Joy Brackett: Outside Reading (Big Fish: Fact or Fiction)

This is CultureWatch article published on damaris.org by Sophie Lister and is entitled "Fact or Fiction?" This article discussed the movie Big Fish that we viewed in class. When going deeper into myths and parables, this article helped my understanding of it even more. As seen in the movie, myths tell us more about the real than real life itself. This is because it makes emotional rather than literal sense. The stories have values and appeal to us emotionally. Being such emotionally driven beings, myth is important to us and understanding ourselves and the world even better than logistical facts would. This idea plays with fact. The movie's play on fact can be found either liberating or frustrating by the reader. The most interesting part of this article was found in the conclusion in the last paragraph. Stories are valuable but in certain circumstances, it is important to understand fact. Many consider religion to be fictional and used for comfort. This is not how it is presented in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 15:13-19 states, "If Christ has not been raised, than all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless...if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are factual and truth matters here. The hope offered does not matter on their own apart from his life, death, and resurrection.

Joy Brackett: Outside Reading (The Gospel According to Pixar)

This article proved to be very helpful for my research paper. I found it so interesting that I decided to post a blog on my thoughts of this article. It is entitled, "The Gospel According To Pixar: Monsters, Inc." and is written by Lauren Larkin on her blog website. This blog discussed the character of Boo throughout the movie, and how she ultimately resembles Christ. She shows an unconditional love to Sully and loves him for nothing that he has done. In the beginning, he does not even return the love to her, yet she loves him greatly. Not only does she love him unconditionally, but her love for Sully ultimately causes his heart to change. He loves her because she first loved him which is a direct representation of Christ's love for us. This love ultimately changes the world, and in the movie, ultimately changes the monster world. It makes the scream factory into a laugh factory, therefore bringing joy to the world.

Joy Brackett: Outside Reading (L.A. Times Article on Noah Movie)

Weeks after watching the movie Noah, something I was thinking about was the difference of cinematography from other movies. The article "Subtle shades of greatness frame cinematography nominations" was very helpful in pinpointing those things. The articles states, "Gray is the new black. Night, the new day. Rain, the new sun. Clouds gather, shadows linger. The Oscar-nominated cinematographers' images fill the screen with a beauty only possible in worlds gone monochromatic, turning the most elemental of color palettes stunningly rich, subtly vibrant." This shows that the thing sticking out was the monochromatic elements of the movie. There was not a broad range of color like many other films which I think helped to indicate the struggle of the journey within this film. It gave the film a more rough and rugged feel to it therefore giving the movie an even greater beauty and appreciation from viewers. I believe this method catches one's eye even more than other methods used in coloring of a film because of it's uniqueness from other films. It stands out in a great way because of its difference.

Joy Brackett: Outside Reading (1 John)

1 John is one of my favorite books of all time. This book was written by John who was a disciple of Jesus. He was very special in Jesus' eyes, because he was able to witness many miracles that others were not. John is actually the man that Christ put in charge of taking care of his own mother when he was on the cross. John was also the only disciple not killed for his faith and that is made clear in the Bible. He was persecuted and hurt, but not killed. This book was written to an unnamed church who was struggling with their Christian faith. They were starting to believe faith by works to be true and important. This book is used to remind them of God's love and what they already know and have been told. This book demonstrates what true love looks like and is. Upon reading this I have learned that if you love God, you will keep his commands, and if you keep his commands you will love others. In other words, if one does not love other people, they ultimately do not love God. These two things go hand in hand and are vital for a fulfilling life.

Megan MacDonald (personal post)- Mornings

There is one thing that I hate in this world and it is mornings.  My high school has tried to make me a morning person, some aspects of college has made me be a morning person, and holy poo they just have not worked.  Even the efforts of friends and family cannot compete with ability to not even be awake and turning off my alarm clock.  I was talking to a friend and he and I both agree that "night owls"(people who prefer to stay up late, rather than get up early) have a disadvantage in this world.  The pace of this society and the pressure a night owl faces to survive is truly unrealistic.  I think that there should be two work shifts, one for those who enjoy waking p early and a second one who is most productive in the late afternoon.  All i am saying is work load would be cut in half and this would give people to be with their families more.  I am not saying I am a genius, all I am is a simple person who enjoys the night life, but I guess the two can be somewhat close. 

Megan MacDonald (personal post)- Gradutation

Two more days and then it is here.  I will be an adult heading into the real life, real world.  No more naps everyday, no more random shopping sprees, no more skipping something because I feel like it.  Here comes the one thing that I have not had to worry too much about, responsibility.  Responsibility with bills, clothes, my car, cleanliness, spending time with others, getting my work done, and so many other things.  I am nervous about graduating because everyone always says, "You have no idea what is coming."  It is hard to be excited about something when people act like the life you live after college is a doom sentience.  I understand that life after college is different because it is not college, but I truly hope that I can find joy and pleasure where God places me.  I could not imagine never being happy again, I have only lived 21 years!

Megan MacDonald (oustide reading)- Mark 14-16

In just two chapters, the lives of Christians are forever changed.  In two chapters, our savor and king was brutally murdered and then risen from the grave. 

Over Easter weekend I wanted give God glory for praise for what he had done on the cross.  I had never really thought about good Friday until this year.  I prayed a lot that day, but it was not until the end of the day when I went to Thrive that I truly was able to just sit and focus on Him.  Thrive is a worship night at Christopher Newport University held once a month in the DSU Ballroom.  It is an interactive worship time with God and others to sing to Him, pray with others, and express yourself to God in anyway you know how. 

At thrive I was able to sit down with a friend and read what happened on good Friday.  I have truly never been filled with so much emotion that night while reading the bible, the thought of our savior being brutally beat, for me and my sins, he chose to be separated from his father, for us.  I was truly humbled and could not do anything else but pray afterwards.

And then Sunday came.  I work at a church so I was somewhat nervous about what would happen.  But God was there and 25 people were saved! It was truly wonderful!