Photography

Photography can capture an exact moment and preserve it forever.  Many images have been photographed that have led us to reevaluate our lives, cry a little and become better people because of it.  I believe that photography has changed the world like nothing else can. 

Just think about this picture for a minute

                           

Words truly cannot describe the feelings that are going on between these two in this picture.  As my husband is getting ready to serve in the military I think about this picture and how if my husband were to be deployed I would hope that our reunion would be somewhat similar to this one.  Not caring that everyone is looking at you, but the two of you who are totally and completely in love and are so excited to see each other again.  Very moving. 

Or this one by Robert Frank:

Who is this lady and what is going on in this picture? We know just from the time period these pictures were taken that this is not this lady’s baby.  Who is this baby’s mother? Where is she at the moment? Is this a nanny?   It almost looks like this baby has a tight smile on her lips almost as to be saying that she may be thinking she is better than the person holding her. 

Or what about this picture:

How many people’s lives were dramatically altered by this one bomb? For me this picture doesn’t stir up feelings of hate, frustration, anger, sorrow.  But I can only imagine that it would do that for someone who had family that was affected by the dropping of this bomb.

I just love photography and the way that it can make you feel, think about things and become a better person by just looking at a few pictures.  

The Great Gatsby

I loved the Great Gatsby.  Rereading this book brought back so many memories for me.  I first read this book when I was in the 11^th grade.  I read it for Ms. Miller’s English class.  Reading this book again I felt like it opened a floodgate of memories.  I remember the layout of her room, how it had no windows and when I first was in her class…thought it was much more like a prison than a classroom.  But as I grew to understand her more I loved her class and would focus on things that were happy about her room like the way she would decorate it especially for the holidays. 

Another memory that I have of this book is that Ms. Miller is just how I would picture Myrtle looking.  This short pleasantly plump woman with short dark hair and lips that are slightly too big for her face, maybe she had surgery to enhance them, but then again her circumstances of living on a teacher’s salary don’t really permit that kind of thing.  Although, I believed Myrtle to be far more materialistic and greedy than Ms. Miller I still can’t help but relate the two when I think of the Great Gatsby. 

Furthermore, I think about high school and all the drama that existed and all the lies and the deceit, much like Gatsby, to impress people that you liked.  I admit that I grew up in a humble home.  My father was self employed which means money was tight and never allowed to purchase of those brand name pants everyone was wearing or buying me a car for my 16^th birthday like many of my friends received.  Sometimes I would find myself thinking like Gatsby…if I could just hid my background and how I grew up and somehow become famous I could impress that attractive boy who every girl is dying to have as their boyfriend.  Then maybe the popular girls would want to be my friend too and laugh at my jokes and tell me how I pretty I am instead of glaring at me for looking in their direction in my Wal-Mart jeans and my non highlighted bleach blonde hair. 

Now as I have had a chance to grow up and learn what is truly important in life I find myself rereading The Great Gatsby.  This time the character that I feel like I relate too is Nick.  Someone how is impressed by the money that is before him, but who can take a step back and evaluate the lives of those around him and how they are truly miserable.  It helps me to look back on those high school days and realize that the popular girls were dumb, they were rude and thought only of themselves and would talk bad about the person in their group who wasn’t there.  They aren’t the kind of friends I had or would want to have.  As for that cute boy, he ended up going bald, spending his college career partying and wasting his life then had to get married.        

What happened to me? Well I must say that I think that I am doing pretty well.  I got into the college I wanted to, then took some time off to work at a very prestigious job that made all the popular girls jealous and I married the man of my dreams and have a beautiful daughter.  I am finishing up my degree and am loving every minute of my life. 

Isn’t it amazing how one little book can trigger all those memories, thought, feelings, and can really help you change as a person?  

Country Music Tribute - Brad Paisley

I am not really sure that I did this project correctly. I am not the most creative person you have ever met and so when I read about the creative project I understood it as we just needed to find an example of something we talked about in class and that was it.  So for my project I found a song that talks about Country Music and thought it was perfect.  But upon further review, it isn’t the best.  So I guess I will just have to make the most of it as I write this paper.

I chose to do my presentation on Brad Paisley.  It had to do more with the song that he sang at this year’s Country Music Awards then it actually had to do with Brad himself.  But I believe that although History may not consider Brad Paisley to be one of the great Country artists just give it a few years and I believe that you will be studying him more. 

Brad Paisley was born in West Virginia in 1972.  At age 8 he taught himself how to play the guitar and began performing by the time he was 10 years old.  He wrote his first song at 12 and started his first band at 13.  Brad was on the way to stardom.  He graduated from Belmont University where he met many people who would be influential in his career.  He married Kimberly Williams from Father of the Bride in 2003 and the couple now has two little boys. 

I think that Brad will be famous for the songs that he writes and sings.  He is well known for his songs that poke fun of American/Pop/Country Culture.  Which is why I thought his song was very fitting for the project.

This is a song about Country Music.  I love the beginning of the song where he says, “telling folks that Jesus is the answer can rub em wrong…..but this is Country Music and we do.” To me this just reminds people of where Country Music came from.  Country music sprang from Protestant roots and about the problems of life.  In many cases Brad Paisley’s songs reflect this and talk about the things that many people don’t care to sing about. 

Country Music is also very patriotic.  Later on in his song Brad says, “..if there is anyone that still has pride in the memory of those that died defending your red white and blue…this is Country Music and we do…” After 9/11 happened many country artists wrong songs about America and how thankful they are for those who defend it.  What can be more American than that? I know that people get annoyed because they think that Country Music is all about a bunch of hicks and they only sing about tractors, trucks and women, but I think that Brad Paisley has helped to change that. 

Again just to reiterate I chose this song because I thought it was such a great example of saying what Country Music stands for.  A Country Music Song about Country Music, it doesn’t get much better than that.  I actually did gain a greater appreciation for Country Music through doing this project.  I feel like in class we didn’t focus much on what is happening today in the Country Music scene.  We spent a lot of time focusing on what lead up to now, but not much on what is happening now.  It is probably because we don’t know who will be famous and what kind of outcome they will have on society and for Brad Paisley we don’t know what his influence on Country Music will be.  I have a feeling though that one day we will be looking back at the ingenuity of his songs and lyrics and how they truly reflect what our society has become.  He will be famous for changing Country Music to be more about modern day life and what is happening in our lifetime. 

 This Is Country Music - Video

Greatest Music

Fiddler on the Roof (Musical) 

This Musical has special meaning to me.  This was the very first play that I saw in person, and I just loved it.  I was in Junior High and had a crush on the boy that played the main character.  So listening to this music brings back memories of watching him perform.  I am not the only person who has loved this Musical.  It ran for eight years on Broadway and is now performed all over the world and in high schools and junior high’s.  

When asked what the Fiddler on the Roof was about Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick who wrote the  music and lyrics for it said that it was about a father with three daughters and no money.  However, when pushed further for a deeper meaning they replied that it is about the disillusion of this community’s life.  It is about the breakup of tradition. In Anatevka tradition is everything.  In the song Tradition they talk about how, “we have traditions for everything, how to eat, how to sleep, even how to wear clothes.”  This town thrives on tradition…that is until people start wanting to change tradition.  With the presence of soliders who are sent for the czar things start to change.  But Tevya warns that “without traditions our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.” 

Hearing Bock and Sheldon talk about their music was fascinating.  One of my favorite songs from the play is If I were a Rich Man.  Bock talks about how the song used to be If I had a horse, but they didn’t want to have to bring a live horse on stage so they decided to change the song.  Another thing that I thought was interesting was when they talked about the words that they used in the songs.  Both Bock and Sheldon had attended another play where there were Yiddish words throughout the play and every time they were spoken the audience would erupt into laughter, but that was not what was supposed to happen.  So Bock and Sheldon were very careful on how they used Yiddish, Hebrew or Jewish words.  They wanted the audience to be able to understand what was going on and if they were to laugh at certain parts, they would take it out of the next performance.  To me it was nice to see that respect for the Jewish/Yiddish culture.  They wanted to be able to show the culture without mocking it.   

 Gene Autry - Back in the Saddle Again Video

"Back in the Saddle Again" 

Whenever I hear this song what I picture in my mind is a cowboy in the west trying to survive who has been beaten up time and time again, but he keeps on getting up and is back in the Saddle again ready for the next challenge. 

This song was written by Ray Whitley.  I loved the story behind this song.  Ray received a phone call at four in the morning one morning and he was told that he had four hours to write a song and come to studio to record it.  He hung up the phone and went back to bed where he told his wife, “well it looks like I am back in the saddle again.” She asked why and he told her about the recording in a few hours.  She said to him well at least you have a good title and he asked what she was talking about and she said, “Back in the Saddle Again.”  He wrote the song and it became a huge hit.

This song became Gene Autry’s theme song and he ended up recording many dozens of different versions of the song.  Gene’s favorite one was right after he returned from fighting in World War 2.  Upon his return Roy Rogers was the new favorite Cowboy.  A somber Gene recorded this song again proving that he was back.

I thought about the American Dream as I listened to this song.  It pretty much sums up what people think about how you can get beat up by life and get right back up and be ready to go for the next challenge that life will throw your way.

Adelaide's Lament

Guys & Dolls (Musical) 

I chose this Musical because again it holds a special place in my heart.  This was another play that I saw as a young girl.  I haven’t seen it since and at the time didn’t understand all the political meanings that were behind it.  It was very interesting to me to be able to find out more about the Play itself.

This was Broadway’s first and best story about the true Broadway.  It talked about the tough times of Broadway and how it is hard to make it.  The show was not as innovative as Oklahoma or as Political as South Pacific, but it was an unreal real show.  It was an unreal show based on tough reality.  The show was constantly trying to become better.  Out of the first 41 times Guys and Dolls was performed it was changed 40 times.  Changes were made after the performances to enhance and make it better.  In 1950 Guys and Dolls won all the major Tony awards. 

One of my favorite songs from this musical is sung by Adelaide.  She is the main guy Nathan Detroits fiancée and they have been engaged for 14 years.  She sings about how she has developed a cough from waiting for so long.  This song has humor and charm and audiences, like me, love it.

"My Girl" 

I grew up listening to this song.  I come from a family of mostly girls and so my dad would sing this song to us and to my mom all the time.  I knew that it was a popular song since it has survived all these years.

My Girl was a song that changed the Temptations.  This song with its upbeat and light feel caused the Temptations to put choreography into their performances. They wanted their concerts to be more entertaining.  In this song the Temptations made up their own background vocals.  The song went to number one in a month.  At Motown Records, the producers of the Temptations, if a song goes to number one in the charts then the songwriter gets a $1000 bonus. 

One question that Smokey Robinson, the man who wrote the song, would ask people to tell if his song was good or not is, “If you had only one dollar and you were hungry, would you buy this record or would you buy this hot dog.”  He said that most everybody would always choose the hot dog, but he could tell how good the song was by how long people paused to answer the question. 

My Girl became so popular that when the Temptations tried to break from their normal performance and not do the song they were booed and cussed at until they did the song.  I have to admit that on NPR it talks about how this song reflects the racial and political tension of the time, but I don’t understand how.  Maybe it is because it is 1965 and the song is sung by five black men and it became incredibly popular.  But I don’t really understand why they would say that.

Black Sand

For my cultural experience I went to a movie.  Not just any movie, I went to a movie for the deaf.  I am currently in a sign language class and my teacher required us to attend a deaf event that would help us learn more about the deaf culture.  I went up to the Deaf Center in Taylorsville and watched the movie, Black Sand.

History

Movies for the deaf have been a struggle in the making.  The industry really has started to grow since the early 2000’s due to ASL Films, a production company that produced Black Sand.  ASL Films is a company made up of strictly deaf people; deaf producers, deaf actors, deaf editors, etc.  One major difference from ASL Films and typical Hollywood films we see everyday, beside the no speaking part, there is no audio in the film whatsoever.  Because deaf people don’t rely on sound to know what is going on around them, they have no need for it in the films.

Analysis

Throughout this semester I have had the opportunity to become more exposed to the deaf culture.  It is not one that is an easy culture to become a part of.  If fact, unless you were deaf from when you were born and have deaf parents, you can count on not being a part of the pure deaf culture and society.  It kind of reminds me of people in American how they get mad when people don’t speak English or aren’t born here in the US.  We tend to shut people out of “American” society, the same way deaf people shut out hearing people.

Despite that fact it was fun getting more involved with the culture, I didn’t really care for the movie.  It had the same cheesy happy ending that Mormon made movies have.  It was supposed to be a scary movie, but all the twists, plot changes and character cross identities it made it confusing almost laughable and not really scary. 

In regular Hollywood movies, especially scary movies, music is a must.  The music can creep you out and give you goosebumps and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  But since the deaf can’t hear, there is no music in the movie, which some would think is actually more scary.  However,  I can offer a word of warning, If going to a deaf movie and you are hearing…bring earplugs.  Why? You ask.   Just because deaf people can’t hear, doesn’t mean they can’t make sounds and noises.  Between the loud breathing, baby crying, the sound of people texting, and yes even someone snoring I found it very difficult to pay attention. 

Reflection

Although I found it difficult to pay attention during the movie, I believe that was part of the deaf culture that only hearing people can experience.  I never knew that people who can’t hear could be so loud. 

I felt like I grew as a person, learning about a different culture always does that for me.  I am always fasintated learning about how people live, interact, and socialize.  I should have been an Anthropologist and not just a geographer, but you live and you learn. 

*The movie Black Sand is actually so new that they don't allow any trailers to be put up other than on their site, so here is a video of another deaf movie Mountain Man.  You can still get the same feel as the other movie.  

Mountain Man Video

Great White Throne

Have you ever tried something new that you thought and believed to be wonderful and great, only to find out that other people laughed at it or made fun of what you did? Or have you ever felt like you are not appreciated and you might not ever be until you have passed on in this life?  These are questions that typically can run through the mind of any artist.  One artist I would like to focus on is Philip Henry Barkdull.  While many people have never and may never hear about this artist, he did in fact paint a wonderful painting which I had the chance to admire in the Museum of Art. What is the Great White Throne and why did Barkdull feel inspired to paint this majestic scenery? In order to answer these questions we need to first take a closer look at who Philip Henry Barkdull was.

            Philip Henry Barkdull was born on March 22, 1888 in Hatton, Utah.  He was born into a rural farming family who struggled to stay afloat and keep the farm and family together.  Due to the fact that Barkdull lived in such a rural community there was no schools close enough for him to receive a formal education.  Instead his early education consisted of learning things around the farm. 

            By the time Barkdull was 23 years old he decided to further his education by moving to Provo to attend Brigham Young High School.  In order to try to fit in better with his peers Barkdull lied about his age, for he was much older than the rest of his class.  After High School he went on to attend Brigham Young University.  At BYU Barkdull continued his art studies.  However, before he was able to graduate more changes came into his life as he was called up into the Armed Forces. 

After his Military service began to teach art throughout the state.  During this time he met a man that would forever change and inspire him in a way that nobody else was able to.  This man was Birger Sandzen, a Swedish-American landscape painter.  Sandzen believed in strong brushwork and bright colors and his influence on Barkdull is evident in his later life paintings, including The Great White Throne.

In the Museum of Art among these Southwest Paintings there is a plaque that reads:

“Many artists trained in gentler climates with softer sunshine were stunned by the brilliant contrasts of light and shade in the Southwest.  Paintings in this gallery show how they developed a more intese palette of warmer colors, brighter highlights, and deeper shadows to reflect their new surroundings more accurately.  The ever-changing sunlight and clouds in the thin, clean air sometimes became the principal subjects of their paintings.  Thunderstorms trailing wisps of rain, dramatic rainbows against dark skies, and the spectacular colors of desert sunsets.” 

            While this quote speaks of all the paintings in general, this is exactly the feeling as I admired The Great White Throne.  This painting was done in oil on canvas and had very beautiful visable brushstrokes that make things stand out more.  This painting was heavily influenced by Sandzen and his Neo-impressionist movement.  While this style was appreciated back East in places like New York, it was not well received on the home front.  While other Utah artists were behind the times in not understand or appreciating his art, Barkdull was leading the way unbeknownst to the other artists. 

            Before Barkdull could really make a name for himself in the art world he passed away in 1968.  Due to constant health issues throughout his life Barkdull was never able to become the artist that he hoped and dreamed to be.  Because of this he faded into the background to be forgotten and unappreciated.  It hasn’t been until recently that people have viewed his art and have seen him as a great artist. 

            The piece that I had a chance to admire was the Great White Throne.  This painting is set down in Zion’s National Park in Southern Utah.  The Great White Throne has a very spiritual connotation to it.  Zion’s National Park area was settled and named by early Mormon settlers.  Many peaks and cliffs have names that reflect that early religious history.  Great White Throne is no different.  This reference is directed at God and his supreme rein over everything.  Anyone who has ever seen the Great White Throne in person can attest to the grand magnitude of this mountain and can see why it has the name it does. 

            One can not help but wonder why Barkdull decided to paint this particular site.  Is Barkdull trying to show his reverence and respect for not only the mountain, but for its namesake? While viewing the painting one can not help but feel small compared to the great mountain and its grand size. However, while you are feeling those feelings of being very small you also start to take in feelings of awe and wonder as you go over the delicate cracks in the mountain and the wildflowers that grow so tenderly and loving nearby. 

            While Barkdull may not have been appreciated in life and may still not be appreciated by some now, I really appreciated this piece of art.  Having seen the Throne in real life I believe that he did a great job of capturing the feelings that you can imagine having seeing the real thing.  I would be happy to own this piece of art for myself.

             

High School Graduation

“ I can’t believe it is almost over.” John said.  “It just seems like we started yesterday.” Remarked Rachel.  “I think that I am going to cry myself to sleep tonight.” Said Jessica as she chocked back some tears already.   “I am going to miss everybody so much.”  Mark said giving the others a great big bear hug.

            “You guys you better hurry up or you are going to be late.”  John’s mom said as she peered in on the four best friends. 

High school graduation was upon the students of Jefferson High School class of 2010.  Emotions were running high for everyone.  There was excitement and complete jubilee for some who couldn’t wait for what the adventures the future held in store for them.  Others were scared stiff and dreading the unknown.  Despite all the emotions every parent, teacher, and student headed to the auditorium anticipating a great graduation ceremony.  There was to be an awesome band playing the graduation song, beautiful flower bouquets for each one of the graduates and a highly anticipated speech from the class valedictorian who had just been offered full ride scholarships to Harvard, Stanford and Yale. 

The Principal stood to welcome everyone and give highlights from the senior class and introduce Matthew Jennings, the man of the hour.      

As Matthew stood up to give his speech that he had been preparing so diligently for the audience watched in awe.  Matthew had the talent of mesmerizing any audience he was placed in front of.  He was every parents dream child; captain of the football and soccer teams, track star and honors student.  The girls wanted to date him and the boys wanted be him.  So on this special occasion everyone was waiting on the edge of their seats to hear what he would have to say. 

            “Welcome friends, family, and the greatest graduating class that Jefferson High School has ever seen! We are at a turning point in all of our lives.  Success looms in the future with our names on it.  We are living in the greatest time period of all human history.  We have whatever we want at the tip of our fingertips.  With the push of a button we have access to the latest breaking news, instant banking information and not to mention unlimited updates on what Paris Hilton, Brad Pitt, and even our very own Principal Roberts are doing 24/7.  The world is our canvas waiting for us to paint whatever we want on it.  With more money to be made we have the greatest opportunity for success ever.”

            “Class of 2010 let’s go out and conquer the world!”

            With that the audience went wild.  Everyone rose to their feet cheering and started chanting 2010..2010..2010.  Everyone was elated with Matthew’s speech of all speeches.  What better way to gear up the graduating class for the future. 

This would be a graduation that everyone would remember for the rest of their lives, but not for Matthew’s speech.  It would be because of a far more profound speech that was yet to come. 

            Matthew took his seat and the crowd settled down as Principal Roberts stood at the podium.  “Thank you for that amazing speech Matthew.” Principal Roberts declared with much jubilation.  “I hope that you don’t mind we have a bit of a change in the program, our beloved janitor Stanley has asked that he be able to say a few remarks.  So without further delay here he is.”

            The crowd looked at each other and back to the stage giving a polite clap as Stanley walked slowly up to the front.  “Thank you Principal Roberts.  Ladies, Gentlemen, and graduates we just heard from one of your own.  One who as you say ‘is going places’ in life.  While encouraging as his speech was I couldn’t help but fear for the future for the exact same reasons Matthew was elated.”

            A low rumble ran through the crowd.  Stanley paused but continued, “As Mr. Jennings so eloquently pointed out you are all at a turning point in your lives.  Your future and the future of all human kind lies within your hands.  It is true that you have anything you want at the press of a button.  But because of this one can’t but help wonder what is being taken away because of this.  What is happening to the virtues of patience and hard work? There is instant gratification which teaches that if you don’t get something instantly, it must not be worth it.  What if you young people never reach your full potential because success was not instantaneous? What if you give up too easily because success is challenging and requires effort, more so than you may have ever put forth in your life.  Will you be able to succeed?”

            Nobody in the audience was moving, all were glued to what the janitor had to say.

 “You speak of constantly knowing what people are doing.  With a glance of a page you are able to find out what a person’s favorite book, movie, band and pretty much entire life history is plus possibly what they will be having for dinner tonight, without even having a conversation with them.  What is happening to face to face interaction? Will the future mean conducting job interviews over text messaging? Or will you find out that you are fired over Twitter? When you see someone walking down the street will we become so technologically inundated that we forget what it means to smile and say hello to a stranger?”

By now the crowd was becoming extremely uncomfortable.  Whisperings are growing louder, someone from the back lets out a Boo. But the old janitor continues on

            “Let’s talk about money. There may be more of it in the world, but with that there is also the rise of credit.  If you can’t afford it now with your own money, let the banks help you out by lending you some of their money.  Don’t worry you can easily pay them back over the next 45 years with interest, but that doesn’t matter what really matters is that you got what you wanted when you wanted it.”

            “Class of 2010 please think about success and what it means to be truly successful in life.  Thank you for your time.” Janitor Stanley slowly turned away from the podium, all eyes staring at him not sure if they should clap or jump him. 

            “Well that was interesting.” cried Principal Roberts as he returned to the podium. 

            “How could he put such a damper on our son’s graduation?” One father asks his neighbor.  “My daughter always said he was crazy.” Another mom sighs. 

            With that the Janitor walked away never to been seen again.  The class of 2010 went on to celebrate their graduation, but what speech would they remember from that night? That would only be evident in how they would choose to live their lives.