Example of Parody

When we discussed parodies in class the other day, immediately Weird Al came to mind. If you don't already know who he is, he's a guy who bases all his music off of other songs that have been written, and just changes the lyrics in a very humorous way. One of my favorite parodies that he does is off of the song "American Pie," but he changes the title to "The Saga Begins" following after the theme of Star Wars. You kind of have to know the Star Wars background to get all the clever and comical references, but even if not he still puts on a good show. :)

What are some of your favorite parodies (i.e. music, books, articles, movies, SNL skits...)?

The Power of Music

What is it about music? Inspiration, power, motivation, tears, empathy, happiness, joy, anger, comfort, and a countless list of other emotions all come from the sweet sounds of instruments, voices, lyrics or a combination of all three. It has been said that, “Through music, man’s ability to express himself extends beyond the limits of the spoken language in both subtlety and power. Music can be used to both exalt and inspire or to carry messages of degradation and destruction” (Priesthood Bulletin, August 1973, page 3).

Part of me is having a lot of trouble writing this post, because it's difficult to express the power of music and my feelings of its influence. There are so many songs that have put my thoughts into words, and have been a refuge in times of need.

I don't think movies or television would be the same without music either. The movie Jaws would cease to be so scary without the "duuu... du. duuu... du. du du du du dududududu." (I hope you all know what I was referring to). Furthermore, romantic scenes in the rain would lack its passion without the sweet sound of strings playing in the background, and Indiana Jones would not be Indiana Jones without his theme song music...

Nevertheless, despite we may not have such a perfectly scripted movie score to our lives, I've often found that certain songs will impeccably describe our feelings of a moment, and the soundtrack of our lives will be continually changing, supporting, uplifting, and empathizing with every instant.

I have waaaaay too many favorite songs, but one of my go-to songs when I like to just sit and think is "Shine" by William Joseph. The simple, but powerful chords and melody of the piano uplift me with peace and conviction.

What are some of your favorite songs?

Ethos: Fear and Faith

Recently, I've been having difficulty deciding what to major in. My original plan was to just get some generals done my first year, and hope something would spark interest along the way. However, in the back of my mind I think I always knew what I wanted to do. I love composing music and with that, I thought of the possibility of majoring in the Media Music program (i.e. composing music for the radio, television, albums, movies). I kept pushing it aside though thinking that it probably wasn't a realistic option, I wasn't talented enough, I wouldn't be able to find a job, it was too competitive, I didn't want my passion to become a chore... etc... etc... the list of excuses went on and on. To my pleasant surprise, however, a few weeks ago in Relief Society a lesson was given on developing talents. When the teacher asked the question to the class about how we can develop our talents, I was so impressed with one of the girl's answers. She said,

"Sometimes we're blessed talents, and we're presented with opportunities to develop them, but we turn away thinking we're not adequate enough. I think the biggest way to help develop talents is to stop taking counsel from our fears. Once we overcome the fear of failing, a world of capabilities will open to us that we never knew we could possess."

Talk about an answer to prayers. I went home, rearranged my schedule, and signed up for some music classes as a prerequisite to the Media Music major. It's definitely going to be a leap of faith experiencing if this is the path I'm suppose to go, but for now it feels right. As a final thought from the April 2009 General Conference, Kevin W. Pearson gave the counsel that "Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other. The simple fact is we all need to constantly build faith and overcome sources of destructive disbelief." If you ask me, I'd rather be fearless than faithless. 

The Power of Laughter

For me, one of the most persuasive aspects of a person is their ability to make me laugh. As an authority figure, my mother's ability to make me laugh increased the success of her efforts in getting me to get me to do things, inclined me to spend time with her, as well as seek her lighthearted motherly advice. Although many times her humor may have been unintentional, or maybe even perceived as eccentric, I look back with fond memories on all the times my mother brought laughter into my life. Here are a couple of the innumerable humorous stories. I hope they bring a smile to your face as much as they do to mine. :)

As a teenager and throughout her adult life, my mother dealt with health issues that caused her to eat what most may have perceived as a strange diet. My grandparents learned to accept her odd eating habits, and would not question her actions that seemed out of the ordinary. When my mom was in high school, she took advantage of her parents trust and would turn on the blender at night. Thinking she was just making a usual late night concoction, my grandparents didn't think twice about the reoccurring, random blender noises coming from the kitchen multiple times a week. If only they knew she was actually turning on the blender to cover up the sound of the garage door opening so she could sneak out with the car! :)

In 9th grade I wanted to get my schedule changed to a biology class that was difficult to get into. While I was in school, my mom went into the counselor's office to talk about the schedule change. That week she had been experiencing a cold that made her eyes water, and began to profusely tear up as she spoke. The counselor immediately changed my schedule to aid a woman who seemed to be on the verge of hysterics. My mom felt quite embarrassed after the episode, but we both learned the secret to a desired schedule change. :)

You know those ladies who sing the hymns as loud as they can in church and you can pick out their voices in the congregation? Ya, my mom was one of those choice individuals. My siblings and I would take turns sacrificing our eardrums each Sunday when we sat next to her. :)

When I asked my mom why she just named me 'Eliza' instead of 'Elizabeth' she said, "Elizabettthhhhh Smittthhhhh... now that would have been too 'thuthy.'" :)

(Background: I only have one married sibling, and three other older siblings that are at an eligible age, and are all highly encouraged to also be married). When we were driving to a family Christmas party, my mom had been feeling sick earlier that day and squirmed in the passenger seat experiencing pain in her stomach. Nevertheless, turning the discomfort into jest she said, "Ah! This is how my stomach felt when I was pregnant! Maybe I have to bring all the grandchildren into this world too, because none of my children are getting married!" :)

My mom was such a great example in teaching me how the power of laughter is such a positive tool. The chuckles of influence provide understanding, growth, joy, and leave sunshine of happy memories in the melancholy bouts of life. Whether by laughing, or making someone else laugh, a difference has been made.

Right Person. Right Place. Right Time.

Many years ago I got the following poem in an email. This has always stuck with me in explaining that certain people are sent into our life at certain moments, and we are sent in theirs. As an example of kairos, I believe that the timing of when these select individuals enter our lives is essential to our growth. Though some may leave our lives sooner than hoped, I also believe the timing of their exit is just as critical as the time spent together. Whether for a Reason, Season, or Lifetime I hope all who read this poem will gain a sense of appreciation for all the lessons learned from others in life, the relationships that have brought about progression, and the impeccable timing that ensured these lessons were learned most effectively.

Reason, Season, Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

Rhetorical Analysis

Writing a rhetorical analysis from King Benjamin's speech was definitely an interesting experience for me. First off, I've never really applied literary devices to the scriptures before, so it was a new adventure to critique and analyze the use of King Benjamin's syntax, imagery, and word choice. As I read the speech with the mindset of looking for devices that emphasized ethos, pathos, and logos, my annotations filled up the page and I had to restrain myself from highliting just about everything. There was so much good material to use. Nevertheless, with so much good material, there was a lot of information to cut down and organize. That was probably the most difficult thing of the whole process to organize my thoughts.

I also found that sometimes the points you find most engaging don't always have the most material to write about, so it's a matter of picking and choosing which points carry the best of both worlds--a point and a good argument. After finalizing the details of the organizational process, the rest of the paper was much easier to write. Don't get me wrong, there was definitely quite a few prayers for inspiration, but it all worked out in the end.

I also went into this paper with the mindset that I was just going to sit down for hours to think and write for the whole day, but realistically I should've known that my attention span can't last that long for hours at a time. When I went to take a break, however, it proved to be quite helpful as I'd go and play the piano, then come back to write and suddenly words and ideas would come to mind. It was very interesting to me that I had been suffering from severe writer's block, and then a half hour of piano playing could formulate paragraphs and bursts of enlightenment.

Altogether, the experience proved to me a lesson of learning "to not run faster than I have strength," as well as a beneficial writing and analytical experience. It only reinforced to me of how influential the scriptures really are. Every word was divinely chosen and inspired to evoke ethos, logos, and pathos within in the reader to come unto Jesus Christ. No wonder it is the most correct of any book on earth.

Mirroring the Media

My research topic is on how the media affects body image and self perception. With more sources than ever before, the media has countless ways to present the ideal body type and character it influences society to follow. However, this effect on society can often have negative consequences. Multiple studies have shown that the more women are exposed to thin models and celebrities in the media, the more likely they are liable to have body dissatisfaction. In conjunction, the same goes for men who are often exposed to the ideal male stereotype with a V-shaped muscle structure, narrow waist, well-developed chest, shoulders, arms, and six pack. Products and programs are sold to seem make attaining this ideal body type an easy task; however, this body portrayed by the media often takes years of exercise, dieting, and maybe even supplemental use. For fast results, men and women also may develop eating disorders, or exercise addictions causing physical consequences to quickly obtain this ideal body shape.

In the media music industry, studies have also shown that people pick up personality traits according to the music genre they listen to. For example, those who listen to violent songs, have found to be more aggressive in thoughts and behavior. The same goes for music that portrays songs about sex and immorality, inspiring thoughts that could lead the listener to promiscuous activity. Prolonged exposure to these types of music and media, may soon develop into normal acceptance of this type of behavior.

Furthermore, with the modern use of internet, users have greater control to search for what they are interested in, or could be influenced by. For example, a study on adolescent girls and social networking showed that those who spend more time on social networking sites, had a higher drive for thinness and were not satisfied with their weight. Such sites potentially put pressure on its users to to portray attractive pictures of them, and allow for appearance comparison. Usually users of these social networking sites will generally only post pictures that show them looking good, doing something cool, and even these can be photo-shopped or digitally modified. Overall, the media has a profound effect in shaping society's perception of the individual.

Are you mirroring the media?

The Atonement

So, here's another guilty pleasure. I'm a big fan of reading LDS romance novels. Despite the extreme cheesiness that these classics sometimes contain, I really like the spiritual aspect intertwined with the stories. A few years ago, a passage from a novel called "When the Bough Breaks" really put things into an enlightened frame of mind for me. In the story, the character Rachel is talking to her step-brother Dallin about how to deal with her dad's death and he says,

"You know, Rachel, no one in the world has gone through what you have. Sure, you're not the only person who's lost a parent, but no one experienced the exact circumstances of your dad's death exactly as you did. Not even your brothers. Everything about you and your relationship with your dad makes your situation unique. That's why Christ is the only one who can help you get through this or any of your trials. He experienced the exact trials and the exact pain you're going through when He was in Gethsemane, in the exact way you're experiencing it and going through it every day. You don't have to explain why and how you hurt to Him. He already knows. That's why He's the one who knows how to heal and comfort you, if you'll go to Him for help. Sometimes He sends that comfort and help through other people, and sometimes it comes in pretty unexpected and unique ways. that's why it's important not to push people away who want to help. And that's why understanding and using Christ's atonement can help so much."

This really put things into perspective for me about Christ's atonement. I'd always heard it said a million times that "Christ knows exactly what you're going through." But suddenly after reading this passage, I had a light bulb moment. Suddenly those words made complete sense. Sure, Christ knows what it's like to have a bad day. But he suffered to know what it was like to go through one of my bad days. That excerpt from the book brought a lot of comfort and understanding, and I'm glad I was able to comprehend a little bit more about the atonement. It made me appreciate Christ so much more, and gave me a feeling and sense of duty of how I need to shape up and be better to not make Christ's cause and atoning sacrifice all for nothing. It was also interesting for me to read this passage, gain this understanding, and then have my own mother pass away just two months later.

All in all, I know such ironic happenings were not random. The Lord is extremely aware of each of us, and sometimes sends comfort and help in "pretty unexpected and unique ways." Even through an LDS romance novel. :)

What is it about hiking?

About a week ago I went hiking up Millcreek Canyon to Grandeur Peak. Starting at 8:30 in the morning, my friend and I began to start the climb up the mountain... ten minutes into the hike and we were already panting, took a break, and drank half the water bottle. Now take that scenario and times it by 1000 all the way to the peak. Arriving at the top two and a half hours later, it was pretty comical to have spry old men that were behind us, get ahead of us, make it to the top, and start heading back down before we had even reached the summit. My thighs and calves were aching. The sun burned my skin, and flies nipped my flesh all the way to the top. Rocks got in my shoe. Why did I endure that? Why did I force myself to make it to the top? Is it logical? What is it about a physically draining activity that provides such a sense of accomplishment? My mind was racing with all these questions as I trekked up the canyon, but all concerns were answered at the top when I saw this:

It's interesting how once at the top, all physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion doesn't matter once that breathtaking view is in sight. Oftentimes I've noticed situations like this hike, and other difficult physical activities are comparable to real life situations/problems because we know that if we do it, it will all be worth it in the end. For me, life was suddenly put into perspective and my vision was expanded to sights, sounds, and feelings that could only be experienced on the top of a mountain. Funny how nature can do that to ya. Now all that needs to be invented is a zip line that you can ride down from the top... :)

Frozen Yogurt Fetish

I'll admit it. I'm addicted to Frozen Yogurt. About a year or two ago, I remember there was an explosion of frozen yogurt joints popping up all over the place, and once I went to one I was hooked. Within a ten mile radius of my home, I have eight places I can think of to go to for such a delectable treat. It has become my friend and I's hobby to go investigate each place throughout the valley, and discover which one is the best. Here are a list of my top four and why.

1. Yogurtland - It has the most flavors, and the most toppings. I believe it's the cheapest too. The first time I went I was so surprised to have my bowl filled to the brim with frozen yogurt and toppings only come out to about $3.50. They also have complimentary water, an addition I found very refreshing after having some really rich froyo. The environment is colorful and lively, and those working there offer very helpful suggestions for flavor combinations and which toppings to try.

2. Top It - It is very similar to Yogurtland, but has less a variety of flavors and toppings. The location in Holladay, Utah that I usually go to also has a colorful setting, but is much more cozy. It's become a go-to place to have long talks with friends because it has a lot of great quiet, comfortable places to chat, and you don't feel rushed to leave once you're done eating. They also offer stamp cards for frequent visitors that does save some money every once in awhile after you've bought 9 or so yogurts (every Tuesday is a double stamp day).

3. TCBY - I love this place because they have the best fruit flavors. Their red grapefruit sorbet is my absolute favorite. Nevertheless, it's one of those places that you can only catch certain flavors every once in awhile, so don't always come with expectations. There's always bound to be an option that will satisfy though, and unlike some other places I've been to, they offer a swirl option that automatically mixes two complimentary flavors together. They do have pretty good toppings too, but my only complaint is that some of the fruit is previously frozen and there's more juice than fruit, therefore making the frozen yogurt a wee bit soupy. There's also a soda machine to quench thirst, and they do sell some of their flavors to take home. This establishment also has bright decor, and offers a laid back ambiance with comfortable couch-type stools. Highly recommended.


4. Yogurt Stop - I think I mostly just love this place cause of their root beer flavor, but I usually end up putting every flavor in my bowl cause it's all just so good. It's a quaint setting with only a few flavors and a couple toppings, but they also offer smoothies, shakes, and drinks. Unlike some other places I've been to, however, they offer very pleasant couches to sit on, as well as the usual café type tables and they have lots of magazines for their customers to enjoy. It's definitely the place to go to sit, relax, read, and partake of fantastic froyo.

                         

Other places I've been to include to Spoon Me, Yoway, Frogurt, Spoon it Up, Fresh Twist, L.A. Tart, Red Mango, EarthFruits Yogurt... they all had something positive to contribute to my taste buds, but the ones above are the four I'm partial to. I'm always up for a new place to try though! Any suggestions? :)

Logical Fallacy: Good or Bad?

Ever since we talked about logical fallacies in my Writing and Rhetoric class the other day, I have been astounded at my findings. For example, there's a rule in my family that it's required to do all the chores and homework before going to hang out with friends. One morning, however, I got invited to go out to breakfast with some friends, and promised that I would return and get my work done afterwards. Nevertheless, my oldest sister that's in charge begged to differ. She said, "If I make an exception for you then I have to make an exception for everyone."

This was very much a Slippery Slope logical fallacy, by accusing that letting me go to out to breakfast would completely ruin the order of the rules and structure within the home. I know it is true that sometimes younger siblings take advantage of these exceptions, because I have also been guilty of this situation (i.e. "You let her go on a road trip with friends when she was 18, so why can't I?). But then again, every individual is different. Some exceptions can be made if you know the person is more more mature, dependable, and will follow through with what they say, versus another who may be more reckless, careless, and procrastinates. I wasn't in the mood to argue and point out the intellectual flaw of her argument, so I complied, didn't go out to breakfast, and made other plans with friends for lunch after I finished my work.

I wonder when I become older if I'll have a more autocratic parenting style by allowing none of my children to be the exception to the rule, or if I'll be more laid back and democratic. Looking back on my childhood it's interesting to recall all the logical fallacies and ultimatums my parents gave to get me to do things... Or how many times I'm guilty of using them without thinking in my own life.

Altogether, the range of fallacies that can be used present many interesting examples to follow. I suppose it's how you apply them into your life that makes them credible or not. Or choosing which fallacies you will let influence you.