And Now It Is Gone

I couldn't remember how we were supposed to claim we submitted our papers.  I thought that the blog would probably be the safest approach.  My pictures aren't the best quality because I took them from my phone.  I am sorry for the inconvenience  Good luck with finals everyone!

New version of my paper

New version of my paper

+Amber Z this is the newer version of my paper.  I am wanting to know if you think it is cohesive and where I need to bring it together more.  I still need to work out the introduction and conclusion.  Also does my section on Like Water for Chocolate make sense?  Thanks!

The Next Step: Food and Women

My Rough Draft
The next step
This has been a difficult process.  I am having an issue on what is important and how to connect my ideas.  I recognize that I have a lot of block quotes which is probably something I need to change.  I am still struggling connecting my ideas.  I wrote a whole new introduction, which I feel will help my ideas to flow. My number one focus is working on my introduction.  I have used the texts to express ideas, but I am not sure how well they go together.  I am still going to work on that this entire week.  I changed how many pages my essay is because I am publishing it to a magazine.  I am having a hard time knowing what the magazine is looking for beccause they have a limited view on their magazine.  Most of the things I read were stories and not articles.  I am going to continue to search for other volumes to know what they are looking for.  Last week I did email them to share my idea and see if it was a good fit.  I still haven't heard a response, but I will continue to search.  If not I will look at the other venues I had previously selected.  If there any any suggestions, or comments, as to what works or doesn't work, please let me know!  Thanks.

Language in Tiers

Language is a tool that allows societies to communicate, organize, and, also creates unity within a culture. At its basic form it can further progression and connections within society by its unifying characteristic. But even recognizing language at this elementary level generates interesting questions. How was the word tree decided, especially because you cannot objectively associate the name with the object itself? This question of what language truly is points to the idea that language has a higher purpose; Ralph Waldo Emerson restates this idea in his book titled Nature. He claims in this book that language is a powerful. If taken at face value, communication is the most basic function of language, but, he adds, there is more. He states, “We say the heart to express emotion, the head to denote thought; and thought and emotion are words borrowed from sensible things, and now appropriated to spiritual nature” (35). One word can be interpreted by what it literally means, but it also can mean something deeper. Although language is a helpful tool, there are different tiers of significance that allow language to reach its true nature. Achieving this requires engaging the senses. According to Emerson, the three tiers of language are

1. Words [as] signs of natural facts.
2. Particular natural facts [as] symbols of particular spiritual facts.
3. Nature [as] the symbol of spirit. (39)

Murders and Awe

After thinking back to the novels, short stories, poems, and other forms of literature that have focused on the idea of awe, the short story "The Murders in Rue Morgue", written by Edgar Allan Poe, stood out.  Poe introduced us to one of the first detective novels paving the way for detectives like Mrs. Marple and Sherlock Holmes.  There are so many different aspects in Poe's short story that revolves around the idea of awe.  This story focuses on terror, the unknown, and the powers of analysis within the human mind.  Dupin, who eventually solves the crime, is able to disconnect from his emotions in order to solve the mysterious case regarding the death of Mademoiselle Camille and Madame L’Espanaye.  The murder in itself creates awe and terror as he sets up the crime, which leads to citizens questioning how this murder could have possibly happened.  Poe writes,

Getting Back to the Essence of Jane Austen

When it comes to Jane Austen people are either die hard fans, Janeites, or scoff at her literature.  While fawning over Mr. Darcy can be fun, Jane Austen is an innovator and creator.  If she is to be taken seriously as a writer we must recognize what she has done for the novel and literature in general.  +Shelly Jebe hopefully this is helpful for you.

1.  It wasn't until 1995-99 when the Jane Austen mania began to explode in Hollywood.  Now many people are all familiar with Jane Austen's novels because of the on-screen adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Emma.  These stories, are for the most part, are viewed as trivial and left to women to read.  If a man were to read a Jane Austen novel what would we think about him?  But Austen's books have affected many.  In 1926 Rudyard Kipling wrote "The Janeites" which focuses on soliders after the war.  What is interesting is seeing their views on how Jane Austen novels helped them during the war http://www.jasna.org/membership/janeites.html. Usually when we think of Austen, we think of girls hoping for a love like Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, but in this short story it focuses on Jane Austen's ability to reach all sexes.  Her writing can civilize even the strongest of men.  It is quite funny but really hits on some important topics.

2.  Susan Zlotnick's critque on Northanger Abbey titled, "From Involuntary Object to Voluntary Spy: Female Agency, Novels, and the Marketplace in Northanger Abbey", also goes in depth showing how brilliant of a writer she actually was.  Northanger Abbey was one of her first novels, and at such a young age she still managed to write a satrical novel criticizing soceity and other gothic writers during her time.  Also recognizing that one of her greatest contributions to the novel was free indirect discourse.  This technique alone changed the way novels were written. +Shelly Jebe if you can't access this article let me know and I will find another way to get to it.  https://learningsuite.byu.edu/plugins/Upload/fileDownload.php?fileId=d0f447e9-HlX8-q0tP-SmWW-pw69a3278be5

I hope that these two things can help strengthen your argument and show that Jane Austen was more than a romantic writer, she was an idealist who contributed powerful writing techniqes that expanded the power of the novel.  

The Unknown, Everyday Artist Creating Awe

After viewing Eric Whitacre's choir performance, I became fascinated with the idea of finding awe through social means.  It amazes me to think of how many talented people there are in the world that go undiscovered.  While we still aren't even stratching the surface, the internet has become a wonderful key to find awe through local artists that allow us to enter into their creative realm.  To me, even creating a website to upload art is a source of awe (you'll probably understand later on in this post as I lack necessary computer skills).  So I decided for my blog post I was going to introduce you to some of my friends and family who have created moments of awe with their artwork.  Everything I have accessed has been through the internet.  Without this medium the awe of local or aspiring artists couldn't be reached.  This is part of the awe of technology, and finding these inspirations can create excitement and add to the awe of their work.  Hopefully you can find some sort of awe, or even a respect for their creativity, in what they do.

1. Todd Wilson

I have known Todd for years, and I know that he is not only talented, but he is also extremely creative.  When I first saw his artwork when he preferred to work with paint.  His artwork is all around his house.  Everytime I see his work I feel as if I lack creativity in my own life.  He is now going to school as a graphic designer and works with digital art.  This was his interpretation of one of the deadly sins.  I believe that his creativity mixed with his talents, sets him apart from other artist I have seen.

I found this on his blog http://www.toddsartfactory.com/home/gallery/

2. Bola Rapha

Ok, I have to admit this is a video about my husband, but that isn't the reason why I am sharing it.  One of my husband's friends goes to Brooks Institute in California.  He is studying filmography and photography.  While he is still learning about his craft and refining his style, I believe that he powerfully evokes emotion and shares a beautiful story through his shots.  His ability to peace the story together is outstanding and he is still in school.  

I found his video through Facebook

 

3. Davey Miller

Davey is a Ventura local, professional surfer, father, Mormon, and artist.  It amazes me to know that artists live amongst mere mortals.  What I am trying to convey is that there are so many people among us that possess great talents, and so few receive the recognition they deserve.  Through the internet so many new awe inspiring moments can be opened to the eyes of the public.  While he was once a professional surfer, he has now found a way to continue to create through a new medium.  Both pictures I have shared are so different, one abstract, the other celebrates his passion for the water.  

I found his pictures on his personal website http://www.daveymiller.com/

4. Alexi Bullock

She starts with everyday items, and then photographs it.

It is amazing to see your friends reach different levels of success.  Creating new websites through live art is a new concept to me.  Having the eye for organization and color coordination is a meticulous skill that can also create works of art.  Knowing how to reproduce that into a website creatively is a definite skill.  There are different ways of creating art that exceed the limits of a canvas.  http://alexibullock.blogspot.com/

afterwards she creates a website for a company.

5. Ellen Wildhagen

Capturing the moment that tells a story.  While there is an overflow of photographers, and those who own fancy cameras, the awe can't always be captured.  Being able to succesfully manipulate colors and catching the moment can create moments of awe as we construct stories from a single frame.http://ellenwildhagen.com/

6. Morgan Maassen

A personal friend of my husband who focuses on filmography and the ocean.  I wasn't able to transfer the video from Vimeo, but hopefully this video will help you see how he films the ordinary and transforms it to something interesting.  The colors in this video showcase art in film.  It isn't always about the actors, but the person behind the camera can also create magic.

7. Mary Baum

This is where my computer skills start to fall through the cracks.  I wish I could have figured out how to put this movie online but I failed.  Digital moving art is a phenomena that can only be produced through the computer.  Knowing how to make it all connect and work showcases the awe of a patient mind that desires to create.

In order to see her digital moving art you can access it here http://vimeo.com/83344996

8. Aaron Pike

Again my skills are limited, but you can click on the link to hear his composition.  Composing music requires an understanding of how each instrument works together and harmonizes.  Creating an ear for that comes naturally but developing a masterpiece takes practice.  

http://www.aaronpike.com/Samples_files/Fantasy%20For%20Piano%20and%20Orchestra-Faster%20Tempo.mp3

9. Wendy Pike

The typical "Utah scrapbooking mom" is something we probably run into often, yet this is a creative way to showcase new ideas and designs.  While this isn't usually a digital project, others have decided to use the internet to share new skills and showcase their art.  Being able to aesthetically place the pictures while capturing the moment is another form of artwork.

http://thecroppingcorner.blogspot.com/2014/02/welcome.html

10. Vanessa Vogel

Some people are talented and receive great opportunities to create on a larger scope.  Being part of a big company can dim talent, or force creativity, but knowing your craft and loving it showcases the true talent of an artist.  The picture is one that she personally created herself, but if you follow the link the main picture for the movie is something she digitally repurposed.  Although she may not have taken the picture, she enhanced someone else's art through her abilities with graphic design. 

http://www.hulu.com/watch/137355

Food = Awe?

There are some things in life that completely captivate me, and when they do I become a very passionate advocate about that thing.  I feel quite often that I lack passion for things.  It is quite difficult for me to find what it is that I truly love while it seems easy for others.  But when I do find it I really love it and I am hooked; sometimes I also get carried away by these passions.  I remember watching the documentary Hungry for Change, yes it is true some documentaries fall under the category of dogmatic theories but this one really changed my view on health.  I hadn’t been taking care of myself and decided I was going to try something new; so I bought a juicer and started the journey.  Now I don’t want this to sound like a testimonial, although I am sure it is sounding like that right about now, but what amazed me was how purely drinking vegetables and fruits changed my attitude.  So I got sucked into it even more.  I am happy to know that from Cara’s comment she also loves juicing.  I guess the thing that created awe was the spiritual connection I began to have with God.  I saw that in all His infinite power He would create things so common that could heal us emotionally and physically.  I began to buy books to study up on the power of vegetables and fruits, and in the end all of this directed me back to D&C 89,

10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

“Contains more anutrients with demonstrable anticancer properties than any other vegetable family…one of the American Cancer Society’s key dietary recommendations to reduce the risk of cancer is to include on a regular basis cruciferous vegetables”  -The Complete Book of Juicing

I find it so amazing that God knows our bodies perfectly.  While I do believe in medicine I also believe there are many ways to heal our bodies simply by using the things that God has provided for us.  I know that these moments of awe with food created a personal rejuvenation within my own soul.  And although this may seem stereotypical, this lead me to practice yoga and do other things that would allow me to further meditate and find awe in life.  Unfortunately I have been sucked back into the busy schedule of life, and maybe this is why it is so hard for me to find awe in everyday life.  I am not looking or having sincere moments of meditation.  In the end these ideas lead me to my final paper project, the power of food in literature that influences women’s lives and leads to awe.  Hmmm, and all of this started from talking about juicing vegetables and fruits. 

The True Monster

One of the best feelings I can, experience, and have experienced, is feeling empowered after talking to someone who inspires me, watching a movie, or reading a book.  It recharges my soul and opens my eyes to the endless possibilities I can achieve while I am here on earth.  It is hard to put into words exactly how I feel, but it is a feeling that I can immediately recognize when it once again creeps into my life.

I remember coming home from my mission and not knowing what to do next; should I continue studying English or was there something else in store?  These feelings filled my mind and I did not have the slightest idea where to go next.  I decided to stay in the major and hope for the best, but quickly I felt the intensity of my decision and felt inferior compared to my classmates.  I felt this for quite a while that semester.  Half way through the semester we began reading “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, and in an instant everything began to change.  Where I had once felt confusion and inferiority had now been replaced by enlightenment and a desire to read more.   I felt life enter into my soul once again.  I identified with both monsters in the story, and I was amazed by how language and nature changed, momentarily, the souls of Frankenstein and his creation.  One point in particular struck me, as the monster lives in complete despair and solitude he discovers language which then leads him to discover books,

I can hardly describe to you the effect of these books. As I read this story, I also felt an indescribable sensation that produced awe and a desire to learn more. They produced in me an infinity of new images and feelings that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection…But Paradise Lost excited different and far deeper emotions.  Emotions that I had also not felt since before my mission began to come back to me.  I felt like I understood life again. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history. It moved every feeling of wonder and awe that the picture of an omnipotent God warring with his creatures was capable of exciting. I often referred the several situations, as their similarity struck me, to my own.

The monster uses language and authorities, citing Paradise Lost,  causing both a connection and trust between he and the reader.  He recognizes the power of this great work and through the power of ethos, readers find common ground and connect even though he is not human. 

It is here in this sentence that we find hyperbole as he exaggerates in order to give greater emphasis to the power contained in books.  The words infinity and ecstasy create feelings of endless images that cause a sense of intense emotions.

They produced in me an infinity of new images and feelings that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection

It is in these moments that I felt a connection to the monster and saw him as a human.  The monster's description of literature creates amplification, empathy and acceptance, which personally caused me to question who the real monster was.  I had let myself wander far too long not feeling and wishing to be back on my mission.  The monster also wandered, hoping for a ray of hope and companionship.  I had all of those things, yet I did not allow myself to see it.  I like, his creator, tried to ignore what reality had to bring.  I honestly felt this book speak to my soul and reignite a flame that had been missing the moment I landed back home in California.

But what interested me was Victor Frankenstein's moments of reality and humanity.  He too had escaped reality but it was in nature, during meditation that he slowly began to feel

                 I spent the following day roaming through the valley. I stood beside the sources of the Arveiron, which take their rise in a glacier,                  that with slow pace is advancing down from the summit of the hills, to barricade the valley. The abrupt sides of vast mountains                      were before me; the icy wall of the glacier overhung me; a few shattered pines were scattered around...These sublime and                          magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness                  of feeling; and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillised it. In some degree, also, they diverted my                  mind from the thoughts over which it had brooded for the last month.

 In this passage we see the use of litotes as he downplays and understates through exaggeration his feelings.  Althought extreme, I too in a sense felt this.  Although a brilliant creator he humanizes himself and shows us his imperfections.  

The intensity of these scenes in nature compared with our own selves creates the sense of awe and wonder.  The use of nature romanticizes this experience and creates a connection with the divine creator.  I took moments as I reflected on his experiences in nature to wonder about creation and my personal relationship with him.

This story changed my outlook and inspired me to go outside myself.  I found that the trees were greener than they had previously appeared and the sun shined brighter than it had before.  I believe much like the moster and his creator that our connection with the divine can create a new life within us.  No matter how different we may feel we can find hope through literature and experiencing the wonders of all God's creations.  It was in this moment that I felt a sincere desire to continue on this path of englightenment and share my experience with others. 

My List

There is no particular order with mine.  I honestly love stories that are raw and depict life how it truly is, filled with the struggles and positive aspects of life.  Honestly each of these books have impacted me in some way.

1.  Frankenstein-  Meditating on who was the true monster and how nature creates or brings back humanity

2. Pride and Prejudice- One of the first moments that I can remember when I found literature to be exciting.  I couldn’t put it down.

3.  The Hunger Games- I felt empowered and the need to stand up for what was right.  It made me feel like one person truly can make a difference.

4.  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-  I loved how raw it was.  Twain’s ability to illustrate reality while pointing out the flaws in thinking really impacted me  

5.  Aguas de Chocolate-  Very empowering to read as a female. I loved how it showcased the importance of not allowing the traditions of our cultures to allow bad behavior in our society.

6.  Warrior (film)- The power of these actors had in order to show the depths of sorrow and vulnerability of pain caused me to continue thinking even after the movie.  I love when the realities we face are portrayed.

7.  “To Room 19” (short story)-  I am attracted to the modernist era.  I am amazed by Lessing’s ability to portray the pain of this woman, her critique on other modernist writers, and her fearlessness in writing.

8.  The Book of Acts-  I cannot even fathom how these apostles could continuously preach the gospel under such struggles and rejection.

9.  My Story: Elizabeth Smart- Although I was creeped out for a week after reading it, and it isn’t necessarily a liter…I couldn’t begin to describe how much respect I have for her for sharing her story and having a positive attitude afterwards.  Really changed my perspective on her situation and how she handled it.  

10.  East of Eden-  Honestly Steinbeck’s brilliance in this book just gives me the chills.  I find it so amazing how he was able to create characters around the idea of Adam and Eve yet make it so new.

Creating: Becoming a Better Organizer

After reading +Greg Bayles's comment on Google+  I began to think of a recent conversation I had in one of my classes and my previous notions of who God was.  I grew up thinking God created everything, which is true, that a mountain was essential made from nothing.  After learning more about God I have come to find out the true nature of this world, and let me tell you it is just as amazing as thinking he created a mountain from nothing. 

Everything in this world is created from matter.  So our bodies, our favorite foods, the chair we sit on are all made of matter.  This matter is something that existed before the world was created, or in essence organized.  From Joseph Smiths "The King Follett Speech"  he discusses who God is and how the earth was created.  He said,

God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!...You ask the learned doctors why they say the world was made out of nothing, and they will answer, “Doesn’t the Bible say he created the world?” And they infer, from the word create, that it must have been made out of nothing. Now, the word create came from the word baurau, which does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize; the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship. Hence we infer that God had materials to organize the world out of chaos—chaotic matter, which is element, and in which dwells all the glory. Element had an existence from the time He had. The pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and re-organized, but not destroyed. They had no beginning and can have no end.

I am in awe that our great creator was the master organizer.  He understood the elements and how to organize them so perfectly that something so complicated like human life could be formed from something so small.  But it is through "small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).  Once we understand a subject in its perfect form it is then when we can manipulate and create things.  While I may not completely agree with certain scientific developments, in essence they are perfecting the art of creation much like God has done.  We are able to become like him so it makes sense that new technological developments are coming forth in our society.  I agree with what +Cara Gillespie  said, it truly is fascinating!  

Place Where the Gods Were Created

Temple of the Feathered Serpent

The Teotihuacan Temple when translated means the place where the Gods were created.  After visiting the temples I can assure you that this truly is a place where Gods are created.  When visitng the temples I was very lucky to be guided by an LDS archeaologist who taught us that according to his research these were temples were they did some of the same ordinances we do today, the only difference, it involved a lot more walking.  While I am not going to go through all the details and things that he had taught us, it is sufficent to say that this was a temple where very special things happened.

Pyramid of the Moon

The detail on the temples were amazing.  I honestly cannot understand how they were able to do so much.  The height alone at the Sun Temple is around 200 feet tall.  This caused me to wonder how they were able to construct multiple temples on these grounds that all were very large.  The stairs at the Sun Temple are so steep that at one point you have to climb up with the aid of your hands.  This ritual represented the trial of life; we have many points when we have to crawl in order to reach out destination.  And once you reached the top, according to our tour guide, an important ritual was done in order to cleanse you. 


 But the reason why this cite impacted me so much was my connection to their past.  Although it's possible that I have no relation to anyone who created this temple, I felt a strong connection to my Mexican roots.  One of my friends, Marina Moreno, commented that "it looked as if I enjoyed my journey to these beautiful places filled with history and culture", and this was true.  It was there that I felt reborn creatively.  I saw what those before me were able to do, and that in turn made me think of what I can do.  Can I too create something that could impact so many?  Maybe what I do will be on a smaller scale, but it was the awe that I felt that ignited once again something that had been dorment.  It was due to my ancestors that I too felt a cleansing in my own Spirit.

 I am so grateful to have been able to visit the Teotihuacan temples. I am in awe by their ability to construct something so beautiful, detailed, and complicated; and it still stands today. I realize that our ancestors really dictate our present and future. With the aid of others before us our creativity can advance and continue forward. I mean it has to start somewhere!