Finding the words for what I want to say will probably be difficult, so just remember that my goal is to stay within at least standard deviation of my point...
When we went over those several examples of "To be, or not to be" yesterday, I thought about how demanding our culture can be before we allow ourselves to be "entertained." Nephi, for example, was very concerned that his written word would have no effect on the hearts of his posterity. He said, "there are many that harden their hearts... and cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught." Words on a page are very simple, but Nephi also said that words "can be made strong," (2 Nephi 33:2, 4).
So while it may be true that a production is more masterfully done with impressive cinematography etc., there's something to be said for the simple. "In our Church meetings, in our personal and family scripture study, and even this day as we listen to the Lord’s prophets and apostles, some of us will receive more than others. Why? I am learning that those who truly receive do at least three things that others may not do. First, they seek. We live in an entertainment world, a spectator world. Without realizing it, we can find ourselves coming to conference or going to church with the attitude, 'Here I am; now inspire me.' We become spiritually passive," (Elder Merrill "Receiving by the Spirit").
In other words, it's good to be careful in what we demand in our stimuli. There will be many times that the simple will be more moving if our senses are attuned to the raw majesty of deep desire, rather than a "well done" performance.
Oh my goodness Anthony I love this post. A former Stake President once talked to me about the great wonder he had that he could look out into the congregation and see Brother so and so with a tear in his eye and the person next to him sleeping. Spiritual preparation, along with physical preparation, largely determines the things that we learn.
ReplyDeleteThat is true, that you get out of it what you put into it. Not just in church meetings, etc., but movies, plays, books, etc. as well. Obviously, with movies, plays and books, there's more of an expectation for entertainment. But someone could hate a perfectly crafted movie because he or she doesn't try to get it. (I remember a friend of mine who refused to watch any black and white movie, I think because he figured that if it's black and white, it must be old, and if it's old, it must not be worth his time.)
ReplyDeleteOn another note: Anthony, do you remember a movie in particular with simple performances, sets, cinematography, etc.? Or were you just thinking of this spiritually?
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has been a top 10 for me for a very long time, and I haven't even taken American Heritage yet... It is not totally void of cinematography etc., but it is very simple. I guess my point is that if we focus on being profound critics, we'll miss the power of simplicity. We should be careful about what we insist be included in our definition of what is valuable. Less is more.
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