A Social Critique of Harry Potter

Classical 89 Thinking Aloud: http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/past.asp?d=8/27/2008

J. K. Rowling has described her Harry Potter series as "a prolonged argument for tolerance." Some may not care too much about underlying themes - as long as they get their quidditch and magic - but one Oxford student presents a compelling case in support of Rowling's social statement. Prejudice in Harry Potter's World outlines the many moments in which Harry, his magical friends, and millions of readers are learning a thing or two about social equality.

Breaking Dawn

A stay-at-home-mom of three boys Stephenie Meyer found herself writing after a dream she had. When she sat down at her computer and began, she found that she couldn’t stop. The piece she created, which centered on her dream, became Twilight, a novel. In an era of Harry Potter and the immediate success of writers willing to bring their readers into mystical and magical worlds, Twilight was immediately successful. Written for young girls, it became popular with all people- and thus began the craze. The story centered on protagonist Bella, a high school student who moves to the sleepy Pacific Northwest town of Forks, Washington. Shortly into the book Meyer introduces Edward, who becomes Bella’s love, and oh- he also happens to be a vampire. Meyer twists and weaves the plot into a series of dramatic and gripping events. It is almost impossible not be entranced by the world and romance of the characters she creates. Two books later in the series, the saga continued. Unlike many sequels, New Moon and Eclipse, the second and third books in the series, drew more readers into the lives of Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the host of other characters. Why these books have created such a strong response, and gained readers around the globe can perhaps be found in the careful and well-weaved stories that ensues.
For students at Brigham Young University the books hold special meaning. Stephenie Meyer graduated from BYU and her books are sold not only at the student bookstore in the Wilkinson Center, but also at Deseret Book, a Latter-day Saint book store. When the news broke that Meyer was working on a fourth book in the series, and the last in the saga to be written by the point of view of Bella, fans scrambled to pre-order, and wait in anticipation. Breaking Dawn, was thrust into even more of a spotlight when it became know that a Twilight Movie would be coming out into theaters December 2008. Many die hard fans re-read the first three books waiting for Breaking Dawn, while following website and blog posts about movie updates.
On Saturday August 2nd at 12:02 am the first copies of Breaking Dawn went on sale. The Brigham Young University celebrated by holding, ironically and comically, a blood drive as well as a party in the student bookstore. Copies could be found at bookstores everywhere, and fans flocked to pick up multiple copies. Hosting a series of concerts and celebrations including one in Times’ Square, Meyer and fans celebrated the debut of the fourth book. While the movie is still in the works, and a book written by the point of view of Edward is due to be released in the future, Twilight fans are satisfied for the time being.

-Katherine Harris

How Mental Illness is Depicted in Film

Classical 89 Thinking Aloud Interivew: http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/past.asp?d=5/24/2007

Listen to a coversation with two BYU educators about the representations and misrepresentations of mental illness in the movies. We talk with both Jay Fox, an English professor who is a president elect with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Utah (NAMI-Utah) and with Marleen Williams, who works as a clinical professor of Counseling Psychology at the BYU Counseling and Career Center. The interview includes an exploration of why we're all drawn to observe situations of mental illness in film, also a consideration of just how "clinically correct" movies makers ought to be.

Michael Ballam

Classical 89 Thinking Aloud Interview: http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/past.asp?d=7/3/2008

There are probably few Utahans who don't know the name, Michael Ballam. It was only after moving to Utah in 2006 that I began to fully appreciate the talent and spiritual depth of this talented and dedicated singer/actor. Michael Ballam gave up a promising operatic career on the East Coast to return to his native Logan, to dedicate his considerable gifts to his community. In 1993, Ballam founded Utah Festival Opera ... a month-long season of opera and musical theatre at the fully refurbished Capital Theatre ... now the Ellen Eccles Theatre in downtown Logan. He continues to serve as its general director. My wife and I drove to Logan last summer to see "Porgy & Bess" ... George Gershwin's brilliant opera about African-American life in the 1920’s. Michael Ballam traditionally sings and acts in at least one UFO (the clever acronym for Utah Festival Opera) production. Last year it was "The Most Happy Fella". This year, he stars as John Adams in "1776" ... which leads me to the reason for these comments.

Marcus Smith is the producer and host of Classical 89's Thinking Aloud, and I'm the executive producer ... a role which allows me to host shows which pique my interest. Having met Michael Ballam briefly after last year's production of "Porgy & Bess", I resolved to interview him in connection with this season's UFO run. I was particularly interested in "1776" ... not just for Ballam's starring role, but for its story about the framers of the Declaration of Independence. I've always known that document was penned by Thomas Jefferson, but I was not aware that John Adams, who would become our nation's second President, was the president of the Continental Congress that debated whether the thirteen American Colonies should declare their independence from England to become a new nation. On June 30th, UFO (I love that acronym!) performed a musical review of selected works from this season’s repertoire at Salt Lake City's Cottonwood High School, so I was able to interview Michael and record some of the music without driving to Logan.

What is Michael Ballam like? I already knew he was immensely talented and a tireless promoter of Utah Festival Opera. But sitting down with him, I found Ballam to be at the same time, relaxed and intense ... intensely committed to his craft and what he sees as his mission to bring great theatre to Utah ... theatre that entertains and ennobles. Ballam wanted to put on "1776" because of the importance of this year's historic presidential election. He revels in the commitment and courage of the representatives of the Continental Congress who faced charges of treason to declare freedom from England. Ballam told me, he not only portrays John Adams. He lives John Adams … a man who was known to be obstinate and difficult in order to achieve the greater good. Adams' courage was bolstered by the wisdom and devotion of his wife, Abigail ... a relationship similar to that which Ballam says, exists between him and his wife.

This season's run of Utah Festival Opera in Logan, Utah runs through August 9th. Check out their schedule at http://www.ufoc.org/. You're sure to find a production that speaks to you, whether it's "1776", "Into the Woods", or UFO’s two operatic productions, “Aida” and “Manon Lescaut”. There’s also “Gypsy”, which is performed as a radio drama. Don't miss this theatrical treasure. And tell Michael Ballam, that Wes Sims sent you.

-Wes Sims

Utah Shakepearean Festival

Classical 89 Thinking Aloud Interviews:
http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/past.asp?d=6/19/2008
http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/past.asp?d=6/26/2008

What is life without a little play? Without the laughter of an uproarious comedy, the thoughtfulness of a great drama, the melodies of a classic musical?

The curtain’s up on a new summer theatre season in Cedar City. In 2008, the Tony Award Winning Utah Shakespearean Festival features summer performances including Fiddler on the Roof, Cyrano de Bergerac, Othello, Two Gentlemen of Verona. I’ll introduce you to Two Gentlemen of Cedar City on our Thinking Aloud interview, to talk about the season.

Visit the Utah Shakespearean Festival : http://www.bard.org/

Organist Mike Ohman Enlivens Silent Movies

Classical 89 Thinking Aloud Interview: http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/past.asp?d=3/20/2008 Mike Ohman, theater-organ wizard extraordinaire, is our guest today. Mike belongs to a vanishing breed of musical masters who know the art of accompanying a silent movie with all the aplomb afforded by theater organs. If you've watched Ben-Hur with Charlton Heston, you might remember the thundering of the Roman horse hoofs and the roaring of Roman chariot wheels … sound effects from the 1959 version. Thirty years earlier, Ben-Hur was a silent film. But the term silent movie is deceptive. Going to a movie theater before talkies was always a noisy, musical experience. Today's interview comes ahead of Classical 89's Silent Movie
Night.