From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #43 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Thursday, May 18 2000 Volume 01 : Number 043 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 12:47:22 EDT From: Paynecabin@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS <hast thou forsaken me?" while hanging on the cross? Kathleen: He could have been trying to sing the 22nd Psalm and not soul-searching at all. (Note particularly verses 8, 16, and 18, for example.)>> I have for years read the "crucifixion" passage in the 22nd Psalm as the words of Christ, or the feelings of Christ as foreseen by the psalmist. According to that view, it wouldn't make much difference if Christ were quoting or speaking spontaneously. Unless He meant, by quoting, to teach us something. But what? Or was He caught up in the irony of the psalmist's wrong guess about feeling forsaken, and merely overheard? The notion of the Savior trying to sing that psalm opens up a number of new ways to understand something that's hard to understand. He had already sung one not much earlier in the drama. Marvin Payne - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 11:39:45 -0600 From: "Jerry Enos" Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS In my opinion, the producers of such religious themed shows do not compriend that anyone can be that sure about anything. Especially were religious matters are concerned. If you had told me 25 years ago that I would know for sure that The Book of Morman is the word of God and the true history of the people here on this continant I would have found it impossible to accept. I had never been told about how it feels when the Holy Ghost bears witness of the truth of all things to you. I simply would not have been able to understand it. I would have been feeling it but I would have not known what it was. Konnie Enos - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:33:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Kathleen Meredith Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS I agree, He is the "Glad Tidings" of the gospel, I would imagine if anyone would exhibit a happy countenance, it would be Christ. I seem to recall a Mormon author, Molly Sorensen, she wrote _A New Spirit Within You_ spoke once that she is suspect of those who claim to be followers of Christ and yet are forever serious and never exhibit the joy of the gospel within their countenance. There is of course, a fine line between "joyful" and out-of- control frivolity. The prophet Joseph Smith held a concern over the crossing of that line in his own exuberance for life. Obviously it would be dangerous to look to CBS or any other television network to gain a full and true understanding of the nature of the Savior... I seem to remember a very strange "Noah's Ark" that appeared on television last year about this time... - -Kathleen Meredith - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:30:47 From: Marilyn Brown Subject: Re: [AML] MN LDS Theater Producer's Festival Wins Tony Award: Deseret News This is SO WONDERFUL! I'd like to link up with Fred because Sharlee Glenn's daughter Erica (thirteen years old) is producing such a wonderful play this year at the Villa Theatre. (If you all have a chance to see the Daily Herald, she got on the FRONT PAGE in COLOR. Wow!) and I would like to see her play produced at the Shakespearean Festival when she's fourteen years old! I've written to them without much success, but I will try again. You too, Sharlee. Maybe Eric Samuelsen can help? Anybody else? What should we do? Anyway, I'm thrilled for Fred--who was in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST with my sister Elaine McMeen Flake.(Years ago.) Marilyn Brown - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:36:05 From: Marilyn Brown Subject: Re: [AML] ROGERS, _A Call to Russia_ (review) This convinces me I must read it, Andrew! We have Tom Roger's play THE MTC: SET APART written with Benson Parkinson in our file now as a possible production at the Villa Theatre. It's a great collaboration. We'd like to see it done--a producer needs to arise. I can remember when Tom went on his mission to Russia, and I thought at the time, "He will have a lot to say." Thanks for sharing this with us! Marilyn Brown - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 15:46:31 EDT From: Derek1966@aol.com Subject: [AML] Depictions of Jesus Debbie Brown wrote: <> Last November I was able to go to Branson MO to see some shows, and probably the one I enjoyed the most was called "The Promise" (I think that was the title), which was a pageant on the life of Christ. The whole show was very energetic and moving, and the scene where Jesus comes out from the tomb was one of the most exciting moments I've ever experienced in theater. He literally burst out the door in a flood of light, accompanied by exciting music, angels flying through the air. It was worth the trip to Branson just for that moment. John Perry - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 14:07:36 -0600 From: "Varlo Davenport" Subject: [AML] Heritage & History Tour Hi all, it's taken a while to get my nose above water in this new job, (Arts Council Director, American Fork, Utah) but things seem to have settled down a bit. I have a project that may be of interest to someone. The American Fork Cemetary Committee approached me a couple of weeks ago to see if I would help them. The committe chair had just returned from a conference in Boston where she had gathered information on a very successful program presented in Burlington, Iowa, where people tour through the local cemetary and meet actors who share with the visitors events from the lives and times of those who are buried there. (Has anyone seen this?) They want to do something similar here, and are calling it the "Heritage & History Tour." They have been contacting community members looking for interestesting, touching, humerous and compelling true stories about the lives and times of the people who are buried here. There are veterans of every conflict from the Civil War on, community leaders, at least one member of the Willey/Martin handcart company, and the world's first train conductor, to list just a few of the folks resting here. Is there anyone who would be interested in helping (read, volunteering), put the stories together, editing submitted material or perhaps even directing? To give you a time frame, we hope to present this to the public July 28 and 29. If successful this could well become an annual event. If you are interested in being involved, or if you have an ancestor buried in American Fork, Utah, who has a story that needs to be told, or both, please email me at varlo@inconnect.com. Back to lurking . . . Varlo Davenport - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 13:25:09 MDT From: "Marianne Hales Harding" Subject: [AML] Getting Read at USF Dear Marilyn and the rest of the list-- I've thought more and more about your question regarding Sharlee Glenn's 14 year old daughter's play and Utah Shakes. I realized just today why my response to your question didn't quite sit well with me. I'm afraid I failed to mention that the reading series that USF does is aimed at professional writers here in the west. They have no children's playwriting venue. I'm copying this to the list as well just in case others got the wrong idea from my post. Marianne Hales Harding PS For any budding playwrights between the ages of 10 and 15 who may be in the Cedar City area, though, I am teaching several week-long playwriting workshops for young writers throughout June that will culminate in a reading by members of USF's acting company. If you're interested, drop me a line. It is offered through SUU's continuing ed dept. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:26:58 -0700 From: Rob Pannoni Subject: Re: [AML] Depictions of Jesus (was: Jesus on CBS) dianna gilliam wrote: > > I have no problem thinking of Jesus as showing joy at times although I would > also imagine by the time of His ministry, much of his gaiety was possibly > put aside. I wonder if the brooding, depressive Christ often depicted in the media is linked to Isaiah's prophecies about the messiah. The phrase "He was a man of sorrows, well acquainted with grief" comes to mind. Isaiah was constantly emphasizing the depth of the sacrifice Christ made. Since we have more prophetic utterances of this kind than we do actual historical detail about Christ's life, I suppose it's not surprising that most depictions show him as taciturn. On the other hand, we have the account of Christ allowing Mary to annoint his hands and feet, an act of earthly comfort. We even see Christ reprimanding Judas for implying that there was something wrong it. There are also a number of apocryphal accounts of Christ surprising followers and critics by encouraging "indulgence" in food or other pleasures when they expected him to advocate only fasting and self-sacrifice. I think the modern day equation of spirituality with seriousness and self-deprivation is a cultural interpretation. In America, it can be traced back to the puritans and victorians. But it is actually much older. In reacting to the excesses they saw in the catholic church, leaders of the protestant reformation proclaimed a sort of dour-faced piety that became the popularly accecpted image of spirituality. Even earlier, extreme sects within the catholic church would sleep on nails and whip themselves to show their willingness to overcome the flesh. While there is no doubt that Christ advocated the need to make sacrifices, it seems to me that contemporary depictions of Christ are heavily colored by the vestiges of a historical tradition that sees spirituality as the opposite of enjoying life. One of the most interesting aspects of Joseph Smith's teachings is that he turns the traditional body versus spirit dichotomy on its head. While nearly all other Christian traditions preach that the spirit is good and the material body is an evil to be overcome, Smith taught that God has a physical body and that obtaining a body is key part of our mission on earth. "Man is that he might have joy" is a very mormon point of view, but I often see church culture mimicing the attitude in the broader culture that anything fun or pleasurable is evil. There is a famous church in San Francisco called Glide Memorial (Baptist, I think) that has roots in Black culture. It calls its meetings "celebrations." They are full of singing and shouting and racous, upbeat music. People come from all over the world to participate. That style of worship wouldn't work too well in Sacrament meeting, but I wish we could absorb a little of that culture to counteract our natural inclincation toward seeing spirituality as sober and heavy. Then, perhaps, we would have an easier time envisioning Christ as a three-dimensional person capable of great joy as well as great sacrifice. - -- Rob Pannoni Rapport Systems http://www.rapport-sys.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 13:50:24 -0600 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: Re: [AML] Depictions of Jesus > It is our right to agree or disagree with the portrayals in > different productions but obviously no one knows all > things about the Master for a surety. > Dianna Gilliam Not placing Dianna in any camp, just using her quote as a jumping off point, I must say, it's a very frustrating thing to be a Mormon writer wanting to write about the people and the events most crucial to our faith -- indeed, our existence -- and yet have to waste so much energy trying to second guess the expectations of the audience, or risk writing for a handful of friends and relatives only: Those who will gladly read the few photo-copies you can afford to produce every now and then. I just finished writing a play about Jesus that has only three characters; Jesus, Mary -- His mother, and Joseph. It takes place in a tomb that Mary is cleaning for Joseph, who has recently passed away. In conversation within the tomb, in flashbacks and a flashforward I speculate on several aspects of the Savior's life and atonement. In fact, the atonement occurs right on stage. As I was talking about this play with a BYU theatre faculty member, he said, "Depictions of Christ are risky. Audiences don't usually like that." So, I got the message clearly that my play probably won't be done at BYU in the near future. But, I think I handle the situation delicately and reverently enough for an LDS audience. You know (let me be a whiner for a moment more), I know people, fine LDS people, who will read a book from the NY Times bestseller list, or Oprah's book club, that has some racy content and just love the thing, because they look past the content at the real story. But if an LDS writer were to write just as fine a story with some of the same raciness, well ... that's simply not allowed. Now, I understand the thinking behind that; that we should be apart from the world -- better than the world. Okay, fine, but why are these good folks pumping their money into that system instead of ours? Why, when someone tries to write about terribly important things -- ... Oh, nevermind. I had a rough day at work and now I'm taking it out on you. Sorry. Poor, poor, pitiful me. Take a deep breath ... keep writing. J. Scott Bronson--The Scotted Line "World peace begins in my home" - -------------------------------------------------------- We are not the acolytes of an abstruse god. We are here to entertain--Keith Lockhart - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 14:14:36 -0600 From: "Mary Jane Jones" Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS [MOD: Not to come down on Mary Jane in particular, but just to insert a reminder that in order to stay on-topic for this thread, we need to keep a literary connection. That can relate to depictions of Christ and other religious figures in particular literary works and films; problems and audience responses involved in depicting Christ and other religious figures; and literary interpretations of scripture. Let's make sure the discussion keeps moving in that direction.] >>Mary Jane Jones wrote: >> I agree with the opinions expressed so far, that Jesus would have had a = great sense of humor. I too was >>bothered by the self-doubt Jesus seemed to struggle with, even into his = ministry. In addition, I didn't like=20 >>how the disciples were only won over and convinced by His miracles. >Thom Duncan wrote: >But this is Scriptural. Remember how they didn't believe Mary and >Martha when they told them he'd risen. I don't think they really got >the message until Jesus appeared to them in the locked room. That is true. Maybe it was the way Simon Peter in the miniseries seemed = so sarcastic and disrespectful that was really bothering me. >>My thought was that Jesus performed miracles to teach and build, not to = prove himself or shock the=20 >>crowd.=20 >What great principle did changing water to wine teach? Another good point. I suppose one of the primary reasons that Jesus = performed that miracle WAS to bolster the confidence of the disciples. I = still maintain that faith born from seeing signs is weak, and probably not = how the faith of the disciples was born or maintained. Look at all the = instances in the Book of Mormon where sign seekers lost their faith very = quickly (ie. Nephites and the signs of the birth of Christ). On the other = hand, Alma the Younger certainly was converted after his encounter with an = angel (even though Laman and Lemuel weren't). Mary Jane Jones mjjones@xelent.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 14:14:38 -0600 From: "Mary Jane Jones" Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS This discussion is reminding me of the Thai government and their reaction = to the recent film Anna and the King. (I served a mission to Thailand, = and so have some interest in the region). The Thai government took a lot = of criticism for refusing to allow that film to be made in Thailand. They = subsequently banned the movie, and all other movies about Anna and the = King (including Yul Brenner's The King and I) because they felt that the = king was not depicted respectfully enough. In Thailand, royalty is deity. = Criticizing the king in public is still a crime punishable by imprisonment= . The Thai government's reaction to that movie is a little like my reaction = to the Jesus miniseries--Christ is deity, and I just don't feel that the = film depiction is respectful enough of that. While I can enjoy the series = and other depictions of Christ's life (ie. Godspell, Jesus Christ = Superstar) as entertainment, I still don't agree with many of their = interpretations about his life and personality (and maybe I'll never see = an interpretation I agree with completely). At least I'm not advocating = having them banned... Mary Jane Jones=20 mjjones@xelent.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 17:15:34 -0600 From: "Darvell" Subject: [AML] Fair use again I have another question regarding fair use. Suppose someone owns the copyright on a picture that they have posted on the internet. Is it legal to include an inline HTML reference to that photo somewhere on another web site? You aren't actually copying the photo, just referencing it, possibly "out of context," if that makes sense in this case. You can still read the link to see where the photo resides. Is that legal? (I've gotten into this debate in another LDS forum with the removal of a photo link by a moderator that has my feathers ruffled.) Darvell Darvell Hunt, Las Vegas, NV _____________________________________________ Free email with personality! Over 200 domains! http://www.MyOwnEmail.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 18:28:10 -0500 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] AML Readings >Or it may be that LDS publishers aren't as bookstore-friendly as they >could be. About 10 years ago, Beehive Books, just down the hill from the >temple- with-a-beware-of-fierce-snarling-dog sign on the gates in >Bellevue, WA, told me DB requires a bookstore to carry its whole line if >they want to carry any Deseret books. That's a big burden to place on a >store that may want to carry a few LDS books. I think I heard, though, >that that store is now DB. > >Harlow S. Clark Harlow, you are right. My husband worked there right after his mission in 1987 and has kept in touch with the owners. They were recently bought out by DB, who even in 1987 was fighting for Beehive's prime location. We thought it was sad . . . I wonder if that "full-line" policy has changed over the last ten years? I doubt it. Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://members.xoom.com/adamszoo http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 20:26:40 -0500 From: Linda Adams Subject: [AML] Sexuality in LDS Lit (WAS: Depictions of Jesus) Scott Bronson : >You know (let me be a whiner for a moment more), I know people, fine LDS >people, who will read a book from the NY Times bestseller list, or >Oprah's book club, that has some racy content and just love the thing, >because they look past the content at the real story. But if an LDS >writer were to write just as fine a story with some of the same raciness, >well ... that's simply not allowed. Now, I understand the thinking >behind that; that we should be apart from the world -- better than the >world. Okay, fine, but why are these good folks pumping their money into >that system instead of ours? Very good question. I was initially concerned with including certain sexual references and innuendos in my upcoming novel. But IMO sexuality is a basic part of human life, part of having a body, and when used in the appropriate circumstances (marriage), a darned fine part. And when used inappropriately, very damaging and emotionally painful consequences can occur. *Not* addressing the issues straight on, ignoring them, would have been false for me to do. Thankfully I have not had to remove anything or sidestep issues necessary to characterization or the plot, and it's still going to be marketed in LDS bookstores. Whew. But I'm sure that, to some readers, just the fact I *mention* a character turns to prostitution--without any details added about it--or that another character might be promiscuous, will be "too much." Why is it we aren't more open about this subject? Why won't readers accept it in Mormon literature when they will hunt down romance novels and other "erotic" literature (albeit, perhaps, a little more secretly)? Is it a sin, either to write it or to read it? I find a huge difference between a story which teaches us something about humanity through using sexuality to develop a character, and a story which exists for the sole purpose of titillation. If (when, actually) I use sexuality in my writing it is to develop or expand my characters, never the other purpose. I don't feel it's a crime. Sorry--Scott, you're not the only one with this particular pet peeve. Linda Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://members.xoom.com/adamszoo http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 08:30:31 -0600 From: Kathleen Woodbury Subject: Re: [AML] Favorite Characters in LDS Fiction At 10:25 AM 5/17/00, Marilyn Brown wrote: > >Kathleen wrote: "Every character we create is us." Sell it, Kathleen: >"People R Us?" (help me): Creations R Us? Reads R Us? Versions R Us? >(Sorry, I just couldn't resist--and I totally agree with you). Marilyn Brown Characters R Us, of course. Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury workshop@burgoyne.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 08:58:10 -0600 From: Kathleen Woodbury Subject: Re: [AML] Fair use again At 05:15 PM 5/17/00 -0600, Darvell wrote: >I have another question regarding fair use. > >Suppose someone owns the copyright on a picture that they have posted on >the internet. Is it legal to include an inline HTML reference to that >photo somewhere on another web site? You aren't actually copying the >photo, just referencing it, possibly "out of context," if that makes sense >in this case. You can still read the link to see where the photo resides. > >Is that legal? (I've gotten into this debate in another LDS forum with the >removal of a photo link by a moderator that has my feathers ruffled.) If I understand what you're talking about correctly, fair use has nothing to do with this. (You didn't show the picture in the other website, did you?) If all you put was a http: link (or even just the URL without the http: part), all you did was cite the picture's location--sort of like a footnote. (On my website, I show a photograph of myself that someone else took--and put on his website, along with photos of a lot of other friends. He owns the copyright, but he gave me permission to put that photograph on my website since it is a photograph of me. That isn't even "fair use" because I'm reprinting the whole thing with the copyright owner's permission.) Fair use has to do with using part of something someone else has created. Citations have to do with telling people where they can find something. They don't even overlap. The only thing that I can think of that could be wrong about putting an http: link or listing an URL on another website is if you are providing the public with access to something that is private without permission. Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury workshop@burgoyne.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 23:48:45 EDT From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] MN LDS Author Finds Success in Sappy: Ogden UT Standard-Examiner From: Kent Larsen To: Mormon News Subject: MN LDS Author Finds Success in Sappy: Ogden UT Standard-Examiner 7May00 A4 Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 22:30:00 -0400 [from Mormon-News] LDS Author Finds Success in Sappy (Provo author skips edgy, goes for sappy) Ogden UT Standard-Examiner 7May00 A4 By Amy Schoon: Standard-Examiner staff "The Last Valentine" and "The Lighthouse Keeper" are inspired by life events PROVO, UTAH -- LDS author James Michael Pratt's nationally published novel "The Last Valentine" is sappy, he admits. "I'm the guru of sappiness. I'm the schmaltz king," says Pratt. But sap sells, and the book reached No. 29 on the New York Times bestseller list in 1998. Now Pratt's second novel, "The Lighthouse Keeper," has been released, and he has two more in the works. And the first book may be on its way to the screen, as Pratt's publisher, St. Martin's Press, negotiates to sell the film rights. "The Last Valentine" is about a Navy fighter pilot and his young wife in California, who face his departure on thier first wedding anniversary to fight in the Pacific during World War II. The book now has more than half a million copies in print. Pratt's new novel is also set in the World War II era, but this time the novel is about Irish-American immigrants in Massachusetts. In this novel, Peter O'Banyon is sent to live with his Uncle Billie, following the death of his family in a truck-train accident. Uncle Billie is mourning the death of his own wife and child, and Peter then faces more tragedy himself. Pratt says that all this tragedy is there on purpose. "I try to break hearts on purpose, because there is no resolution or reward in having the high without the low," Pratt said. "You have to take people to the lowest level, then when you bring them back up, it makes them stop and think about their own lives." The sappiness of the novels leads some to compare him to LDS author Richard Paul Evans, who is also known for tear-jerkers. And Pratt says that like Evans, he was inspired by events in his own life. Pratt was unable to finish college because his father's business had financial troubles, and he had to go home from BYU to Southern California to help. He says that the circumstances put him shoulder-to-shoulder with his father, where he got a lot of influence from his father's morals, values and work ethic. "I doubt I'd be a writer today if I hadn't left college," Pratt said. But it took 20 years of 'wandering' in the business world for Pratt to start writing. Broke following the recession of the early 1990s, Pratt moved to Provo with his wife, and worked by day as a construction manager and wrote in BYU's computer lab at night. And Pratt's work ended up at St. Martin's Press, who decided that the book was what the world would like to read. "He seems to really reach into the heartland of America. In New York City, people tend to forget what the rest of the country wants," said executive editor Jennifer Enderlin. "But James writes what everyday, ordinary Americans want to read about ... courage, honor, love." Now, "The Lighthouse Keeper" may be headed in the same direction as "The Last Valentine." Publisher's Weekly said Pratt's new novel, "will please readers ready for a good cry." See Also: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312181213/mormonnews More about James Michael Pratt's "The Last Valentine" at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312241135/mormonnews More about James Michael Pratt's "The Lighthouse Keeper" at Amazon.com >From Mormon-News: Mormon News and Events Forwarding is permitted as long as this footer is included Mormon News items may not be posted to the World Wide Web sites without permission. Please link to our pages instead. For more information see http://www.MormonsToday.com/ Send join and remove commands to: majordomo@MormonsToday.com Put appropriate commands in body of the message: To join: subscribe mormon-news To leave: unsubscribe mormon-news To join digest: subscribe mormon-news-digest - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 08:35:08 -0600 From: "mcnandon" Subject: RE: [AML] Jesus on CBS Thom, like someone else on the list said, "If prophet's knew it all from the beginning, we wouldn't need continuing revelation." I also like what Joseph Jeppson said in his letter to the Editor in _Dialogue_: "Anybody who believes in a god who has a 'faith' program should also believe in the corollary--that the god leaves no evidence around (otherwise the 'faith' becomes unnecessary, since proof is available)." Faith is the first principle of the Gospel, even for prophets. Nan McCulloch - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 00:28:43 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Depictions of Jesus (was: Jesus on CBS) Rob Pannoni: "There are also a number of apocryphal accounts of Christ surprising followers and critics by encouraging 'indulgence' in food or other pleasures when they expected him to advocate only fasting and self-sacrifice." It's more than apocryphal. The scriptures specifically say he was called a glutton and wine-bibber by his detractors. "There is a famous church in San Francisco called Glide Memorial (Baptist, I think) that has roots in Black culture. It calls its meetings 'celebrations.' They are full of singing and shouting and racous, upbeat music. People come from all over the world to participate. That style of worship wouldn't work too well in Sacrament meeting, but I wish we could absorb a little of that culture to counteract our natural inclincation toward seeing spirituality as sober and heavy." Ever notice how when someone calls us to repentance over our irreverence in meetings, they always compare us to Catholic services? I wonder why they never compare us to black Baptist services? Are they saying Catholics are more spiritual than Baptists? - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 00:44:14 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: [AML] Depictions of Jesus Darvell Hunt: "Did anyone see Willam Defoe as Jesus? I heard ALOT of negatives about this film and almost didn't see it. I'm glad that I did... There were a few things in the film that I found shocking and seriously didn't like, but the rest of it was good enough to overshadow these things. It portrayed Christ as a less-than-god-like personality, as purely human, but still God." I reacted very differently. My attitude was, of what conceivable interest to me is a portrayal of Christ that presents him as sub-divine? I know that such a portrayal is pure fantasy, so what possible value could I get from such a depiction? Even good fantasy is based on real truths more than that film was. Anyone can imagine any interpretation of Christ they want and write a book or make a film of it, but that doesn't mean I will find something relevant in it. "And it was interesting to see that Judas, played by Harvey Kietel, knew what he was doing and possibly understood the atonement more than Peter did. I think Judas was portrayed as a closer friend to Jesus than even Peter was. He knew that the betrayal was essential to the atonement." I feel like it's become a cliche to paint Judas as some kind of good guy, at worst merely misguided, at best actually knowing what's going on better than anyone else, including Christ. The fact is (as much fact as we have from that period) that Judas was a thief and a scoundrel. I'd rather see him represented like that. It would be original. "At the risk of sounding heretical, I would recommend that you see 'The Last Temptation of Christ.' All that you have heard may not be true.." When the film first came out, some representative of the Church (I forget who) went to a preview showing of it. He came out saying he thought it just wasn't worth the bother. In my opinion, he pegged it exactly. My observation: All that you've heard about it _is_ true. "There's also the film 'Jesus Christ, Superstar,' but I think we've already discussed that here." I get the same feeling from this film/musical as with _Temptation_. They both have the superficial, exterior trappings of a life of Christ story. But the Christ in them is completely unrecognizable to me--he's a different person than the one I know. This places both works squarely under the category of irrelevant for me. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 11:04:15 -0600 From: Thom Duncan Subject: [AML] Fallible Prophetic Characters We've had some recent discussion on the acceptability of having fallible prophets as characters. Or, to be more accurate, the idea that prophetic or religious characters are often shown in Hollywood as having doubts about their callings has come under friendly fire here on the list. D. Michael Martindale blames Hollywood for this, and in a way, he is right. It is a fairly well accepted aspect of screenwriting that one's characters must be interesting and accessible by the veiwer. Writing a character that had nothing in common with the rest of us would pretty much guarantee the script would never see the light of day. At the superficial level, this is called a "quirk" in screenwriting parlance -- something the character does that makes him unique. If it a quirk that is in sharp contrast to the character's basic personality, so much the better. main Indiana Jones' fear of snakes, for instance. A biker who quotes Shakespeare would be another example. Memorable characters because of their oddities. Showing a Joseph Smith or Brigham Young without some weakness they held in common with the rest of us would make them too inaccessible, imo, for most audiences. We wouldn't necessarily have to show them as doubting their calling, but a screenwriter who wanted the audience to remember his character after they leave the theatre would have to add something accessible to his character. This is what I think the producers of the Jesus series tried to do. Virtualy all previous versions of the Savior's life showed him as beyond the reach of mortal men, as if he lived in a different Universe. Showing him playing in the water and laughing gives him "accessibility." We must keep in mind, too, that the task of the writer, first and foremost, is to entertain. Let historians worry about what actually happened and when and who was present and who was not. When dealing with real-life historical characters such as Joseph Smith or Brigham Young, we must remember that it is not our mission to convert as much as it is to give our audiences or readers a "ripping good yarn." In order to do that, we will be forced to bend the facts on occasion. For instance, we've all heard about John Taylor singing "Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" in the Carthage jail shortly before the mob attacked. It is such a mournful song and so in keeping the events it prefaces that it would be practically impossible to NOT include it in a screenplay about the martyrdom. But, in reality, the song is 9 (?) verses long and John Taylor sang it twice. And even when he was finished, the mob didn't actually attack for another half hour or so. So the writer interested in keeping his audience's attention is going to have to edit the song down to nor more than a couple of lines and slam it up tight against the clank of booted feet coming up the stairs. Otherwise, it's snooze time. Thom - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 12:35:27 -0600 From: Dave Subject: [AML] Re: Fair use again One of the best websites I've found is "The Copyright Website" at www.benedict.com/basic/fairuse/fairtest.htm. It answers multiple questions I've had about the fairuse doctrine. (By the way, I'm new here. Hope you'll accept another lawyer "reader" to your literature list even if I don't write much - outside work that is.) Dave Hansen > Darvell wrote: > I have another question regarding fair use. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #43 *****************************