Blog 7

Learning by faith seems to wrap around the aspect of trust. When I learn by faith, I am submitting to something beyond my scope of control. With trust come confidence, reliance, and surety. I find it’s by this trust that allows my learning to increase through my faith, which also strengthens. When I think of this concept, I tend to reflect on the analogy of the shepherd and his sheep. The shepherd strains the lamb’s legs, in order to prepare the lamb to be the leader of the flock. Thus, the shepherd carries the lamb across his shoulders, and feeds the lamb for months. Finally, when the lamb can walk again, the lamb recognizes the shepherd’s voice and leads the flock. I learn by faith because I rely on my Heavenly Father. Although, I do not know why there are times when I cannot walk, I have confidence that He will carry me. This is how I think of learning by faith and reason. It is the sole confidence and reliance upon our Heavenly Father to make us stronger, to make us smarter, to make us leaders.

Living the Gospel can help me become a better creator. When I think of the ultimate creator, the divine artist, I absolutely think of my Heavenly Father. As the Creator, He made mountains, suns, planets, sand that our feet can sink into, clear water that glitter with the scales of an orange coy fish. He is so loving that he made such a beautiful earth for his children to enjoy. I’m not sure how “fun” it would be if we were to literally take a test with pen and paper to become like Him. Rather, we have this earth. Just thinking of this, makes me understand the selflessness and love that is required as a creator. By continually looking to the Creator through the Gospel, I can become a better creator.

As I watched Jer3miah and read the articles, I noticed that the characters as well as the audience are challenged to learn by faith and reason. This is cool. I love how the creators implemented this into their web series. I see the trust that is required of Jeremiah as he begins to listen to “the Shepherd’s voice” (in a way- I’m stretching my analogy quite a bit). Anyways, Jeremiah is discovering himself, his heritage, by choosing to trust and learn by faith. 

The Elder M. Russell Ballard reading quotes a scripture in Moroni that say’s “hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.” This is an interesting scripture because it is telling us that through “good things” we can be better. Moroni doesn’t say through only scripture or only the words of the prophets but “good things”.

Another thing that I thought was really interesting in the Russell Ballard reading was that he mentions that art can be that "good thing" that can lead us to Christ and the best art is always inspired but to be inspired you can’t be self indulgent and the more that you forget yourself and try to do God’s will, the better, or at least more inspirational your art will be.

I’m feeling more and more the heavy responsibility that we all have to try and put out art that is “good”. I seems that media is going to be an important canvas for helping to enlighten people’s minds through good things. It also seem like our biggest challenge as artists is going to be the challenge of not glorifying ourselves through it.

In my own personal life experiences, I’ve always tried to follow the things that I felt were good. When I met my husband, he wasn’t a member of the church…but he was so good. He was so real and so spiritual and so Christ-like and I knew that if I was with him, because it felt so good to do so, that everything would be okay. And it has been, it hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been right and it’s been good.

I've also made A LOT of ungood choices that didn't bring me very much joy or inspiration but through it, I've learned the difference and I'm glad for it. I think that we all have it in us to be able to learn through reasoning and experience, how to choose good things. And maybe someday we can even be perfect at it...

#7

Jer3miah has an intriguing premise and unique content, which I think has led to its success. It is extremely well-written, as indicated by the various articles about its popularity. I think a large part of its unique-ness stems from not taking itself too seriously. I admit, I struggled with a few parts of it (like the way the Holy Ghost is depicted almost as something akin to a superpower) but the storyline is intriguing and not "preachy" unlike a lot of LDS-made films.

Despite the use of spirituality in odd ways, I found myself wanting to watch more of the webisodes at the end of the season. Clearly something works. And apparently, not just for me. With popularity growing in non-mormon circles, this series must be doing something that other LDS media is not.

I think we as media-creators have a responsibility to be honest about our faith, without being pushy. We want to invite others in, not push them away. Jer3miah does a great job of using gospel principles and even mormon culture, without ostracizing those who may not be a part of the culture.

Blog 7

What does learning by faith and reason mean to you? How might living the Gospel

make you a better creator? How does the reading and viewing examine these types

of choices?

Learning by faith is something that is very important for Latter Day Saints to understand, in my opinion, because it helps us to truly integrate and become something better instead of just learning about better things. With that being said, I believe that it is essential for those who aren't LDS as well. Learning by faith, as I understand it, differs quite a lot from passive learning. It requires trust that what one is learning is true and the commitment to change one's life in accordance with what was learned. This is so much more demanding, and likewise so much more rewarding, then passive learning. At the same time, learning by faith is not exclusive to learning by reason. However, if we are not careful we can allow our "reason" to reject the truths that we learn through our feelings and experiences. Thus a combination of understanding, believing, and acting accordingly is necessary to learn life's lessons to the fullest.

Now as budding young film makers, we must understand what learning by faith and reason is all about, so that we can do its companion well in the works we produce - teaching by faith and reason. We must believe that what we produce can and will impact the lives of those who view it. When we believe that what we are creating teaches important things, we gain a new insight into our responsibility as creators and have the opportunity to help others in a profound and powerful way. We must also teach with reason by understanding the principles of our craft and the audience we are targeting. Combining these essential tools allows us to help others to learn by faith. In the end it is their choice, but we can help enable that choice. To do so, we must live, understand, and have a firm testimony of the gospel. As we do so, we will be blessed with the Lord's help.

The Jeremiah series took a stab at this and for that it should be commended. In many ways it did a fine job as well. However, more importantly then how it did, is how we learn from it. If we were able to learn from it, it was successful, especially if it encouraged us to learn by faith. I believe that there were moments in the series where important questions were asked, that even those not of our faith can learn from. In summary of what the New York Times critique said, the spirituality in this film transcends religions. It both helps viewers think about their relationship with God and ask some hard questions about the measure of their faith. Those who act in faith on what they saw, will be greatly blessed by the Lord, not only with wisdom and knowledge, but with strength of character.

Tree of Life Review

First off sorry this is so late...I meant to get it done last week but, well better late then never.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you, Collin, how interesting I thought your take on the Tree of Life was. I never even thought of telling the tree of life through a real life story. I thought that was neat. I really think that your brothers experiences seemed to hit home with much of the symbolism found in the tree of life and that helped me to see how that parable can apply to real life. I've always thought of that story as teaching us life lessons, not actually being part of life, but you showed me how it is. Thanks so much. How did you come up with the idea originally, just out of curiosity?

Post 7 - Jer3miah

Learning can occur through many different means. In studying epistemology (the study of learning) we find the different methods of evaluating truth, like empiricism, pragmatism, rationalism, etc. All of these are perfectly valid forms of finding truth. But we know, as Christians, that true enlightenment comes through faith in Christ and submitting our will to His. Truly great art is created in such a way that we can enjoy it and draw closer to our God in the process.

As Elder Ballard said, agency allows abuse of creative capacity. We don't necessarily have to work through humility to create great artistic pieces. But I firmly believe that we can always be better if we keep our focus on the Gospel. "[T]he commitment to be a composer or an artist or a poet is no less than the commitment to seek that which is divine."(Also quoted from Elder Ballard's speech) This quote says it much better than I ever could. Art is a search for divinity. What better way to find divinity than to obey God? Living His Gospel can only enrich our understanding and aide us in becoming better creators, closer to His ways. Having all been born with a knowledge of good and evil, all audiences will find a draw to a work that is not only technically noteworthy, but also steeped in Gospel truths.

The web series "Jer3miah" does a great job in exemplifying this. I admit that I don't love every aspect of the show, but I do appreciate very much the goals behind it. Parkin and Cardon intermix Gospel allusions with a fun, contemporary story and gutsy cinematic elements to create a work that is atypical of all genres. They make a conscious effort to stay true to eternal truths while holding themselves from falling prey to classic Mormon cinema cliche scenarios. I think it is a perfect example of what fantastic works Mormon artists can create without being overt in teaching principles. Just sticking close to the standards can sometimes be more powerful than even the sappiest of conversion stories. I say kudos to the team that created the works of "Jer3miah".

7!

To me, learning by faith and reason means that we have to function just as well outside of the church as we do inside of it. Many people are content to just live their lives in the church, only associating with fellow members. On the other hand, many people push faith completely out of their lives. There is a way to have balance, and that is to seek learning from every facet within reason. I think the call to learn by faith and reason is nothing more than another reminder of the important scripture, “all things in moderation.”

I think the gospel can make me a better creator because it contains so many themes of hope, repentance, rebirth, love and mystery. It provides insights and answers that, when subtly used, can make for a very interesting, beautiful and most of all relatable stories. It also depends on what is meant by the word “better”. The Gospel will ultimately make me a better creator in the same way that it makes me a better person in general. The worldly things need not be focused on too much in our creations.

I think that the reading and viewing helped give me a sense of what is ok and what may not be. I really liked how the series presented these gospel truths without being preachy. Being preachy would have gotten them nowhere, since only Mormons would ever actually watch it. However, converting people to Mormonism isn’t the goal in the first place. It’s making a piece of media that is fun and can change people’s lives. That really isn’t too different an objective than most other Hollywood films, if you think about it. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Blog 7

I really enjoyed the variety of the readings this week. I really like that there were articles from multiple points of view. I especially found the effect that the show had on non-Mormons particularly intriguing. This web-series that Jeff Parkin and Jared Cardon have developed is revolutionary for the world of transmedia and the church. The show that these two have developed has sparked the interest of members and non-members alike. The fact that the show can be so openly about Mormonism and yet refrain from being preachy is quite the accomplishment in my opinion. I believe that the way the show is set up allows everyone to enjoy it without feeling like it is a way to convince people to join the Mormon church. This show is not a missionary tool according to Jeff Parkin. It is a fun class experiment that allows students to explore the gospel in a multi-media fashion. There is symbolism and suspense rolled into a character who is easily relateable to. Jeff and Jared's project is really an awesome example of how there are ways to incorporate the gospel into our projects without shoving the gospel down the audience's throats. Also, this web-series proves that just because we are Mormon filmmakers does not mean that we are limited to Mormon, Sunday school films.

I also really enjoyed the talk given by Elder Ballard about the purpose of artists in God's plan. The talk really opened my heart and my mind to the divine purpose of artists. I had never really connected being an artist with being spiritual, and yet, that is exactly what it is. I loved the quote that says, "All great art is an expression of man's delight in God's work, not his own."Artists truly are inspired by the spirit of God. I am an artist and my medium is film and I have access to the spirit of God to influence the projects that I produce. My work should reflect the love that I have for God and should also reflect my gratitude for all that He has given me. I had never viewed my films in a spiritual way, but with this new perspective outlined for me by Elder Ballard, it has made me want to exalt and praise God in my work. "Free agency allows abuse of creative capacity". I always felt like I would be limited as a filmmaker because of the expectations that are put upon me as a Mormon and more specifically as a Mormon filmmaker, but I now understand that the gospel does not hold me back as an artist. It pushes me forward.

Blog 7

I remember the first time I viewed “The Book of Jer3miah” web series several months ago. Everyone had built it up so much and I was so unfamiliar with web series in general that I was very unprepared for it. I guess you could say that I didn't really appreciate the entertainment value in it. Yet, at the same time, was I able to see the Lord's hand in it? Of course. It has been my belief for some time that LDS film makers just about always tend to produce something with a very different feel to it. Heaven help me if I should ever loose that authentic part of me that seperates us from the film makers around the world.

Even though I didn't absolutely love the “Book of Jer3miah” I still manage to really enjoy certain aspects of it that I'd like to be able to imitate in my own media production. One of the most prominent of these aspects for me would be humility. This happens to be something you rarely see in modern media and I feel like it truly does a good job of reflecting the gospel. We can't expect to produce anything truly inspired without it. I loved in Elder Ballard's talk when he spoke of “A Christmas Carol, “Charles Dickens had to be inspired of God when he wrote that. He had to have the inspiration of Heaven, and how many lives has this little dialogue touched over the years?”

As a creator, I don't need the gospel to form anything that the world deems as “good.” Heck, I don't even need the spirit at all. But if we want to create anything truly inspired, we will need the spirit, more than ever. I feel that “The Book of Jer3miah” was made with great patience and humility, and I personally believe that much of this comes from the filmmaker's testimonies.

Blog Post #7

Faith and reason oppose each other. As a creator it takes a lot of faith to set out and form something. To some degree we must embark on an adventure without knowing the outcome in the path toward a specific goal. As a creator reason brings meaning to action. Faith and reason compliment each other.

As a screenwriter it takes a lot of faith to sit down and begin writing. I can’t simply write. I have to sit for hours and think about my characters and how they may interact. Last night it took me five hours to write eight pages and this is not considering previous time on notes and general pondering. Something so easy as writing becomes hard because I’m desperately searching for reason. Why should my character do this over that? What is their purpose? How is this action advancing or challenging this character? I love writing screenplays because I become more sensitive to inspiration. I look for reason in my own life, and how this may apply to my characters. While obtaining and organizing my own mental logic I also must step forward in faith. At some point I have to press forward without knowing. Sometimes I find a powerful answer I would not have achieved if I had mentally figured out all the logistics of a scene. Other times I fail, and I clean it up with a second draft.

By living the Gospel it is easier for me to understand the purpose in a story. If there is a greater purpose in my own life, there should be a greater purpose within my characters lives.

The readings are words provided by members of the church, non-members and a special witness of Christ. They talk about quality, about commonality and achieving greater goals. In the Mormon Media Symposium last fall it was mentioned that the ‘Book of Jer3miah’ was enjoyed by non-members, but rather disturbed members.

-Nephi Hepworth

Allegories!

I really, really enjoyed everyone's Allegories! Everyone is so talented in this class! So finding just one to talk about in this blog post was hard but I went ahead and decided to go with the first one that popped into my mind and that one was...Nick and Brenna's!

So, Nick and Brenna, your allegory was really funny. Brenna, you did a great job of acting like someone who might be in danger of falling into the muddy stream next to the iron rod. I thought that it was pretty funny that even though you were a drunk, that you were still at least trying to make a healthy salad for your family. When you started throwing chopped celery at poor Nick...I just thought I might die laughing.

But all funniness aside, some of the choices that seem like they are the least likely to have an impact on us, like choosing the less hot, more modestly dressed girl, are sometimes the ones that end up having the biggest impact on our lives. You guys did a wonderful job of showing us this in your allegory! Good job!

Allegory Response

Nephi,

I was very impressed not only with your amazing artwork but the creative concepts you thought of. As I was looking at your storyboards, the harsh shadows and contrast between light and dark reminded me of a film noir piece, which I think is interesting territory that would be appropriate for the great and spacious building and the setting of your story. I'm not sure if that's what you were going for or not, but that's a connection I made. The artwork was very well done and quite engaging -- it provided an excellent mood and feel for the piece that you created.

I'm curious about how you came up with your concepts in the first place, such as the faceless people. Also, what materials did you use to draw the storyboards? Was it all hand drawn or did you also utilize digital software? Great work!

Allegory thoughts

Collin- Your documentary really stood out for me. You had a very compelling subject, and you filmed it in a compelling manner. The interview felt very professional, and you made the effort to change up the camera and still images. I was very impressed by the overall production value. It helped respect the story of truth that you helped guild through thoughtful editing.

-Nephi Hepworth

Allegories

Spencer and Brandon,
I liked the way it wasn't as obvious what the allegory was in yours. Don't we all appreciate an allegory more when it isn't as on the nose? The morals and implications of your work was very clear but to see its connection to the tree of life we had to dig a little deeper. What are some of the best movies that also make us do that?

Sophia and Casen,
Your work must have taken a great deal of dedication of time and patience to make. I thought it was beautiful and simplistically refreshing. I wondered if the characters in it were people that you personally know, our simply models taken from the media. As an audience we feel a connection to them and this is what inspired my curiosity.

Allegory

Nick and Brenna, you two did an excellent job in illustrating the importance of the iron rod. The iron rod lead to peace and happiness, but deviation from it lead to just the opposite. I feel that it was illustrated very effectively. A lot can be said about the people we surround ourselves with impacting our own ability to choose righteousness.

Collin, I loved the real world implications that you brought out in your brothers story. I got the impression that we cannot do it alone. We all need each other. If we are partaking of the tree of life, (Literally, "life" in this sense) we have to be willing to share it with others. We have to call out to those who have given in to despair, especially if they are our own family. That was a story of courage, on both your brother's and your sister's part. Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

Allegories

I was so impressed with everyone's allegory projects. There were so many different projects and ideas. I loved the creativity from everyone. I was especially impressed with Sophia and Casen's project. Not only was the film different, but it was passionate and very visual. I really enjoyed watching it and it made me think deeply about the connection to the original allegory.

I was also really impressed with Spencer and Brandon's presentation. The pictures were entertaining and they were followed up with an entertaining script as well. I really like the story that you guys outlined. The character was generic and allowed me to put myself in the character's shoes and relate to his position.

There were so many impressive projects that really made me ponder my understanding of and relationship with the allegory of Lehi's dream and the iron rod. It was interesting to see different people's interpretation of the project and I think that everyone created a remarkable project.

Comments on Allegories

Nephi -

I thought your story was great, and the visual was spectacular. It was very interesting to me that you chose to have the masses moving to the great and spacious building be faceless. That gave a very meaningful connection for me as to the nature of that building. It doesn't really matter who these other people are- it only matters that everyone is doing it. That is all that the boy needs in order to be enticed to enter the building. The story was very well executed, very professional looking, and I loved the idea of following one of the wayward people. Well done.

Sophia/Casen -

This was a very inventive project. I would love to know how you managed to pull it all together with the time and budget constraints we had. You made great use of the different people and how they reacted to the music; it tied in nicely to the allegory of the tree of life. On top of all that, I just have to say that I loved that you used Arcade Fire as the song of the righteous. It is stirring, and it brings to mind that there are more ways to honor God than traditional gospel choirs. The project really made me think about these connections, and I thought it was very well executed. Great work.

Allegory Response [Nephi and Brandon/Spencer]

Nephi, I really enjoyed the idea of viewing the story of the Tree of Life from the viewpoint of someone in the building. This twist on the notion that we are all at various points in the story was refreshing. I like the idea that those who are in the building have a chance to get out still, and go to the tree. Thank you.

Brandon and Spencer, I like the humor in your telling of the story. It was still serious enough to get the point across, but the notion of pursuing good grades being likened to the tree of life was an entertaining and refreshing new view. I especially liked the scenes with the girl carrying/dragging the main character away.

#6

Coincidentally, superheroes are some of my favorite pop icons. This made the readings very interesting. I find it interesting that one of the articles referred to superheroes as projections of the hopes and dream of Americans. I think it goes even deeper. Superheroes are a projection of American itself. For this reason, the just-post-9/11 Spiderman and Superman share the same strong patriotic spirit. America is going to triumph all evil, even after taking a blow. In today's political culture, however, we call for a different type of hero. The Dark Knight explores the political turmoil through the ethical questions of being a superhero when no one wants one. We used to believe (almost unanimously) that we were here to solve all of the world's problems. Now, however, there is nation dissent about whether rescuing dictatorships is our job, especially when the people of those nations don't seem to want someone with a mask and cape to come solve all of their problems. Batman has to go into hiding for awhile, posing the question "is it time for America to hang up it's cape and take a rest?". Superheros reflect who we are as a nation, which is what makes them icons.

Blog Post 6

Finishing up the reading, I certainly explored the profound movement popular culture has placed icons in this fabric of the everyday. It is so interesting to see the establishments of icons, and the landmarks that are created due to this phenomenon. In many ways, I find that “icons” connect the everyday because these “symbols” are used for identification. Icons identify the mundane, the values, and ultimately icons identify with people. An excerpt from the reading, says, “Icons are magnets of meaning onto which we can project our memories, our hopes, and our sense of self.” This probably explains why there are so many icons that nudge the wind this way and that way, or surrounds us in the everyday. This is actually a little daunting, in light. Perhaps, it is daunting because icons have continually changed through the century, and has an authority to represent something, or define another thing. This, to me, is fine. I think there should be great sensitivity, though. But again, I think, icons can be artistically, symbolically, and beautifully deep. And I do love a good representation of something that can be described without words, in a visual, even simplistic way.

            As an artistic and the art that I create, I find myself intrigued with the powerful impact icons, and popular culture has on the everyday, on an individual, and the meanings that come from this world. These ideas can bring people to think, to follow, to motivate to inspire. Again, it can be beautiful, but I find with this artistic power- the world can become vulnerable with so many icons and symbols that bombard their presence in the world. I love Chip Kidd’s story of the apple. With the beauty, the fun, masterpiece of design, and art of pop culture, or as artist, we need to make sure to “either just have the word, or [just] have the picture. But don’t do both.” As an artist, creating art (with the view of popular culture) can be intriguing, engaging, and artistic; however, sensitivity to this is essential as a creator. 

Is this post 6? Time flies.

The readings this week explored pop culture in a very effective manner. For myself, I began to realize that pop-culture is more than just popular people in culture. The first story we read talked more about icons such as the boys and girls signs in public bathrooms. As I looked at the pictures for this chapter, I realized perhaps a dozen of them were icons for public restrooms. This is something that is very unavoidable. Everyone will see icons for how they should act, dress, and to an extent, look like. I never thought that pop culture would include something like that, so it got my wheels turning. Many things that we see every day contribute to society’s perception of our reality, whether we realize it or not. I always figured that pop-icons were just people, but symbols and drawings contribute as well, perhaps more than anything else.

The pop icons I see have influenced the way that I assisted the kindergartners in the elementary school I used to work at. I would draw a girl on the white board, and to show that it was a girl, I always gave her a bow. I did this mainly because I am a bad artist, but it’s not until now that I realize how it affects the kids thinking. Kids soak up these things like a sponge, whether we realize it or not. How many girls did I ever actually see wearing a bow in their hair? Probably only a handful, yet that’s how I chose to portray girls in the classrooms. I don’t know the extent that something so simple really affected these kids, but it’s never just the one thing. It’s a combination of all the icons that we see every day that give us our perceptions (true or false) of how society functions every day.

Blog Sixy

Popular culture and the icons created by it have a profound and yet interesting effect on us as viewers. Though the ideas behind the icons influence each individual differently, collectively they create a background, a space if you will, that we can share. For instance, the reading talked about superman and superwoman. Neither of them were really a part of my life. I haven't really cared for the idea of an all powerful super hero or his counterpart. It just hasn't really been something that I have been attracted to. Yet, when others talk about them or who they are, I am not left in the black. Even with never seeing a superman film or comic I know the basis of his stories. People can make kryptonite references and I know what they are talking about and what it means. I know other characters besides superman that are involved in the story. The readings especially explore this idea that these characters influence us. The ideas that superman represents, whether his righteousness or humanity, I can connect with. I think this is the true power of an icon. Whether I want to or not, I know who and what superman is.

These icons influence us. There is no denying that. The way I perceive the world is dependent on what I take from the icons, and more importantly, the ideas that those icons represent. Some of those ideas I accept and choose to proliferate and expand. Others I reject, but even those ones influence what I choose or choose not to create. As the reading noted, things as simple as bathroom signs may show what ideologies we accept as members of a society. There is no way to escape this influence, but at the same time, I don't think that would be good. We can draw upon those same ideas to connect and reach others more deeply and more powerfully. Because I can safely assume you know about superman, I can write a story about a superhero knowing you will understand some of the underlying ideas that that icon creates.

The more we understand about the influences that effect us, the more carefully and precisely we can determine how we use those same influences to communicate with others. We can create beautiful works of art, but if others don't understand, they will miss the beauty. So we have to try to create in a vein that others will appreciate. Branching out and trying new things has its place as long as we understand how others have been influenced and thus will be influenced by our continued additions to modern culture.

Blog Post 6

I enjoyed how the readings focused heavily on symbols and logos and the major role they play in our lives. The significance of symbols has endured for thousands of years but I do find the usage of symbols and logos interesting in contemporary pop-culture. The readings discuss the excessive bombardment of logos in the time we live in and the pros and cons to that. I do feel there is a risk of people losing the significance of important icons and symbols with so many symbols being produced; icons are so common that we pay little attention to their deeper meanings.

I loved the Superman article talking about how Superman wears a uniform, not a costume. Nearly every American, and many people around the world recognize the “S” symbol across Superman’s chest. There is a reason that the character of Superman has endured so long, but I fear people are losing the meaning of the “S” symbol, which represents his character. The character of Superman has always embodied the attributes of the ideal man, someone that can inspire us to become better human beings. It is interesting that his character helped to lift the hopes of Americans during difficult times such as the Great Depression, the Cold War, Vietnam, etc. I find it interesting that the popularity of Superman’s character has decreased in recent years. I have always been a fan of his character, and when I discuss Superman with others, a common response I hear is that he’s not interesting because he is too powerful. Rarely will I hear people discuss the deeper importance of the ideals of his character – Someone who is the ultimate immigrant, choosing to serve others selflessly. I find a character like that very fascinating, primarily because of his values and his motives for doing the right thing. With the onslaught of many superhero films (all of them with their own unique logos) focusing on vengeance and action, it makes me wonder if the significance of the “S” symbol is diminishing.

Now that I have exposed my nerdy side, there are many positive sides to the symbols that have become universal in pop-culture. As a creator, if these symbols are utilized, it can be a way to connect the audience with the material.

Post 6 - Icons

Symbols can be seen everywhere. From the Nike swoop to the Pepsi logo, we have been bred from birth to associate these and many other symbols with a product or an ideal. I loved how the reading dealt with superheroes as American icons. They do represent an ideal held by everyone- the weak and lowly (mild mannered reporters, teenagers, etc) rise to fight other worldly foes. We all have a nerd inside of us that aspires to be that superhero. Or, as the reading suggests, maybe we all have a superhero inside of us that is secretly a nerd. Popular culture is so effective in grabbing people's attention because it takes from elements that we all relate to and weaves it into a symbol- an icon.

It is impossible to escape the reaches of popular culture. References and allusions creep in unexpectedly. I believe that as artists we are to use popular culture as a tool to further connect ourselves with the audience. I may not want to throw in cheap references to brand name clothes or whatever is cool, but it is important to know what is currently popular with your audience. Different icons can be seen as a type of archetype for the underlying reason people like it, and looking into that can be very valuable in relating to your audience.

As an artist, understanding popular icons is a way to keep myself grounded in our culture. Artists tend to distance themselves from what everyone else likes and pursue more "artistic" ventures. I believe that in order for us to create quality, successful films, it is vital for us to understand the audience. The audience is selfish, or at least self-indulgent, at movies. They generally want to have a good time and escape their lives for a bit. What better way to keep my work relatable than to keep in mind what the audience would know? It allows for the audience to own the production for themselves. It's like reaching out and giving high fives to everyone. And who doesn't like a good high five?

Blog 6

Before I even got to the latter part of the reading I was imagining super-heroes as a strong force of iconography in our modern media. Superheroes have been around for decades, but they've always kind of had a more specific audience. Now there doesn't seem to be anyone under that age of fifty that doesn't get into the onslaught of superhero movies that are coming at us. These superheroes iconography is unambiguous and poignant. Just look at all the movie posters at your local cinema. All you need to do is present Superman's “S,” Batman's bat silhouette or Wolverine's claws and already you've got millions that plan on seeing it.

The perspective authors of the essay's “Super,” “Wonder” and “Inside Every Superhero lurks a Nerd,” were all very passionate about the image and iconography of their favorite superheroes, almost as if they were defending the moral character of a close friend of theirs.

Why is that? Why does society suddenly crave superheroes? Why is the iconography itself in our media have such a powerful effect on me. I couldn't tell you exactly, but I imagine its the same kind of idea as James Bond. Here we have an unreasonably fictitious character who is a huge force in our media. Why?

Maybe it's because like Michael Jordan and Elvis Presley, they're just someone for us to romanticize and look up to. We need heroes in our media, and we always will. But what types of heroes are we choosing to glorify?

As an artist this idea of heroes and iconography rather worries me. Like Batman himself said, a symbol can be much more powerful than a man. Ironic as it seems, he was right. The symbols I create in the media that I send out into the world can have a more powerful effect than I'll initially comprehend. It takes quite a bit of maturity not only to create a symbol or icon, but also to control it.

Blog 6

How does the reading explore popular culture and its connection to our everyday experiences? How does your understanding of popular culture inform the art you create? How does it inform you as an artist?

The beginning of the chapter really stressed how drastically the definition of the word “icon” had changed. Icons originally were religious or historic and seemingly untouchable. However, as the reading stated, the term “icon” has “escalated to epidemic proportions”. This means that in our culture today, icons are people or symbols that we recognize or relate to. Some examples of icons are the boy and the girl who mark which bathroom is for which sex, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jordon. Today, these symbols and people are icons in their own rights. Aaron Betsky said, “icons are magnets of meaning onto which we can project our memories, our hopes, and our sense of self”. There are so many different logos and icons that we recognize but the question that is brought up in the poem “Grantwood: American Gothic” is not how we see these icons but how these icons define us as people.

Perspective effects interpretation. This is demonstrated by the article about the “Mona Lisa” and how different factors can affect how a person views and interprets the painting. The painting is an icon, but it is an icon that means different things to different people based on life experience, and other varying factors. For example, in the sketch of the duck/ bunny, there was a study that went along with it that showed that children more often see a bunny when it is Easter Sunday, but on ordinary Sundays, they are more likely to see the duck. That is even true of me. When I saw the sketch I saw the duck but I have a pretty good feeling that if I was looking at it on Easter, my mind would jump straight to the rabbit. It is interesting how diverse frames of mind, even within ourselves can affect how we interpret what we see.

The part of the reading that struck me the most was when it said, “right behind every powerful icon lies a powerful idea”. Examples of this are “Migrant Mother” by Dorothea Lange, the peace sign, the four leaf clover, and the smiley face. Another example not exactly found in the reading is Superman vs. Batman. I have heard that Superman represents how the U.S. views itself and Batman is how foreign nations view the U.S. This is an example of popular culture icons that are packed with more meaning than meets the eye. Popular culture is so deep in our ideologies that we might not even realize it. Popular culture informs me as an artist and influences the art that I create by portraying what people will be interested in and attracted to. Also, popular culture icons shape me as a person as an influence based on how much I watch, listen, or interact with their material. In the article about Britney Spears the author states that the question is not do we like her, the question is do we need her. I would have to say that we do. Along with other pop icons. It is a part of our culture and who we are. Whether we need pop culture as an escape or just because we relate to it and love it.

Blog Post 6

In the reading it states that Russell Baker complains over the current overuse of the term ‘icon’. We casually assign great leaders, celebrities, characters, and companies as appropriate icons. Are these not icons? In most respects these ‘icons’ cannot be symbols because there is no deeper meaning. They stand for something, and they only gain greater significance when juxtaposed. The reading further states that the oldest association with the word ‘icon’ is religion. Well religion has expanded a thousand fold since the days of old. Is Michael Jordan and Nike not religious symbols to those who wear them? I still remember the day I saw a bumper sticker that was part Nike swoosh, part angel Moroni. Was this stating, ‘Just be religious’, or does it say I like Mormons and Nike? The space of acceptable icons has expanded because we firmly believe in individualizing popular culture, in a commercial world.

When I am in my car I hate being stuck behind someone who does not know how to drive. When I approach a stop light in a two-lane road with one car in front of me in each lane I make a visual choice. Who will go faster? I trust the Honda will go faster than the Buick. I trust the two-door sedan will go faster than the minivan. I trust that the vehicle with a Utah license plate will go faster than the one from Montana. I use icons to help me make the potentially better choice. I use icons to classify people and my surroundings.

Popular culture is a fairly horrible word. Rather it is a matter of finding classification in a manufactured world. What may be popular differs from personal interest in sports, politics, video games, foods, movies, comics, tv, music, cars, pets, and ect. Some may argue that true popular culture defies its typical audience, but then it also looses its sense of heritage.

If there is anything that I feel truly defines an entire civil culture it is technology. The current ability of technology directly affects the way in which we interact and express emotion. In a way all stories are becoming science fiction bound. How do characters have serious mortal problems when they have technology that solves such problems? Too often screenplays refuse to address the advent of technology. Character has a cell phone? Don’t worry; they have no reception or their battery died. Now your story might as well be set in 1993. Our problems have changed, but they haven’t gone away. I want to allow my stories to address this.

-Nephi Hepworth