Phantom of the Opera!!

Alright, Phantom was way too good for me not to blog about it. I got to go see BYU's production on Friday night. Having just seen Phantom on Broadway this Thanksgiving, I was expecting an OK college-level performance. But I was blown away by the skill of all the main actors, and I found myself drawn into the story, once again. One thing I love about live theater is that each time you watch a play, you are seeing the one and only of that play, because it will never be done exactly the same again. I also love the freedom that actors have to depict their characters, because I find that every actor brings out a new side of each character that I had never thought of before. I also need to say, I think the Phantom's voice was AMAZING. Too bad he just proposed to his girlfriend ;) Ok, totally kidding. But my sister was disappointed when she heard that.

Now for some analysis. I thought that content was good, because I find that whenever I go to a show like this, I feel inspired, and I feel a little bit of that wonder that our friend Dr. Wesch was talking about. I think the wonder comes from seeing such a polished, high quality performance, no doubt the result of countless hours spent in preparation for the show. I think that shows such as Phantom could have a great impact for good by inspiring people, and especially young kids, to work on their talents, whatever those talents may be. With enough consistent hard work, dreams can come true. However, you have to have a dream before you shoot for it, and I think that the magic produced by Phantom has the potential to create such a vision within a person.

How DO Giraffes Sleep?

Ok. I just have to give a shout out to Dr. Michael Wesch's awesome speech he gave at the BYU forum yesterday. His speech was entitled, "The End of Wonder in the Age of Whatever," and he focused on how technology (the media!!) affects society and culture today. He made me rethink how I use technology. If you didn't get a chance to see it, it'll be up on byub.org and speeches.byu.edu.

Some of my favorite ideas from his speech:

• The trick about the "knowledge machine"--it only works with questions. If you don't have a question, it is only a distraction.
• A question is a QUEST. Questions have a profound capacity to connect us. They promote a meeting of minds, and allow us to embrace vulnerability.
• A classroom is successful if it not only gives you answers to your existing questions, but also creates many more new questions.
• Who we are is reflected back to us by those around us. How we treat others matters! As you lose yourself, you learn more about yourself.
• Technology can create boxes around us if we let it. Those boxes remove us from one another and decrease connection.
• “We cannot selectively numb emotions; when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.” --Brené Brown
• A common attitude towards the amazing capacity of technology: “In the midst of a fabulous array of historically unprecedented and utterly mind‑boggling stimuli, whatever.” 
• Today, students in lecture halls experience a level of disengagement. They're learning to follow, they're learning how to successfully take exams, but they're not learning about the subject itself. Questions asked in this environment are based on what is on the exam, instead of questions that burn in the soul.
• Together, WE make the world. Embrace vulnerability. Establish connection. Join the symphony. Celebrate the actual, pursue the positive. Wonder!
• Like love, wonder is not just an experience, it's a CAPACITY.

He received a standing ovation :)

I Love Abe.

"Do you think we choose the times into which we are born? Or do we fit the times we are born into?"

 
Last night I went to see Lincoln. Being Canadian, I feel like I don't know as many nitty gritty details about American history. But I loved American Heritage, and I loved this movie! If you're looking for action-packed, you won't get it, but despite all the debates and politics, there's a lot of wit that pleasantly surprised me. And I know, this is Hollywood depiction of Abraham Lincoln, but I found myself really liking him. His reedy voice and quiet, kindly demeanor that compels everyone to stop and listen. His ability to listen and not jump to conclusions. It reminded me of Amazing Grace, if you've ever seen that. Awesome film as well :)

Be Willing To Stand Inside the Fire!

One thing I appreciate about media is its power to inspire. This song was introduced to me at the start of the semester in one of my other classes, and it has been in my head every single day since then. I guess that it has become sort of a theme song for me, because every time I feel scared, inadequate or even overwhelmed, this inevitably comes back to me.

In class, we discussed how in life, sometimes we think that we are safe from heartache and pain if we don't put ourselves out there, if we don't take risks and walk the line. Which is probably true. But is that really living a full life? I think that it's impossible to reach our full potential without being willing to be tested, to get outside of our comfort zone. We also need to be willing to suffer. Some of the greatest lessons that I have ever learned came out of situations where I was pushed past what I thought I could handle. Why are those experiences so meaningful? Tell me what you think.

Here's the video. Call me a baby, but I definitely cried at the end! The lyrics are underneath.
(oh... and sorry about the poor quality... and the weird band clips. It's old. But good. :P)

Song--Standing Outside the Fire

Artist--Garth Brooks

We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned

But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They're so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire