Final Doc

"This I Believe"

Final Project, Final Blog

To discuss how the final project reflects my goals as a Mormon artist, I guess I should first have some goals as a Mormon artist. I've talked about what it means to be a Mormon artist, and about what an artist's general responsibility is, but I don't suppose I've ever actually thought about my goals specifically. I don't think my goals as a Mormon artist are particularly Mormon in nature. They're probably not much different from the goals that any other artist has, unless of course there is an artist whose goals are anti-Mormon in nature. At any rate, I guess you could say that my goals as of right now are somewhat selfish. I hope to, by learning about other people and their beliefs, be able to establish and solidify my own beliefs. This project fits perfectly with that goal. Did the project partly inspire this goal? Maybe. But it's a valid goal nonetheless. In addition to the fact that this project was purposely constructed to help us learn about the beliefs of another person, our documentary subject was particularly interesting in this regard. She is a BYU professor that taught a class called "This I Believe," where she guided college freshmen as they attempted to find their beliefs for themselves. Her interview was very thought-provoking. She talked a lot about paradigms and paradigm shifts. She talked about the importance of time spent thinking about beliefs. This project, for me, was a little more than just a school project. It was somewhat of a mentally challenging, if not spiritual, experience. I learned things about myself and was able to understand the viewpoints of another person. I’d say this pretty well fits with my goal as a Mormon artist.

I really did learn a lot about what I’ll need to know in the future and what I should learn in the film program at BYU. I don’t know anything about Final Cut Pro, for example. I should probably learn how to use that. I also noticed that I tend to think very simply. I don’t really think a lot about the different sorts of shots that I’ll need before I start shooting, and even then I usually just pick one and stick with it. It was good to get some varying ideas from my group members. It makes things more interesting. Really, I need to learn more about almost everything, but it was good to pick out some things specifically to focus on.

Don't Get Your Feedback From an Angry Mob

I’ve always been a bit nervous when it comes to feedback and criticism. I think this is for one main reason: I used to be painfully shy and I still have parts of me that are afraid of what others think. I try to make everyone happy and I tend to overthink things, which is a deadly combination (in social situations, at least). This led to me becoming afraid to give anyone any feedback that is not “awesome!” and “perfect!” and “you’re a freaking genius!” It was a while before I realized that I, personally, appreciated constructive feedback more than empty comments. This is true even if the comment isn’t necessarily praising my work. It was another while before I felt comfortable applying what I had discovered in my own feedback. Sometimes, even when I think I’ve done my best work, I can sense that it is missing something. Only when somebody points this out to me can I fix it. I want my work to be the best that it can be, and other people’s reactions and advice is crucial in this endeavor. I only hope that I can provide an equally efficient resource for them in return.

From the reading, I learned that there is no good use in being torn down. I already knew this, I suppose, but I tend to assume that if a person is critiquing something that I’ve made it makes their opinion valid. This is not always true. Unfortunately, there are rude people in the world who would like nothing more than to merely degrade others in a pathetic attempt to make themselves feel better. Perhaps ironically, my opinion may not be valid here, but I believe that one should ignore such people. It’s good to get suggestions, but if somebody is a real friend (or even a remotely nice person) their feedback will be polite, considerate, and constructive.

I think that it is important to receive feedback from more than one person. Anne Lomott may disagree with me on this, but it is something I thought of during class yesterday. One person’s reaction probably won’t be a good implication of how successful your work will be. I can pitch an idea to my mom (who’s biased to begin with) and she might love it or hate it, but that says almost nothing about what the rest of the class (or the world) is going to think. It’s important to get a variety of opinions, preferably from people you trust. It may not be a good idea to get a first opinion from a large group of random strangers, because groups like these have been known to turn into angry mobs. And everyone knows that an angry mob doesn’t care about whether your writing/idea/film/whatever is any good or not.

Representing Belief

In the article, Marilynne Robinson says something about Christianity and judging others that really stood out to me. She said, “The Bible, Christianity, should have inoculated us against this kind of disrespect for ourselves and one another. Clearly it has not.” This reminded me of a thought I’ve been pondering lately. Sometimes, members of the Church (and any church, I suppose) are the worst culprits when it comes to judging others, even though it is something we are directly taught not to do. It can be hard to find the right balance between keeping yourself out of harm’s way and judging another. This is one of the challenges we face when trying to represent belief in a respectful way. I think what Marilynne Robinson might have been saying is that we must somehow find the middle ground between standing up for our beliefs and respecting others.

Sometimes it is best to avoid direct confrontation when it comes to personal beliefs. Unless somebody is challenging your beliefs in a way that makes it harder for you to live by those beliefs, than perhaps people should just quietly live by what they believe. There’s no use is creating unnecessary conflict. This doesn’t mean, however, that everyone should be embarrassed and shy with their beliefs. You can share what you believe without being forward and rude. The idea is to have somebody consider for themselves what you say, not to force something on them. It is for this reason that I think subtly should be encouraged when sharing beliefs. Your message will come across stronger by being a good example. I know that’s a super Mormon phrase, but generally people are more willing to accept real-life example as opposed to words on a page. The “Meet Your Farmer” film we watched in class is a good example of both of the things (which are really the same thing, if you think about it) I talked about above. The farmer in this film didn’t talk about what he believed specifically, as far as religion and philosophy goes, but his actions made it clear what some of his beliefs are. He explained that he did some of the things he did because of his family, and then we see him working on the farm with his kids. These words and images had a stronger impact on me than if someone were to just tell me that they think family is important.

Being a Mormon Artist

We, as Mormon artists, are not much different from other artists. As Mormons, we have different influences and may be inspired by different things, but our intent is generally the same. There are some challenges that come from being a Mormon, like being put in a stereotype. This, I find, is the hardest challenge that I have personally witnessed and/or been involved in. Sometimes, people expect things to be directly spiritual when they come from a Mormon artist. Perhaps this spawns from the outright religious affiliation that Mormons are so open about. Sometimes this stereotype makes it harder for people to accept you and give your art a chance. Also, some people may take this stereotype to a different extreme and expect a higher moral standard from your art then you do for yourself. There are, also, some unique opportunities that come from being a Mormon artist. Even though my art is not always directly spiritual, I am heavily influenced by gospel principles and standards. I like to find the beauty in the world and by sharing and appreciating it, I feel that I am expressing gratitude for the things that God has created. I believe that God has a sense of humor, and He likes to see us laugh, so even just when I’m trying to be funny I am influenced by my beliefs.

Stories of light can be found all around. Other than the obvious church answers like scriptures and church magazines like the Friend, New Era, Ensign, and Liahona, there are inspiring, beautiful stories that can be found in normal places, too. For example: people. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that everyone’s story can be compelling. Every person is passionate about something, and if you can get them talking about it, they don’t stop. This, to me, is proof that everyone is unique and interesting. God made us this way, and by asking other people about their passions we can find inspiring stories.

Alex White: Artist

http://vimeo.com/38147859

What are my project's strengths and weaknesses as a podcast?

One of the biggest weakness in my podcast (and the one that I kept painfully reminding myself of during the editing process) is the fact that I forgot to have Alex say her name. It's not exactly a necessity, but it would have added a feeling of inclusion and intimacy for the listener. It would also help the podcast to have a more organized feeling. I do think that a particular strength of my podcast was the depth of the subject matter. I was able to get Alex to talk about her beliefs as they relate to her art, and in that I feel I accomplished the goal of the assignment.

What did I learn about myself as an artist while creating this assignment?

I didn't learn things about myself as an artist as much as I was reminded of things. For example, sometimes I get caught up in class assignments, getting projects done, and career opportunities, and I forget why I'm doing these things in the first place. I make films (and music) being I love it and it makes me happy.

What does it mean to you to be a Mormon artist?

This brings me again to the quote from the Qur'an that I found in the Islamic art exhibit at the MOA: "God is beautiful and loves beauty." For me, being a Mormon artist (really, the more general term "Christian" may apply as well as "Mormon") is pretty much summed up in this simple statement. I make things because I appreciate the beautiful things of the world and I would like to add to the collection. Even if I fail to make things that are considered beautiful by other people, I increase my appreciation for the beauty created by God.

Beauty and Belief

I really liked the exhibit. It was fascinating, and I actually learned so many things about Islamic art and culture that I thought I already knew. I had previously been at the temple doing baptisms for the dead with my roommates, so I was dressed up and I felt very sophisticated, which made the experience seem a little more profound. The art was in many ways very similar to the kinds of things we see in Western Culture. The thing that I found to be the most different was the calligraphy. The words flowed so much more than our style of writing. In comparison, our writing looks blocky and awkward. The writing (according to one of the plaques) in Islamic culture is one way they put their faith into their artwork. Apart from putting scripture, teachings of the prophets, prayers, and psalms directly on their artwork, I learned that they also put a lot of work and though into developing the style of writing itself. They believe that when writing the things of God, one should make it as beautiful as possible.
Another way that they manifest their faith through their artwork is in the use of mythical creatures. Apparently, in Islamic culture they find mythical creatures to be just another proof of the existence of God. This doesn’t really fit well with classic Christian thought, and this is especially evident in the examination of the two types of art. Islamic art is full of representations of animals, as a tribute to the beauty of the creations of God, and this includes mythical creatures. Christian art not only lacks mythical creatures, there is not a lot of art including animals of any kind (at least in art that is directly religious).
This observation brings me to my last thought. In another one of the plaques describing Islamic culture and religion, there was a quote from the Qur’an. It read, “God is beautiful and loves beauty.” This statement not only helped me to better appreciate the Islamic art, but it also rang true to me on a personal level. Some people think that art is an inefficient use of time, but I wholeheartedly disagree, and now I know a simple sentence that describes my feelings. God is beautiful, and He appreciates beauty just like we do. In fact, He probably has an even greater appreciation for beauty. He created this Earth, and this Earth is perfectly beautiful. If we, as we learn in the Church, are going to be creating our own worlds one day, then it is vitally important that we learn to create and appreciate beautiful things as well.

Break-Up

I think something that makes a good audio story is a good voice. This might be a bit superficial, but it’s true. It doesn’t necessarily need to be deep, sexy, or soothing as long as it’s interesting and fits the mood of the story. I think, also, that audio stories should be visually descriptive, like in writing. The cool thing about audio stories, as opposed writing, is that you don’t have to use just words. You can use all sorts of sounds and music to accomplish this. As I start making audio documentaries, I hope to avoid a couple of things. The first is misuse of sounds. Aside from the artificial, inappropriate sound effects, I hope to also avoid annoying humming sounds and the like. I’d also like to keep from making a boring story. This is harder with an audio story (instead of a visual one) because the bore factor gets multiplied by ten if all you can hear is a voice.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/339/break-up

I like this story because of its personal, real-life nature. The beginning is good because the interview takes place in real time as they walk down the street. You can hear the car noises other people on the street (still without being distracting) and see the apartment building as she points and describes her break-up. I also like the back and forth cutting between the narration and interview. (On a side note, I was completely sucked in the moment the jazz music began in the background. I love Jazz.) On not a side note, the music is another element that makes the story interesting. I think it is good that the interviewer asks personal questions about the interviewee’s break-up. This makes the audio documentary much more personal for the listener as well. It brings in a deeper, emotional aspect to the story that makes it more interesting and relatable.

The Following is a True Story

It started with a bundle of newspapers and should have ended with some frozen yogurt, but it didn’t. Between the beginning and the end there’s stuff about a rhino, but this is really a story about cheating.

Raoul the Rhino came to me on my birthday last year. Matt, a returned missionary in a ward full of freshmen, had wrapped him in newspaper and left him on the doorstep. If it weren’t for the fact that Matt frequently left gifts for other girls, I would have felt special.

Then I had a rhino named Raoul that lived on my dresser. The game started when Molly hid him. We decided to take turns hiding Raoul around the apartment. Each day that she didn’t find him was a point for me, and visa versa. We also lost points for each day Raoul was in our custody without being hidden.

The scoreboard was sticky-tacked to the wall next to a reminder of the prize: frozen yogurt purchased by the loser. Pretty soon my points were triple Molly’s. I suppose she was just too lazy to look…or hide. I had that frozen yogurt in the bag.

We both moved home for the summer, and Molly took Raoul with her. It was okay, though, because we were going to be roommates again. She moved into the new apartment before I did and hid Raoul before I even got there. Even while moving and inspecting the apartment I didn’t find him. I didn’t even know she had hidden him until about two weeks later.

It’s against the rules to hide him in somebody’s personal space, but that’s what she did.

“I put him there because I didn’t want it to be obvious,” she said.

“That’s cheating,” I said.

I want my frozen yogurt. The free kind.

Vicissitudes (30 Second Video)

We decided to do 30 things (15 good, 15 bad) that might happen in a day.

Vicissitudes from Amy Hilton on Vimeo.

Things Paid For

Being a financially dependent person for the first eighteen or so years of my life has made for somewhat of a shock these last two years. Not only am I suddenly much more independent that in the past, I also have a lot more to pay for. This photo essay is a collection of things I (and the typical college student) pay for. When I decided to make the process of paying the theme for my photo essay, I had originally wanted to include only things that everyone has to spend money on but doesn’t particularly enjoy. Then I realized that there are things that everyone is actually willing and excited to pay for. Taking these pictures has helped me appreciate the good things I have. Now I walk around seeing the good things rather than complaining about the price. Also, I have a greater appreciation for the things I don’t like paying for. For example: rent. Went the first of the month comes around I dread taking out my checkbook, but because I do, I have a place to sleep, eat, and watch TV. Paying for school (tuition and textbooks) is also not something I really enjoy, but I’m getting a good education because I do. Sometimes reminding myself that I’m paying for it is the only thing that gets me to class in the morning. It’s also sometimes the only thing that gets me to read my textbooks and do my homework. To get a more universal representation, I asked some of my roommates what types of things they don’t like to pay for. Rent, tuition/textbooks, and gas were mentioned. Then my roommate starting telling me about where she bought her favorite shirt (which she happened to be wearing), so I snapped a picture. Then I realized that paying for things isn’t always a bad thing, and I asked about things they liked to buy.

New Media Project

We did our new media project on "The Giver," a book by Lois Lowry. Check it out:

http://caeco-lateri-dantis.blogspot.com/

Ode to a Dress

Digital media can more easily capture and share an ordinary object or moment than other forms because it is easy. Anyone can get a camera for cheap and take a picture. A person will be more likely to take pictures of ordinary things if it is easy and cheap. If it wasn’t, more thought and planning would go into a photograph or recording. I think Seinfeld is a good example of observing the ordinary. After all, the show is famous for being “about nothing.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2lfZg-apSA

Ode to a Dress

A perfect dress will have a flattering neckline. There are several acceptable options, but one must make sure that it does not require constant adjustment. This part of the dress needs to always remain in close contact with the chest. The sleeves will not constrict the arms in any way. The dress will hug the ribcage down to a girl’s natural waistline (generally a sash or belt can be found here), where it will fall freely and naturally to just below the knee. If it is any longer a girl’s legs will appear spindly and look as though they are not attached to her body. A dress that is too long might also make you look like a pioneer or a hippie (I mean no offense to the pioneers, but their styles are uncomfortable and unnecessary). The dress cannot be too short, either, because one’s knees would be exposed. Knees are wrinkly, dry, pudgy, shaving-cut-plastered, ugly little things, and one should try her best to keep them covered at all times. The skirt will be full, but not excessively large. The fabric that this dress is made of will be lightweight and made of something soft, like cotton. This will allow free and easy movement. There are many acceptable patterns, but this list does not usually include stripes of any kind.

A perfect dress such as this will provide all the confidence a girl needs (especially when worn with comfortable shoes, a pearl necklace, and lipstick). When wearing a perfect dress, she will feel free, happy, and beautiful. I often wonder why I don’t wear dresses every day. Unfortunately, they exist mainly in the past, closets of very old women, and stores with high prices.

Taking a Stand

I believe that the role of an artist in society is to make people aware. Our job is to assist in the education of the ignorant, so that everyone is capable of making informed decisions. If everyone actually knew what they were doing and saying, the world would be a much more accepting place. Artists can make such a difference, especially because art can speak more directly to a person than words alone. At times it is challenging to represent others in the right way. Misinterpretation is a surprisingly easy thing for viewers, and this can make things frighteningly difficult for the artist. Most artists have a specific idea or action in mind that they’d like to convey, and it can be difficult to do perfectly. It’s hard to predict how people will react to something you create. Creating something that effectively informs others about a problem or a human being and calls someone to action can be one of the most rewarding feelings to an artist. This is why they continue to do what they do.

A friend of mine posted this video on Facebook the other day and after watching it I spent a considerable amount of time just sitting and thinking. By making and posting this video in a public place like YouTube, this documentarian has called to action everyone who watches it. Even if it is just a cause for deep thought, as in my case, this artist has still caused something to happen. I think he had three different purposes in calling people to action. The first is to convince people to take a stand in the Gay Rights Movement, the second is to give gay people a sense of hope, and the third is a request for help in the actual making of the documentary. Never before have I seen a video that might possibly be capable of so strongly influencing different people to do different things.

Bank Dance

Two things before I begin: this does not actually have anything to do with (500) Days of Summer, and feel free to skip the first 20 seconds or so.

Being somewhat of a Joseph Gordon-Levitt fan, I came across this video a while ago and immediately fell in love with it. I was initially drawn to the simplistic, yet well-made and stylistic (I was kind-of reminded of the original Ocean's 11 with Frank Sinatra) portrayal of a bank robber who has his heart softened. I watched it a few more times, however, and realized that this story can be much more personal. As an easily distracted and imaginative person, my mind often wanders and I find myself daydreaming. In a matter of a few seconds, I can construct fantasies that I know will never happen. I found myself connecting with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character, who I believe experiences the dance sequence in his mind. This was interesting to me, as it provided a new depth to the character. The first time I saw this video, I threw the character into a stereotype in my mind, only to realize later that he had the ability to daydream just like me. Maybe I'm not so different from somebody who would rob a bank after all.

I think that this character trait (one which the story is ultimately about) becomes more evident because of the digital medium. During the dance sequence, there are cuts that give the story a more fantastical feeling, similar to thoughts in a human mind. How often do your fantasies go in perfect chronological order and make perfect sense? Mine almost never do. This tone would not be as achievable if it weren’t for the film medium. I think this video is a wonderful invitation to embrace one’s daydreams. These imaginations of ours are what make the world interesting to everyone, especially when we share it with others. Imagination can make a dull life feel worthwhile.

(Please forgive me if this post seems to be written by a person half asleep. My head is filled with snot and I made the unforgivable mistake of taking the drowsy kind of decongestant before attempting to complete this assignment. My sincerest apologies.)