An amazing bit of creative art

I was randomly browsing the internet and I came across this website of a guy who does some pretty spectacular work with paper. I'm impressed.

This will waste ten minutes of your time

Okay, I found this interesting game online. Here's how it works: there are three lines attached to your mouse. they all spin at whatever speed you input. When you click and hold the mouse, the last line starts drawing and the computer will draw whatever shape you've created (as long as you don't move the mouse while it's drawing). It sounds odd and not that interesting, but give it a try. You'll enjoy wasting 10 minutes or so.

Geosketch

Great Acting

Acting, like any other skill, is something that takes a lot of work and study to be really good at. Most really good actors are very keenly observant of people and the way that they move, talk, stand, gesture, and communicate non-verbally. For less talented actors, they make a good living playing the same part over and over again. A few start as the I-always-play-the-oddball-in-comedies type of actor and then show us some versatility later. Some actors always do basically the same poor acting job, but find a movie in which their weird style works really well. But there are a few really great actors who seem to be able to play anything and nail it.

TW and I watched a movie the other day with one of those actors. In fact, I'd say that he's probably the best actor I've ever seen: Dustin Hoffman. We watched "Tootsie," which I haven't seen for years and I was completely blown away. It's an 80's movie, so there's some language in it, but other than that it's a great movie. As a performer and an actor, I take my hat off to Dustin Hoffman. He's amazing in everything I've ever seen him do.

The end of the rant

Well, here we are at the end. Congratulations to everyone who is still reading.

Problem 9: Cultural stigma against real art

I read an article for a class of mine that has something to do with this subject. Essentially, the articles expresses the idea that many people consider something good as long as it doesn't have anything even remotely objectionable in it, and they consider something bad when there is anything slightly objectionable in it. Unfortunately, many of the world's greatest works of art include material that might offend some people. What we need is the ability to glean something of value from a work even if there are things we don't agree with. Of course there are limits. We don't want to be viewing things that are openly pornographic or things that don't exercise any sense of restraint, but otherwise we should approach things with some toleration.

Let me give you an example (the same one used in the article in case you decided to skip it): Shakespeare. Most people will agree that his work is one of the great pinnacles of literature. Shakespeare was lovingly carried across the plains by pioneers who could bring precious little art and culture with them. We revere the work that he did and quote it often in church or general conference, yet Shakespeare is filled with dirty jokes, violence, witchcraft, and mounds of other vulgar and profane things. But that doesn't change the fact that his work can touch profound and sublime things in all of us. Shakespeare is therefore great art, in spite of the portions of his work that some would find objectionable.

Essentially I am saying that we need reasonable vigilance against damaging material in art, but that we shouldn't throw something good out because of some small offense.

Problem 10: Assumption that LDS-themed art is bad
I'm as guilty of this as anyone. When I hear about a new play based on the Book of Mormon, I assume that it's going to be bad. When someone writes a new piece of music about the Gospel, I usually don't go to see it because I don't want to be embarrassed by its low quality. The same goes for painting and books and all the other arts. Some of that response is conditioned by repeated disappointments, but it is exactly that kind of conditioned response that we need to guard against. In other words, give LDS artists a chance. Someday they'll create something great. A few already have.

If you want to read a little more about LDS art and artists, go here.

Here, here, here, and here are a few artist who I think are doing a great job, right now.


Well, that's the end of my rant. As a disclaimer I reserve the right to change my mind about any or all of the things I have written at any time, without notice. That is all.

Coming into the home stretch here

It's the halfway point on my multi-week rant, so let's dive right in.

Problem 6: Unrealistic views of life and the human condition
My view on this particular issue is changing around somewhat. On the one hand, we tend to be a more positive and optimistic group of people than most. Some, even in the church, would say that we're just fooling ourselves. If we lived in the real world we'd know what it was really like and we'd know how terrible everything is.

Bull.

I watched an interview with President Packer, and he made some terrific points. I kept thinking that he was in trouble with some of the questions that he was being asked, but his responses were terrific. In answer to a similar question that was raised (I apologize for the paraphrasing, but I don't have a transcript of it) he said, "It's our responsibility to represent things as they ought to be, not as they are." He went on to say essentially that it was good and wonderful and important to deal with difficult subjects, but you can do it in a way that's tasteful. You can portray things in such a way that it is clear what has gone on, but that doesn't offend the spirit. As far as our world-view goes, assuming that our theology (or really almost anyone's theology) is true, and I believe that ours is, then a positive, upbeat outlook on life is the proper one.

Problem 7: No market for quality work
As I've pondered this, I don't think it's the issue. People want quality work, they often just don't know how to distinguish it. For instance, if all you've ever seen is a light bulb, then you can't conceive of how bright and illuminating the sun it. In the same way, we have many members who've rarely seen truly great, or even truly good art. If they had, then much of the problem would be non-existent I believe.

Problem 8: Intolerance for "black sheep" in the LDS community
The beautiful thing about the gospel is how broad and inclusive it is. So much of it is left up to our own personal judgement that it can be easy to look askance at those who choose differently than you do on some of those grey areas. Beyond just small things, it's even more difficult for those who struggle with major issues, but still try and remain worthy. Let me give you an example: I attend BYU as a music major. For some reason, the arts tend to attract people with homosexual tendencies. Even at BYU, many of my good friends struggle with same-sex attraction. They're good people and some of the most talented students that we have at the school, but they're under almost a don't ask/don't tell type of policy. Officially they're welcome to attend BYU as long as they maintain the standards like anyone else, but they often deal with persecution and ostracization from so-called Christians who find out about them. Prejudice like that is unacceptable. The quickest way to kill the arts is to start making life difficult for those who don't fit the perfect normal mold.

I don't want this to be just a rant on accepting people who struggle with sin. I have friends who felt like they were resented by some members of their congregation simply because they drank caffeine or watched r-rated movies or had some odd hobby. Whether or not you think that those things are sins, there are surely better causes that you can put your time into than stamping out Pepsi and Coke's presence in Utah. Just remember that we as a people need to be more tolerant and loving overall, and less rigid, judgemental, and exclusive.