.  For instance, after surveying a group of people, all expressed they received a calm and peaceful feeling from the original.  Once I showed them my representation, the majority said they felt more overwhelmed, but also more interested in the picture itself.

Another important thing to note is that most people found the altered picture to be more compelling.  This shows how painting and drawing can be a great tool to cause awareness, create tension, and get audiences to think more than if they saw a normal photograph.  In a way, Van Gogh's Starry Night acts to create such an atmosphere.  He uses similar colors for an accurate representation, however he calls more attention to the colors and the brush strokes than he does to the entire piece.  In consequence, the colors seem heightened and the painting becomes more compelling because we can tell there is something unusual about his color choices.

Mark Rothko stated, "we are in a sense mythmakers and as such have no prejudices either for or against reality.  Our paintings, like all myths, do not hesitate to combine shreds of reality with what is considered "unreal" and insist upon the validity of the merger."  The manipulation of color is a wonderful characteristic of painting and drawing.  Because of it, an artist has the freedom, as Rothko states, to combine truth with fiction and present it in a captivating way that other art forms cannot.

Social Media Adaption

An adaption of the novel THE GIVER, by Lois Lowry

Adapted by: Cassandra Mullins, Gina Thompson, Jordan Kartchner, and Kirstin Anderson


Follow Jonas' journey on Instagram! @ReceiverJonas

Or click the links in the order below:

http://instagram.com/p/Q019MvOpOY/ 

http://instagram.com/p/Q04XLKOpAX/
http://instagram.com/p/Q06h4pupB7/
http://instagram.com/p/Q06pmCOpCE/
http://instagram.com/p/Q061x_OpCO/
http://instagram.com/p/Q0697nupCX/
http://instagram.com/p/Q0--Q-upFc/
http://instagram.com/p/Q0_HdgOpFi/
http://instagram.com/p/Q0_NUsupFq/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1AOpsOpGS/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1AmfSOpGg/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1A1_ZupGs/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1DvwoOpIq/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1D-eoOpIz/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1EPtvupI-/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1EaRuupJD/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1Ek86OpJF/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1HvMpOpKy/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1H3xxOpK4/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1IB-cOpLB/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1IJBmOpLG/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1IR4POpLJ/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1LYvNOpMl/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1LjXmOpMq/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1LvNPOpMz/
http://instagram.com/p/Q1MfbsOpNJ/

For our social media adaption, we chose to portray The Giver through Instagram. Because this book focuses heavily on visual elements and is written from Jonas' perspective, we felt pictures would be a great way to tell such a story.  We chose to use Instagram because it allows Jonas to take spontaneous snapshots of the world around him. We never see his face because the book is told through his perspective, and so too are the pictures. This point of view allows for us to show how Jonas' world changes as the story progresses, because if it was from anyone else's perspective, nothing would change.

This first person view of the story is similar to the interactive artistic collaboration known as The Infinite Oz. The Infinite Oz leads us through several landscapes as if we are seeing them through Dorothy’s eyes. Each new artistic landscape considers something different in her journey, just as each picture in Jonas’s Instagram account tells us something new about what he is experiencing. Furthermore, all the characters in both Jonas's and Dorothy's stories are stuck in their respective areas of the world except Jonas and Dorothy who move beyond what's considered normal. So although the media methods differ, there are some definite parallels between the two, which allow us to experience the journey as if we are alongside them.

Perhaps the most important element for adapting our pictures dealt with the portrayal of color. In the beginning of the book, the reader realizes that the society in which they live is black and white, and all color has been removed. We chose to use black and white photos early on because Jonas also saw in black and white.  However, he begins to see glimpses of red as the story progresses. We used photos of specific events, like when Jonas saw his friend Fiona's hair change and turn red.  As the story progresses, the Giver gives Jonas memories with color, and this is also reflected in our images.

Similarly to our use of color, we wanted to reflect how we felt society would look.  Our adaption shows the sterile society they live in.  The pictures in the beginning are completely clear and shallow.  They highlight structure to emphasize that there is little depth and excitement to life. As time goes on, and Jonas learns more about the world he is living in, he sees more depth of field and more angles.  

In Harper's Magazine, Jonathan Lether wrote the article, "The Ecstasy of Influence: A Plagiarism."  He speaks of Bob Dylan and the influence his music has had on society.  He says how "Dylan's art offers a paradox: while it famously urges us not to look back, it also encodes a knowledge of past sources that might otherwise have little home in contemporary culture."  This is very characteristic of The Giver because the entire society is created to avoid and forget the past.  The society relies upon a single person to hold the burdens of the past. 

Textual Poaching

 President Uchtdorf once said “Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessings of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes.”

Being LDS has been my most defining trait and is the essence of who I am today.  Just like President Uchtdorf stated, I believe it is of vital importance to take a stand in this world and choose which team we are fighting for.  If we do not, we will be pushed aside and trampled on as the morals of the world take over.  This is why I have chosen to do this project and why I believe that I can make a stand through voice instead of violence like The Extermination Order did.

I wanted to show how The Extermination Order violated The Constitution of the United States.  Both of these documents relate directly to my roots as a true-born American Mormon.  I chose to focus on the LDS aspect of my life, but through further research, I realized that such history directly dealt with being American as well.  

This time period is one I am not grateful for – for two reasons.  Firstly, I dislike that people invent things about Mormons as they did at the time of The Extermination Order – that Mormons are a threat to society and “must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state.”  Many times I have run into people who think they know what Mormons believe.  But what they say is entirely opposite of the truth.  I wish people better understood Mormons and would not take such harsh actions upon people, like they did at this time.

Secondly, this time period is unsettling to me as a patriot.  I believe in this country and the ideals it was set upon.  The idea that orders such as this could be created that so blatantly defy The Constitution unnerve me, and I hope, for everyone’s sake, that their rights will be protected like ours were not.

In Jenkins’ “How Texts Become Real,” I liked the attention drawn to what truly makes something real.  “It doesn’t happen all at once.  You become.  It takes a long time.  That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.  Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”  This time in history was ugly.  It was ugly because it was not real – because people would pretend, make up lies about the Mormons, and have “sharp edges” that were not willing to listen to what others had to say.  However, I believe that as this country has grown and as people are more willing to understand Mormons, people have become more “real,” and this is why we do not have orders like this today.

The process I went through creating this piece was very insightful and actually helped me come to terms with this dark past more than I ever had.  Researching the topic got me more frustrated that such a thing could happen and that people could perceive such a kind group of people in a negative way.  However, after going through the process of reading the order, reading the Constitution, putting them together, and burning it, I was able to come to an understanding I never thought I would get to.  Yes, I am appalled that such a thing could happen in my history as a Mormon and an American, but at the same time, I was able to recognize that what is past is past.  I was able to throw away and burn everything wrong about The Extermination Order and realize that today is a different day.  That today we have those freedoms, and today I am able to worship how I want.  I felt very uncomfortable burning even a paper with a picture of The Constitution, but I realized that by burning this joint document, I was getting rid of The Extermination Order and refining The Constitution.  We have passed that dark time in history, and I was able to get rid of it through this assignment.  Now I can focus on the bright future ahead and that Constitution that is tarnished by an Extermination Order no more.

Historical Story

In our Historical Story, we wanted the style and customs of the pioneer days to meet with the archetypal ideas of love, patience, and stubbornness.  We hoped for the audience to be able to recognize these universal feelings in a historical setting.

This script aimed to create a correct setting in which the story could come alive.  We researched the time period well, in order to know where Abigail and Matthew would be geographically, what people wore at the time, how they spoke, and much more.  All of these little details helped establish a truth that the audience could recognize.  We called attention to people's clothing early on in the script so a correct image could be established and the audience could appreciate where the characters came from.

This way of illustrating time and setting is similar to Satrapi’s approach in The Veil. Although her descriptions were almost completely communicated through drawn pictures, they functioned in the same way as our written descriptions. They placed the characters and plot in a specific time and place, and in doing so, helped to bring the story to life.

Another way in which we tried to hold true to history was through the dialogue of the script.  We tried our best to reflect the dialect and style the pioneers may have spoken in.  We also wanted to use words that a husband and wife would use with each other.  This way we could create an intimate setting while staying historically correct. 

An outside work that also uses dialogue to help identify historical context is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. In this book, Mark Twain spells out the accents and dialects specific to the various characters’ backgrounds. Reading Twain’s dialogue as he wrote it really authenticates the characters and brings the adventure to life for the reader. In our script, we tried to do the same, by using dialogue that would be appropriate for the time and place in which our story takes place.

Doing this wasn’t easy though. The dialogue was difficult because in our story, so much is expressed through body language instead of spoken words.  Also, many emotions are due to a character's inner understanding, and verbalizing such ideas does not sound natural.  We cheated this issue in a few ways.  First, we painted pictures vividly for the audience.  For example, in order to get across that the piano was old and an heirloom, we explained that the piano was scratched up and tattered down.  Also, we had Abigail tell a story that references the piano as a belonging to her grandmother.  Another way we got around overly explaining things in dialogue was by having Abigail express herself through a prayer.  We were able to hold the integrity of the story as a pioneer story while expressing Abigail's true feelings that cannot easily come out on screen.

Genealogical Artifact Revision

Insert the following in the Artist's Statement between the fourth and fifth paragraphs:

Many films exemplify the significance of a certain object.  In The Lord of the Rings, the ring is not your average gold wedding band - it is a magical ring filled with remarkable power created for evil.  For the purpose of showing significance in objects, it does not matter what the ring does, or what it has become.  What matters is that it is a regular object that has taken on an entirely new role because of context and because of people. So, too, has my moose collection taken on a different meaning.  They are not just "moosies," but have taken on a different meaning because of my interactions with them.

Genealogical Artifact

Being a child means playing and having fun.  That's certainly what my childhood was like - playing and having lots of fun.  When I was born, I had two brothers; one was seven and the other was five.  As I grew up, I always loved following them around and "playing with the boys."  I'd even have crushes on all of their friends.  But because I had brothers and no sisters at the time, I became the girl that still resides in me today - a tom-boy some days and a total girly-girl others.  I loved sports and playing in the mud, but I sure loved mom dressing me up pretty, doing my hair, and making crafts.  Crafts are where I'd like to begin my story.  When I was about five years old, mommy bought me a stuffed animal moose.  My moose was so cute with her big nose and tiny, little body.  The only problem was the poor girl didn't have any clothes on!  Well I remember, one day, grandma coming to visit, and boy, did I love to do crafts with her.  In pure excitement, I showed grandma my new favorite stuffed animal.  I even told her how I named her Cinnamon.  Looking back, I don't know why I chose Cinnamon to be her name, but it's a name that has lasted for nearly seventeen years.  I got the biggest little-kid grin on my face when grandma said my little moose needed a dress.  If I knew grandma, I knew she knew just how to make a dress.  She had made me dresses tons of times!  And I was sure a moose would be no different.  I looked through all of mom's fabric until I found the perfect material.  Then grandma sat me down on the chair next to her, got her sewing kit, and led me through making the dress.  That was the first thing I had ever sewn in my life, and I was definitely a proud little girl because of it.  This is one of my very first memories, and one that has certainly made an impact on my life.  Ever since that night, I have collected as many "moosies" as I can find.  Anyone who knows me knows a stuffed moose is the perfect birthday or Christmas present for me.  And, starting with Cinnamon, I have named all of my moosies after food-related items.  Collecting these has morphed into something that is so much a part of me that I had to bring a bunch to college.  Four years into school, I still have eighteen moosies lined up on my bed that I sleep with every night.  It might not make sense, but it's important to me.  Cinnamon changed my life in a funny way.  She is just a stuffed animal, but she began a tradition.  Her and that little dress are so important to me that I left her home so she wouldn't get ruined.  But I have many at school that help me feel right at home, like that night seventeen years ago.

For my genealogical artifact narrative, I wanted to be able to tell my life story through something that is very important to me.  I have many objects in my life that have been significant to me, but my stuffed animals tell about my childhood and the growth I have undergone.  These stuffed animals are more than objects; they represent who I am and why I am who I am.

In Pablo Neruda's "Ode to Things," he speaks about so many things that most people take for granted.  He talks about how much he loves the little things in life, like scissors, thimbles, and plates.  I love this because he draws attention to things that people do not usually put high significance on.  I wanted to draw similar conclusions; that something so trivial can mean the world to someone else.  Most people would probably look at my moose collection as crazy, weird, or just be indifferent to it.  But to me, that collection means love, family, adventure, childhood, growth, and so much more.

I shared my narrative with one of my brothers; he very well knows what these stuffed animals mean to me, and he also has added greatly to my collection.  After talking with him, it was amazing the memories my words sparked.  I thought it was very interesting that this conjured up memories that I had not even thought of.  Talking with him was a great testament to the purpose of this assignment, to reflect on life, recreate memories, and form new ones.

My brother very much liked the idea of writing my narrative in a young point of view to bring the reader into my perspective of the event.  He felt this was a useful and playful way to communicate the message of youthfulness and growth.  I purposefully strayed from using larger words that children would not know, and instead used words that children say all of the time, like little, mommy, and tons.  I also purposefully referred to my mom and my grandma as "mommy" and "grandma" instead of "my mom" and "my grandma" to bring the reader more into the story.  I wanted to remove having them specifically belong to me so that the reader could feel more a part of the situation.  Another tactic I used to recreate my life, childhood, and growth, was to call them "moosies" and not just stuffed animals.  I have forever called them "moosies," and I wanted to stay genuine to my personality.  I never liked calling them the correct plural term "moose," as a child, so I put my own style to the word.

Ultimately, I wanted the reader to feel a part of my life and experience a snippet of what I have experienced, and continue to experience.  I want people to understand that it is the smaller, simpler, and seemingly more insignificant objects and things in life that are the most important.

Process Piece

The world is full of so many wonderful and amazingly unique sounds.  Consider everything you do in a day - take a shower, eat food, or walk from location to location.  Every movement comes with a distinct sound, whether our ears register and pay close attention or not.  Noises make our surroundings come alive.  Think about it - if you watch a horror movie without the sound, is it really so terrifying?  Definitely not.  Sound effects and music scores help draw in audiences without them even realizing how they are being manipulated.  Just as in a film, surrounding sounds play a subtle but vital role in every-day living.

In an effort to express human life through process, we chose to document a typical morning of a girl getting ready for school and walking to class.  Not only did we want to record a universal event, but we wanted to communicate the theme of the passing of time.  Everybody has deadlines to meet.  What happens before the deadline is the individual's call, as long as they make it in time.  Our process piece shows a girl working against the clock; however, when it matters most, she delivers just in time before the bell rings. 

Just as in the viewings for class, we also wanted to show the contrast of both mundane moments in life, as well as how grateful we truly should be for these little events.  In "My Mom the Taxidermist," the daughter tries taxidermy with her mother, even though she is a vegetarian.  This process is so special and touching because it focuses on a mother-daughter relationship.  The importance of these events, like the bonding in this piece and the seemingly insignificant task of getting to school on time in our piece, is highlighted because they are specific processes in which humans grow.  Both are not momentous events, but both are vital when determining important moments in ones life.  Alarms begin everyone's day.  We all have to climb out of bed, even if doing it somewhat drudgingly.  And showers (hopefully) are a daily routine that everyone should partake in.  These sounds are a representation of the processes everyone goes through that are taken for granted.

Every process we, as humans, go through have specific sounds attached to those movements.  This is why in a movie if something could be making a sound, then it should be making a sound.  In the Disney Pixar film Wall-E, every sound is rerecorded and layered on top of other sounds for a full effect.  We wanted to layer sounds like this in our process piece to give a more realistic representation of life.  Sounds are everywhere, and never is there one sound.  For this reason we chose to overlay the ticking clock on top of other sounds.  The ticking clock also connects to our theme of racing against the clock, and ultimately coming out on top.  The ticking ends right before the final bell of class, signifying her success in this race against time.