Good Things Initiative
I. Objectives
This new initiative, what we hope will become a multi-platform and multimedia blog, aims to exult the positive effects of the media. This primary objective can be broken down into the following:
A. To promote charitable readings of the media and arts. Although the arts and humanities have, in many ways, been taken over by corporations, they weren't originally intended to be consumed. Rather, they were intended to be part of a greater conversation. As such, we seek to downplay dismissive attitudes toward content. Questions of intent, implication, and inclination will need to be discussed. We approach each piece of media with faith that the creator is not intending destruction.
B. To
provide ample evidence that, contrary to popular belief, there is much
good to partake of, that there are literally millions of gems, hidden
and not-so, that can provide both enrichment and entertainment. We recognize that the products with the largest marketing budgets are often also those that may carry the greatest danger. Because of this, much of our work here will carry the weight of the awareness campaign. When we find a gem, we will celebrate it and share it.
C. To
show that criticism need not be needlessly nihilistic, that commentary
need not be crude, and that firm judgment and strong opinions can be
expressed in ways that benefit more than the author's ego. Furthermore,
we seek to do away with sentimentalities that encourage a lack of
thought, as if thinking was somehow less fun or engaging. We will avoid letting our discussion of media become PR press pieces. We can acknowledge both the good and the bad in the art we are faced with.
D. To demonstrate through said media and arts that we're more alike than different, that while set pieces and costumes may change from scene to scene, we are all very much engaged in the same narrative. The creation of media provides strong unification. A participating audience can leave a greater collective, having brought their varied experiences into the same theatre, movie house, museum, or book club and left with shared experiences. These shared experiences can prove to be tremendously important in the building of communities.
II. Methodologies and Ideologies
Many of us have grown up with dialogue about media that has taught us to be distrustful and even fearful of what we're presented with. In no way do we seek to dismiss those feelings. There are indeed, pornographies being produced, violent acts being exulted, and a tremendous lack of charity presented in much of popular culture. However, our experiences with the artistic have also brought us to greater understanding of ourselves, our communities, and even God Himself. Were we to only listen to the expressions of terror, many of those transcendent experiences would have been missed out on.
Some will dismiss our positive emotions about the arts as emotive romanticism. "I only go for entertainment and relaxation!" they may cry. As the weeks, months, and even years go by on this project, we'll hopefully discuss the positive effects the media has on the audience member who doesn't recognize his/her own transformation.
Setting up specific methodologies and objectives is important. They lend focus to the work, keeping it all from rambling, and allowing specificity to rise to the occasion. However, we fully recognize that such methodologies and objectives are subject to change as we ourselves change. That being said, here are a few approaches and ideologies we hope to utilize to achieve the aforementioned objectives:
-We have struggled internally to define "arts and media." Is a cake a work of art? If we're to say the historical site isn't art, could one argue that the accompanying visitors center is? The bulk of our work (and it will be work) will be focused on traditional (i.e., common) definitions of art: literature (fiction and non), film (in the theater or on the home screen), theatre (live or recorded), music (etc.), dance (etc.), visual art (etc.). While we may not be able to discuss the mountain itself, we will be able to discuss the photograph of the mountain.
-As we aim to highlight the good things out there, we hopefully will not be limited to the printed word. While initial discussions will be held through traditional blogposts, we hope that posts will converse with each other. We hope to expand into photographic conversations, to filmed panels, testimonials, personal essays, and to whatever other medium we can come up with to discuss the various media we're approaching.
-While we will review media, we will strive to avoid the "thumbs up/thumbs down" rhetoric of the contemporary commercial critic. We'll discuss what's being accomplished and why it's being attempted but we'll resist the urge to say "Five stars for fabulous" and other simplistic statements. As acknowledged already, we will openly comment on the positives and negatives of each piece of art, but we will do so to capture the whole rather than to capture the ticket buyer's affection or disdain. In our critical conversations we'll avoid accusatory,
dismissive language. We’ll also avoid overly superficial discussion -
while we’re here to promote the idea that there’s more good than bad
out there, if we get overly sunshiny about the things we’re
discussing, we’ll become little more than marketing, the art we’re
talking about will be reduced to products, and readers will be left feeling like customers rather than as engaged participants.
-Personal and academic readings will be encouraged and occasionally dealt with but not required. A critical studies approach will be frequently taken but with an understanding that this is not a project for academic consumption but for the layman. A feminist or Mormon reading will always be welcome but if it's unfriendly to the uninformed it will have missed its purpose. When scholarship is discussed, a conversational tone will be aimed for.
III. Inspiration
General Thoughts:
-"The
act of viewing (and hearing) can be just as creative, and as
satisfying, as activities usually ascribed to filmmakers and other
artists." (Thinking About Film: A Critical Perspective, Dean Duncan)
-"Challenge
can be invigorating. Attention to these additional contexts can remove
the reader, if he or she is willing, from the passive, self-centered
demand for mere entertainment and escape that is so characteristic of
contemporary film culture." (Thinking About Film)
-"We go on
learning, after we have read a text, by sharing our interpretation with
others, and by letting their interpretations enrich our own... The
interpretive community thus becomes a resource not only of ideas but
also of the processes by which ideas are formed and shaped." (Bridging English, Joseph O. Milner, Lucy M. Milner, and Joan F. Mitchell)
-"Learning is not waiting for the revelation but making it, not absorbing knowledge but creating it." (Bridging English)
-"Readers' personal involvement in the text will affect the trajectory of their entire lives as literate
and ethical people who know themselves more perceptively and see beyond themselves more empathetically." (Bridging English)
-"President
David O. McKay (1873–1970) was inclined to awaken daily at 4:00 a.m.,
skim read up to two books, and then commence his labors at 6:00 a.m. He
could quote 1,000 poems from memory. He referred to the grand masters of
literature as the 'minor prophets.'" (Our Refined Heavenly Home, Douglas L. Callister)
-"After
the first performance of The Messiah, Handel, responding to a compliment,
said, 'My lord, I should be sorry if I only entertained them—I wish to
make them better.' Haydn 'dressed in his best clothes to compose because
he said he was going before his maker.'" (Our Refined Heavenly Home)
-"Your
Father in Heaven has sent you away from His presence to have
experiences you would not have had in your heavenly home—all in
preparation for the conferral of a kingdom. He doesn’t want you to lose
your vision. You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained
to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment
of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language,
literature, music, art, and order of heaven.” (Our Refined Heavenly Home)
From the Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:
-"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul - We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." (Articles of Faith 1:13 - emphasis added)
-"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God... It is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil... Every thing which inviteth to do good...is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore you may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God... Wherefore...if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?" (Moroni 7:13, 15-16, 19-20)
-"Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that
I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old;
not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the
weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.
For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the
body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet." (1 Nephi 19:6-7)
-"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body...Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." (James 3:2, 13)
-"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)
-"Who hath ears to ear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand... Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." (Matthew 13:9-13, 16)
-"If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving." (Doctrine and Covenants 136:28)
IV. Conclusion
This is a passion project. The individual passions of the current contributors (Emily, Rachel, and David) are varied but find unity in celebration of the creations of man. Victor Hugo famously wrote that "to love another person is to see the face of God" and we have found such proximity to God as we've explored the expressions of our brothers and sisters.
An accidental arrogance may arise in our expressions. We're enthusiastic about what we've discovered and what we'll share. We'd feel ungrateful, uncharitable even, if we failed to share the things we've seen, heard and felt. But we're the first to admit that our knowledge is limited. None of us has seen it all and our responses will be far from definitive. As a result, this passion project is one that will require the active and vocal participation of its readers. Challenge what we say. Notify us of the life-altering song you recently discovered. Volunteer to write for us! A communal experience is the optimal experience here.
