A Little Late: New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions:
In the spirit of a new year, I’ve decided to follow suit and create some resolutions. I’ve basically spent the first 12 days of 2008 pouting. 2007 was undoubtedly the best year I’ve ever experienced. It’s going to be pretty impossible to beat…I was content with myself, travelling a great deal, getting into my favorite schools, meeting wonderful people, and becoming closer with people I was already friends with. The New Year got off to a mediocre start, but instead of pouting and whining about it, I’m going to applaud the things in my life that I love. My mother always told me “happiness is a choice.” I’m not sure that I agree entirely—It definitely can be on a superficial level but I don’t know that you can chronically choose to be happy. Anyway, I’m going to be happy (at least superficially) right now.
These are a few of my favorite things:
1. Cream colored ponies
2. Crisp Apple Strudels…
3. Quoting musical theatre around those who may or may not know that I’m quoting musical theatre
4. Wearing mismatched clothes that are comfortable (like now, for instance)
5. Walking. It’s been the best part of the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008. I have rediscovered the beauty of walking/working out. It is lovely. It’s my time to myself, my time to reflect.
6. My new Kreuger coffee maker. You just pop in a little packet of cocoa, tea, or coffee and out comes happiness!
7. My room at home and at school. I love my roommates, but I don’t feel like you get any sense of who they are from their little sections of our room. Mine might be ADD-Katharine-Infested, but I love it. It’s cluttered and musical and bright and cluttered and filled with letters and pictures of my favorite people.
8. Jon McLaughlin and Jason Robert Brown. These two men take jazz-piano to a new greatness. I’m about to sound really cheesy, but their music literally feeds my soul. I had another wonderful solo piano-playing experience in Tuthill this morning. The room was quiet and dark, and the extended grand Steinway was almost beckoning for me to sit in front of it and play. Pianos are possibly my favorite things in the world. They are impressive enough just on their own—a wonderful shape, clean, classy, inviting. The fact that they make music that I can’t explain is just a bonus. I know I’m not making any sense right now and that I sound like a crazy person, but that’s because I am. Point of story is Jon McLaughlin and JRB use pianos properly and I applaud them for that.
9. Film Scores and my discovery of Dario Marianelli- I’ve already discussed his work in Atonement in great detail, but I love it.
10. “Ode to a Butterfly”—Nickel Creek. This instrumental-only piece makes me giggle with happiness whether I’m in a good or bad mood.
11. Theatre that is well done. Kudos to Neo Futurists theatre for creating something provocative yet great. Goodness knows the effort to strike that balance is my greatest struggle.
12. Being proven wrong. If you know me at all, you know that I loathe and despise failure. At the same time, being proven wrong is incredibly healthy for me. There’s one class that I’m taking currently that I thought was going to be dreadful and the first class actually proved to be wonderfully helpful and fun. It’s not my favorite class, but it’s not as hokey as I thought it was going to be.
13. Clutter and the possibility of cleaning. Clutter is comfortable for me. My poor roommates are probably ready to kill me, but since most of my belongings—clothes, products, food, and bedspread—are absurdly bright colored, it’s nice having them all strewn about. I’m currently considering turning half of my section into a closet. I literally desire to put rows and rows of rods in my little corner to create a closet large enough to house my vetements.
14. French. I love it when people speak it, sing it, anything. I love French movies and French music. Take me to Paris. Or Nice—ahhh I love Nice! I think it’s time for another European excursion… Anyway, the language is just the best. One of my favorite things is when people can’t think to explain something properly in English, so they use French almost abashedly…as though it were too suggestive and mysterious to use.
15. Travel. I love planes, trains, cars, bikes…I just like moving. My mother made the observation over the holidays that I’m never happy where I am—I’m always searching for the next best thing. But isn’t that how people achieve? I definitely can be happy where I am but I’m rarely content. There’s a difference. Anyway, I love travelling and exploring new places and possibilities of future residence…
16. Millennium Park and Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. Kudos to all major cities creating parks to link their Arts District buildings together.
17. Banjos. Yes, banjos. My friend’s letting me borrow his, and I’m in love with it. It’s beautiful and it creates the most bizarrely wonderful sound.
18. Skinny lattes at starbucks. Basically, I’m ordering the same thing, but they have a wonderfully simple name for them. Rather than ordering a nonfat, no whip, sugar-free cinnamon dolce latte, I can just ask for a “skinny” cinnamon dolce latte. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m enjoying one now. It’s delectable.
19. Art in public spaces. The Cultural Center in Chicago literally produced a booklet of all the sculpture and art in the city so you could give yourself a walking tour. How ridiculously awesome is that?
20. Boots. I love my new boots. I have two pairs and they are both beautiful. The look awesome with almost everything and I got them on sale. Don’t tell.
21. Blogging! I love it. I love blogger, blogtalkradio, non “blog” official blogs…they’re all great. Mazeltov to all who express themselves at least somewhat eloquently and rant-free on the internet.
22. “Green Finch and Linnet Bird.” Besides the fact that I love the word “linnet,” this song is beautiful. “If I cannot fly…let me sing.” I love that!
23. Those who understand, appreciate, and encourage art.
24. Goofy voices.
25. Coats.
26. Hot cider brought to you by very kind friends when you feel disgusting and sick.
27. BBC Radio—I’ve listened to it all morning. It is lovely. Along with this I shall add my love for TED talks and Podcasts of books—free audible!! (I’m listening to Pride and Prejudice now…)
28. The posters for Atonement and Caramel. I want wallpaper made out of them.
29. Making documentaries. I have a camera I checked out of the library only after I realized I don’t have any tapes…I need to fix this, but then I can start making videos (which I love..) When I do, I’ll send you kids links!
30. Classic film heroines. Judy Garland and Katharine Hepburn kick androgyny’s butt. End of story.
I think that’s enough happiness for now. I also saw a Lesson Before Dying at Circuit last night…I’ll definitely post a review of that tomorrow!

Back to Work...

I'm kind of a failure--it's been basically three weeks since I last posted. Here's an update moving backwards...

In eleven hours, I start my second semester at Rhodes...officially. It's certainly a bittersweet feeling. I had a wonderful break full of plenty of busy and restful moments and I'm not sure that I'm ready to get back into the old swing of things. It's a pretty odd social adjustment--coming from six years of friendships built to such an extent that they all literally feel like family to this strange world of "OMG, Hi! How are you?! I missed you!" when really that's mostly a lie. After all, I've only known these people a few months and who knows how many of them came to college either a) trying to figure out who they are or b) trying to re-invent themselves. It'd be cocky to say I was the only freshman not trying so hard, but it would also be a lie to say I wasn't at least mostly comfortable with myself. Strangely, I find myself less at ease now than I did at the start of the year. I just got back into the rhythm of acting exactly how I desired to around my friends--completely disregarding the fact that they might judge me for what I said or did. Now I'm back here...freshmen are frantically scrambling to find their acquaintainces they've hastily already called soulmates and best friends. All the while, upperclassmen are feeling an increasing amount of apathy towards the social situation. Thankfully, this whole party-hopping, let's-make-fools-of-ourselves on the weekends mentality is starting to at least partially slow down in my class...Just today my roommate and I had a discussion regarding our need/desire for true, legitimate friends--not just people to hang out with on the weekend.

Wonderfully enough, I think I've found some of those people in the CODA program. Before I endlessly ramble about the wonders of our recent Chicago trip, I should mention that the other CODA kids are some of the coolest people I've met since I've been at Rhodes. The funny thing is, too, that I feel like that sort of stand out around campus. The girls are the ones wearing the slightly artsier, J Crew-free clothing and occasionally-quirky makeup and the guys are mostly big personality-big ideas. Granted, this is a gross exaggeration and we all blend in well enough in this preppy, Greek-run society, but you can still tell. I haven't had a single weekend night or weeknight that I have been able to just sit and talk and think--hard--about issues I really care about since I've been here. By the time junior and senior year rolled around in high school, I found the friends I could do that with. We'd given up on the awkwardness of football games and spirit parties (because the team didn't win enough to merit the phrase "Victory parties") and started seeing shows, the symphony, the opera, an indie movie, a concert, and then just talking about everything from the superficial to the wonderfully thought provoking...For the first time since I've been here, I did that. Over the past five or so days, I was in Chicago with the CODA crew. Every night, the kids would all pack into our hotel room and start talking. Every night, we had the intention of watching a movie or just "bonding" over silly things, but every night we somehow made it into a deeply personal and interesting arts debate. Though one night's argument got slightly out of control, it was truly the best time I've had in a while. I was thinking again. I was the attorney, the arts advocate, the friend who wanted to express her opinion freely sans-judgement to a peer. I loved it.

Though we're all completely different, we (for the most part) get along marvelously. I kind of wish the school were full of CODA kids ready to strangle each other to get across something they deeply care about in art!! The only problem is...we're all pretty boisterous so there is the slight possibility that we would ACTUALLY kill each other. This would not be good.

Thoughts about the trip:

DCA: I need to intern for these people. I will shine their shoes, be their secretary, personal assistant, whatever--they are brilliant. The thing about Chicago is--it's all the ideas I dreamt of in my wildest, wildest dreams in actuality. These people make it happen.
Millenium Park: Like I said--like stepping into a wonderful dream. The idea of people accepting a multi-million dollar arts park is absolutely mind-boggling to me. www.milleniumpark.org
Neo-futurists Theater: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. Thirty 2-minute sketches in 60 minutes. New plays every week. Briliant actors/writers. Sounds incredible, right? It is. And, really, how can it not be with titles such as: Why Can People Still Make Fun of Gypsies And Not Be Considered Politically Incorrect? Also, we are stealing from you. and The Emoting Larvae Players Present the Abridged Classics. This Week: Love Story
John Bryan's Estate: Crabtree Farms 20 houses filled with every world-renown artist imaginable. And, oh wait, they're basically building a modern museum in their backyard. Not only do these people do wonderful work and have wonderful art, they are incredibly kind and hospitable. We all had a great time at their place...(s)...
Magnificent Mile As magnificent as I remember. Not necessarily artsy, but still awesome.

Those were SOME of the highlights...though there are plenty others...

HOWEVER: Before I leave you all I need to tell you about the most brilliant (I need to stop saying that word in reference to films) collaboration ever: Stephen Sondheim, Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, and Johnny Depp. Great scott, Sweeny Todd is absolute bliss. Before all you musical theatre crazies come running at me with pitchforks complaining about the low quality of Bonham Carter and Depp's voices, hear me out. This needed to happen. Not only is this movie appropriately placed between two ridiculously cheesy movie musicals (Hairspray and Mamma Mia--don't even get me started on that one...) but it was also unprecedented in the caliber of its artistry in the recent wave of movie musicals. The color scheme was brilliant, the hoaky gore was comical, the cinematography was eerily brilliant, and the acting of Depp and Carter was (no one can argue with me on this...) flawless. No, their vocals were not great, but did they really need to be? In musical theatre it seems we occasionally forget that the purpose of shows is not necessarily to showcase beautiful voices, but to depict a story through song. That's just what Tim Burton accomplished. Their talk-singing helped make the line between dialogue and voice seamless. Both characters were easy to understand. I've talked to a lot of preachy musical theatrettes about this, and I simply don't care what you all say. I loved Sweeney Todd.

I have about a thousand other things on my mind, so I think I'm going to go...However, I leave you with what is my favorite quote--at least for the time being. One of the most zealous people I know was going on about why he was so passionate about art--why it keeps him going...and mid monologue he said this "I don't really go to church anymore...but I worship art. I take it as a matter of faith--I can't help but believe in it." That's probably a miserable paraphrase, but I still love it. Pretty much the most sense anyone's made all day.

Atonement

Joe Wright is brilliant. I am rarely pleased with film adaptations of books I've already read, but I loved Atonement. Dario Marianelli did the score (just as he did in Pride and Prejudice) and it has the most wonderfully haunting, eerie feel. I questioned whether he was truly talented or sort of a one-score man, and while his style is distinctive, the two scores are entirely different.

Because they had previously collaborated, I would assume, the synchronization of music and film is brilliant. There is no music in some of the most poignant parts of the film--scenes that would have been cheapened and glossed over if they'd had an accompanying score.

The editing is gorgeous and, as I've obvioulsy established, very music oriented. Similarly, the cinematography is mention-worthy. The lighting combined with cinematography (particularly at the scene at Dunkirk) and score is brilliant.

Thankfully, the actors didn't even screw up the beauty. Kiera Knightley has lately become a minor idol of mine. I already loved all of her work (particularly Pride and Prejudice), but I am entirely sold after seeing this film. Anyone who knows me understands my obsession with the 30s and 40s. Keira Knightley was a British Katharine Hepburn (who, as it turns out, is one of her idols!) and she pulled it off effortlessly.

Even more noteworthy, perhaps, was James McAvoy. Granted, I am entirely in love with him. I'd never seen him work quite this range of ages and emotions before, and it was truly impressive.

It's hard to adapt a beloved 400 page novel to film--especially if the book is as lush and detailed as Ian McEwan's, but Joe Wright handled it craftfully.

In essence, I loved it and was entirely pleased. I fully anticipate seeing it again and highly reccommend it to anyone considering seeing it.

(PS I am back in Dallas-hooray!)

Atonement

Read it now.

The movie isn't out in Birmingham, but I'm seeing it ASAP once I'm in Dallas (hopefully Monday.) I'll review it then--I promise.

Birmingham the Beautiful

Hello from the 'ham. (Yes, my roommate actually used that abbreviation.) I now realize why I have absolutely no Southern pride; Dallas is not the South. In fact, Dallas isn't even Texan. Dallas is it's own little bubble of insane commercial flatland. Birmingham, dear friends, is the South. Tomrorow my camera and I are having a field day and I promise to post photos. Birmingham makes me feel like Dallas is very factory-esque. People live in Birmingham. People work/workout/eat/sleep in Dallas. You know? Maybe you don't (I doubt I'm making too much sense after two weeks of exams and a ridiculous whirlwind of recent activity) but Birmingham definitely has more character. I don't anticipate ever living here, but it's a lovely place to visit. Now, since I do not have silly exams, I am going to make myself comfortable in the guest house, turn on some Dario Marianelli, and read Atonement. I love the holidays!

Farewell, friends.

Update that Isn't a Retort to Silly Posts about Inspiration

Hello, all. I figured it was kind of silly to not post in a week and a half and then suddenly write this random post about inspiration without a proper update. The last three weeks have been a total whirlwind experience. I have a headache now and the computer screen isn't helping, so this will probably be brief.

Lipstick Lipstick spent six hours recording our CD at Young Avenue Sound. Though it was a bit of a grueling process, I'm more or less pleased with the way we sound/the CD in general. Carol of the Meows is pretty fun. Regardless of how we were, I'm in love with Young Avenue Sound. Not only is the space set up/decorated in the coolest way ever, but they have the most beautiful piano I have ever played. I literally skipped two meal breaks and sat at that gorgeous piano for an hour or so and played anything that came to mind. It was a wonderfully cathartic experience. The brightness/sound was just unreal. (Jason Robert Brown, who I've probably told you "feeds my soul", sounds particularly wondrous.)

The Golden Compass People, stop complaining about how it is Satan's movie. It's just not that bad. New Line has done a decent job of removing the "Atheist themes" from the film enough to keep pro-family groups content. It was a beautiful film (and it had a gorgeous score, so we all know that means I'm sold.) I now desperately want to read the book--I do find the religious (or anti-religious) themes to be really intriguing, so hopefully I can read it over break.

Atonement is a beautiful, beautiful story. It's a nice book to disappear to. I also bought a couple of tracks from the film score, so coupling that with my reading has been rather enjoyable. I'm not too far into it yet, but it shouldn't take too long. I need to finish it before I see the film (which looks equally beautiful!)

Singers has been exhausting. Wonderful, but exhausting. The real issue is that with three Lipstick concerts, recording, and five or so Singers concerts in three weeks, you get kind of tired of singing. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really am sick of it. The Singers concerts have actually been pretty nice--the interior of St. George's is beautiful. The acoustics were incredible, and we sounded (not to toot our own horn...) great. I'm a big fan of Lessons and Carols, so those two concerts have been fun. Christmas at St. Mary's was also beautiful. The last concert at Holy Communion was a bit of a mess. I could not keep a straight face. I was exhausted, sick of studying, and hoarse. I chuckled the entire time. Thankfully (or maybe not), I wasn't the only one. The entire choir was snickering and giggling from start to finish. Anyways, it's been an experience.

Exams have surprisingly enough, gone really well. One more to go. I'll keep you updated.

Break will be wonderful. I cannot wait to leave. I'm headed to Birmingham/Montgomery, Alabama for four days (which should be fun) then to Dallas for ten days (I am ecstatic!!!!!) and then to Chicago with CODA until the 7th. I'll be busy, but I cannot wait. I'm drained. I don't even want inspiration right now. I just want sleep!

Inspiration is not for Amateurs.

It was a dreary day in Memphis and I was a bit blue. You know, a little anxious for no particular reason. A little sad that I should feel anxious at this age. You know, a little self conscious anxiety resulting in non-specific sadness: a state that I call blue. Anyway, whenever I feel blue, I like to mosey up to the CODA office, hoping some (oh yes, here it comes) inspiration may strike.

Folks, I live for inspiration. Yes, I know that was a big, bold, dramatic, bumper sticker statement, but as recently pointed out I practically popped out of the cheesiest decade of all time, the 50s, and I live/speak through hyperbole so deal.

I wandered in, sat down in a delightfully unpredictably wobbly chair, and inspiration did not come. In fact, I sat and had a converstaion about inspiration. My mentor/friend cinematically gestured towards the enormous letters above the entry way "Inspiration is for amateurs." I wholeheartedly and conclusively disagree. I would love nothing more than to take an equally large poster and print the words "Inspiration is not for Amateurs" above my entry way. In fact, I think I'll do this tomorrow.

Said Buddy-Holly-glasses-sporting mentor loomed over me and matter-of-factly expressed that art was work. Yes, it's work. But none of us would be here doing it if we didn't have the inspiration to do so.

Passion and inspiration are the reasons I get up in the morning. I will always do my work. I often dislike my Search texts. I still read them. I read them begrudgingly and very critically, but I read them. I complete the work necessary in all projects and assignments.

However, I do my best work when I have been inspired. I am not arguing that we all sit around and do nothing while waiting for the ever-fickle muses to hit us over the head with brialliance. Keep doing your work, damnit but pray inspiration will strike while you're at it.

Telling a curious student to stop waiting for inspiration is exactly like a kid there's no Santa Claus. Without inspiration and passion, much of the magic is gone.

Here are some crazy things I dream of doing (and have been inspired to do):
1. Get Oprah to come to an Arts Event that I organized. This probably seems like the weirdest thing you have ever heard, but it is literally the first thing that always comes to my mind. I can't think of too many (sadly) more publicized figures to advertise and compel people to care about things. I see certain people snickering uncontrollably at this thought, but I will be inviting Oprah Winfrey to whatever my senior CAP project ends up being, so deal with it.
2. Host an Arts Benefit at the Orpheum. Have performances/talks by the largest names in the Memphis arts community to perform/speak about art. Get people to care. Collaborate, sell tickets, and give the revenue to a committee devoted specifically to audience development and improvement in Memphis. (And heck, sell a publication describing our findings. Put Memphis on the map!)
3. Build an "environmental room." This is another one of my totally random ideas that is insane, but I want a room that can morph into almost anything. I don't want a studio space. I want a space that is a freaking production. You can walk in and are literally transported into a forest. I don't just want pine trees painted on walls. I want fog, the scent of pine needles, and a treehouse. The next year (or next room over) would be a World War II era bar/swing club in DC. I don't know what the purpose would be, how it would sustain itself, if it would be a coffeeshop or hangout or performance venue or what, but I've always wanted tomsething like that. Maybe after I live everywhere imaginable and I'm old and decrepit and dying I'll buy out a huge mansion in the middle of nowhere and just fill it with environmental rooms and a magical backyard and host insane parties for artsy people to come to.
4. I want JPG to become a national program. In Dallas, I was a part of the Junior Patron's Guild. There was a season of shows/art exhibitions for three private high schools to go to for a greatly discounted price. It became the cool thing to do on the weekends, and I saw some of the coolest stuff in Dallas.
5. I want an all-encompassing arts studio arts festival. A house or building that has lecture halls, a coffee shop, a theatre, galleries, and studios. (Gosh, this sounds like First Congo.) I'd want all the arts to collaborate and have simultaneous food/exhibitions/performances for like two or three days, charge admission, and start an arts grant. Or start a committee for someone. Or help fund an already established committe or group. Heck, it could become a yearly thing, and half of the money could go back into planning for the next year and the other half would go to an organization honored by the festival (or started by it.)

Trust me, I have plenty more zany ideas, but I should probably sleep. Point is, if I permanently lose inspiration in what I'm doing, I quit. Inspiration and passion are what make me happy. Work is what fills the time before and after.

If inspiration is for amateurs, I never want to be professional.