Shameless Promotion?

Posted on March 29, 2012 by awtraughber

HELLO.  I meant to let others know about this new site a few entries ago: the idea was that I’d let others in on this when I hit 10 posts.  I didn’t want a false-start blog.  It had happened to be before, earlier in 2012, and I didn’t want to be a repeat offender.  I let one friend in on it when I saw that we had recent entries that shared a title.  Other than that, the word’s been mum.

So this morning, Donald Miller posts something about the concept of self-promotion.  It’s an interesting thing: selling yourself to live.  Something about “integrity” is at stake, underlies our misgivings about putting ourselves out there and pointing to ourselves repeatedly.  Miller does a good job of acknowledging that in his own life.  So, after reading his thoughts, I thought it would be a good time to invite you into this space.  The plan is for it to last a while, to have some rhythm to it, some consistency.  The plan is to get a little more personal in place (to move beyond television and movies), because my life is near the end of what I think is a long, slow turn around a very big corner.  We’ll see.

Anyway, to those of you reading this: welcome aboard.  Comment as you want.  Let me know what you think.

And check out Donald Miller’s blog entry on self-promotion here.

Posted in Internet | Tagged | Leave a comment

Framing Device

Posted on March 26, 2012 by awtraughber

ONE OF THE MANY SMALL JOYS of Modern Family is the introductory scene and what shot makes it into the picture frame for the beginning of title sequence.  It’s rare that a show would go through the trouble of making a minor alteration to a consistent and repetitive element.  The only other show I can think of that does it is The Simpsons, which changes the couch shot every episode.  But back to the picture frame.

The folks at the Daily Beast posted an interesting vimeo video that caught my eye (and worth being seen by many).  It centers on a picture frame, and what the creators do with it is amazing.  Check it out . . .

 

Interestingly enough, the creators of this video are current residents of Hawaii.  They also recently finished a video of their trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.  You can check out that video here. Great stuff from thestevenalan.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Hunger Games and the Importance of Story

Posted on March 25, 2012 by awtraughber

I SAW a former student in the theater lobby in my way to see The Hunger Games.  When her mother asked if I had read the books, the graduate proudly proclaimed that I was the kind of reader “who didn’t read new and popular books.”  I read new books.  I even read the occasional popular books.  But she was right: I had not read any of the trilogy of books concerning teenage Katniss and the post-apocalyptic land of Panem.  I had decided about a month ago to stay away from the novels, letting the movie stand on its own.  I don’t regret that decision at all.

My thoughts after sitting through 2 hours and 22 minutes of dystopia: If even one person (especially younger person) walks out of The Hunger Games and realizes that such a future should never become a reality, then the story will have done a truly amazing thing.  That what I walked out feeling: how close we could be at any moment to a world where kids are killed as sport.  I watch reality TV, usually what I consider the classier kind.  But it is “reality” just the same.  It’s a fine line: choice and coercion.  And for all of the heroism of Katniss or Peeta, I couldn’t help but think and feel: they shouldn’t have to be in such a position in the first place.

Anthony Thisselton once wrote that history reminds us of what is possible while fiction reminds us of what is true.  I got a good dose of some kind of truth in the theater.  I think it was heightened for me because I had not read the story, because I wasn’t using the 2:22 to assess the damage a movie can do to a novel.  Instead, I experienced a fresh immersion into story, and a sobering one at that.  I felt the loss, the frustration, the hope, but also the pervasion of complicity that every single character in the story could not help but feel themselves.

I’m not sure if I’ll go back to the theater to see the movie again, but I know I’m not done thinking and talking about it.  And I think I’ll wait til the movies are done before reading the books.  I look forward to seeing this version of a sobering story told well play out.  I hope others see and feel the same things I did.

Posted in Movies | Tagged | 1 Comment

Two Things I Learned On Jump Street

Posted on March 23, 2012 by awtraughber

MORE GOES ON in the newest iteration of 21 Jump Street than car chases, drug busts, and shoot outs.  The show-now-movie has at least two interesting ideas that it plays around with  that struck me as well-handled after viewing.

The first involves Schmidt, played by Jonah Hill.  He’s the guy with the horrible high school social life who gets a second chance to do it right thanks to the Jump Street program.  Schmidt’s moment of truth comes near the end of the movie, when his partner tries to get him to see that he’s gone in “too deep” and lost a sense of his mission.  As a teacher who started out relatively young (mid-to-late twenties), I understand Schmidt’s dilemma . . . and I had a solid high school experience.  Something about the environment that is high school turns things around all weird.  Identifying with students over institution is an easy temptation on the best of days, let alone on the worst of them.

The second idea that the movie works with comes early on in the movie and involves Jenko, played by Channing Tatum.  Jenko is Schmidt’s opposite: great social life in high school but horrible academic career.  And so when he returns to the schoolyard for the first time since graduation, he assumes that the social hierarchy of his framework will still exist: obvious jocks, preps, geeks, etc.  As he crosses the parking lot, though, he starts to realize how utterly different things have become (who knew high schoolers could be both socially conscious and cool?).  Soon Jenko finds himself invested in the science geeks.  And its his alienation from the social system that helps him keep his wits when they are most needed.

It need not be said, but I’ll say it anyway: high school is a strange and funny place, wonderful in its own way.  Whatever else 21 Jump Street does, it definitely captures that love-hate reality.  It’s good when what looks to be a super-shallow comedy actually pulls off such a solid commentary.

Posted in Movies | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Wrapped-Up Dead

Posted on March 22, 2012 by awtraughber

THE SECOND SEASON of AMC’s The Walking Dead came to a conclusion this past Sunday.  It was a whopper of an episode, drawing in 9 million viewers (which is impressive for TV both cable and network these days).  It was the much-needed wrap-up to what I thought was a felt-longer-than-it-was season.  I, of course, blame the gravity of Hershel’s farm for that.

In case you want a recap of the season, Newsarama has provided a handy “top ten moments” of the show’s second season.  The countdown starts here.  While it’s expected that the finale should have a number of top moments, it’s amazing how few great ones there were this season.  Don’t get me wrong: things started off strong, but I agree with those who felt like the show lingered too long in one very obvious spot (which many not bode well for the next two seasons, actually).  And the two big moments at the end of the finale were total teases.  The one thing that was worth the wait, of course, was the revelation of what was whispered to Rick at the CDC.  That wasn’t good news, of course.

A few days ago I mentioned that Andy Greenwald was reviewing NBC’s Thursday line-up each week over at Grantland.  He’s also been doing a review of this season of The Walking Dead.  I agree with a lot of what he has to say about the finale.  It’s also interesting to see what his readers think of his thoughts.  You can check out his column (with a sidebar linking to reviews of the rest of the season) here.

Speaking of those two teasing moments (lady with the swords and then the prison view), the showrunner for the second half of season two, Glen Mazzara, started dropping more hints about the show’s future (many of them in line with the comic book the show is based on).  Turns out the prison will be significant for more than one season at this point.  Not sure how I feel about that.  You can check out an interview with him over at MovieWeb here.  There be spoilers, mind you.

Is The Walking Dead a great show?  Not quite.  I agree with those who state that it has showcased moments of greatness but that it hasn’t hit a real and lasting stride (see Lost seasons one and two, in my opinion).  But it’s still worth watching.  It’s good to be reminded that television can still scare you, that fright isn’t something that only happens at the movies.  But character work is important, and I hope we see more of that in season three.  But more on my thoughts on this show later.

Posted in Television | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Spring Sprang Sprung

Posted on March 20, 2012 by awtraughber

JUST BECAUSE you have two weeks off for spring break doesn’t mean every day feels like “spring break.”  While I’ve enjoyed each day of my break so far, a good bit of each day has gone to more serious, solitary, or weighty matters.  Not so today.  Today was a day that felt like a break, even from the routine I’ve set for my time away from the classroom.

This morning I joined a co-worker and his family for breakfast and a hike through the Koko Head Botanical Gardens.  I had not been there before, hadn’t even heard of it.  It’s a two mile loop that is inside Koko Crater, which is one of my least favorite hikes ever.  The breeze was good, the foliage was interesting, and it’s always a trip to be around elementary school kids.  The dynamic is hilarious, encouraging, and maybe a bit tiring (and I’m not the parent).

This afternoon, then, was dedicated to the movies.  I have a friend who goes every Tuesday, and I try to join when schedule and interest in releases allow. It’s also $2 popcorn and $1 hot dogs (on top of $6 tickets).  It’s a financial blessing.  And today’s pick was 21 Jump Street.  While not a fan of the original show (and not a fan of either main actor), I knew that the reviews were good and that I needed a laugh.  It was worth the price of admission.  While I found most of the best jokes to be from the trailer, there were still some quality moments (both dramatic and silly).  The acting worked well, too.  I’ll post some thoughts on the movie’s content soon and separately.

And so the last week of break continues tomorrow.  It’s designated as my “blood donation” day.  I haven’t been in a while.  The receptionist at the Blood Bank said that basic cell carcinoma treatment wouldn’t be a problem, so I’m heading down in the morning.  A little church in the evening and maybe dinner with a friend should add a nice end to the day.

Spring has sprung, and the break will be over before I know it.

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Thursday Look-Backs

Posted on March 16, 2012 by awtraughber

THERE WAS A TIME when Thursday nights were almost sacred.  It was the turn of the millennium, and Thursday evening was all about the battle between watching Survivor and Friends.  I would make the trek to some friends’ apartment, usually Sonic meal in tow, and we would talk and watch Friends, flip to Survivor, and then back to Friends again.  (Then there was that unfortunate run of Push, Nevada that no one watched except me.  Ah well.)  Those were good times, times long gone and replicated only with the coming and going of LOST.

But I still enjoy Thursday night television, though the closest Sonic is thousands of miles away.  Last season may have been the best for Thursday nights and NBC since Friends: 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Community, and the last great season of The Office.  I don’t really get to talk TV anymore except with one or two students at random moments, but my love for the medium and even the message remains.  Which is glad I finally came across the folks at Grantland.com and their weekly rehash of NBC’s Thursday night line-up.  The rehash is done by a guy, Andy Greenwald, whose book I read, Miss Misery, a number of years ago and enjoyed.  That’s a nice boost to an already good thing.  Last night, of course, saw the return of Community after a months’-long hiatus.  The show, about seven people from different walks of life taking classes together at the local community college, was in regular form, which means it was tight and hilarious.  Mix in another quality episode of 30 Rock and another episode of a nice mini-revival of The Office, and you’ve got a quality night.

Greenwald’s commentary is, by the way, often spot on and insightful.  He ranks the evening’s episodes in order (with whatever NBC puts on at 8:30 usually being the lowest mark).  He points out the honest highs and lows of each and gives a good reminder of why good television, and good scripted comedy television, is such a good (and rare) thing.

Check out his most recent review here.  And check out some quality comedy every Thursday night on NBC.

Posted in Television | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Tenth Post and My Favorite Song of All Time?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by awtraughber

I THINK WordPress might throw me a party for getting up to a tenth post here.

Well, not really.  But they do count down for you, for your first ten at least.  And so here it is.  If you’re reading this and you know me, it’s because I decided to share this site with others once I hit number ten.  So here you go.

It takes me days to detox from the end of a quarter.  It’s Wednesday afternoon.  My grades were done this morning.  I’ve been spending mornings in quiet and reading before getting school work done.  I introduced a new rule to myself: the 9-to-9 Rule.  What does it forbid? Having the television on after 9 pm and before 9 am.  I quite like the rule.  I’ve also been trying to detox food-wise: no colas, no coffees since Sunday.  It’s a matter of trying to break or at least restructure some habits.

I’m knee-deep in NT Wright’s newest book, How God Became King.  I’m inching my way into a study of the book of Revelation for Sunday school.  I’ve got three issues of Lucky Peach to read through (and an issue of The Believer to boot).  I’ve got a sermon to write and some other thoughts to get down.  But right now I want to share a song with you.

The Normals will go down as my favorite CCM band of all time.  True, they had only three albums, but their second (Coming to Life) was one of the most real and moving collections my Texas-living in 2001 self had ever heard.  The song below is a clip of my favorite song from that album.  Some will call it wordy and pretension.  I call it achingly beautiful.  It’s a long clip, so be sure to stay around for the extra piece that Andrew Osenga and crew tied in to the end. “Cinderella’s slipper fits us perfectly” indeed.

And happy tenth entry to me!

Posted in Faith, Music | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Stop. Go. Stop Again.

Posted on March 11, 2012 by awtraughber

THESE LAST FEW DAYS have been packed . . . and rainy. . . and windy.  The end of the a quarter is always a stressful time, especially when it involves major things beyond the classroom.  This quarter has been good; I always enjoy my time with seniors.  Then there are the add-ons, things that are required but are not part of the day-to-day rhythm: the faculty meeting I led, the things I’m supposed to do with my church’s pastor-search committee.  Plus there’s whatever’s left of the stuff of life for me: things with friends, trying to keep my heart and mind on important things, keeping a clean apartment and orderly existence.  So even though I have a stack of papers to grade and outlines to edit, the fact that the next couple of weeks are a lot more free is a good thing.

Stop and go and stop again.  You do your best to build in some other and deeper rhythm, the way you start and stop your days or weeks.  It doesn’t always work, doesn’t always take.  Things pile up, important life leaks out slowly.  Rest becomes more of a far-out destination than a daily reality.  Breaks like this, I think, at least remind me of that, remind me of the possibility and the importance of striving for it.

Abstract thoughts on a rainy Sunday evening.  It’s a good way, though, to get your hear back into the game.  The game that matters, hopefully.

Posted in The Long Story | Leave a comment

After the Academy Awards

Posted on February 29, 2012 by awtraughber

THE ACADEMY AWARDS have been over and done for a few days now, and I’ve not said much about them.  Most of my friends these days aren’t all that into the movies.  (It’s like that weird moment when you realize that all of those people at Barnes and Noble aren’t actually there for books to read.)  So here are some thoughts:

Biggest Disappointment- I was really hoping that Jason Segal and Walter the Muppet would take the stage to sing the Oscar-nominated (and Oscar-winning) “Man or Muppet.”  Alas, all we got was a clip of Kermit and Piggy bickering.

Leading Disappointment- I wasn’t totally surprised that Clooney didn’t take ‘Best Actor.’  He was the favorite for most; his role in The Descendants was a great fit and stretch for him.  I was floored, though, that Viola Davis didn’t walk away with the ‘Best Actress’ statue.  Don’t get me wrong: Meryl Streep is an amazing actress (though I couldn’t bring myself to seeing The Iron Lady).  Still, I thought Viola had it cinched.

Other than that, nothing was overly surprising.  Not the awards I would’ve given.  I had hoped that 50/50 would’ve gotten a screenplay nod.  It would’ve been nice to see acting nods for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anjelica Houston, but that wasn’t in the cards.  Charlize Theron would’ve done well with some recognition for Young Adult, too.

For a good wrap-up on the 2011 year-in-movies and the Oscars in particular, check out Mark Harris’s Oscarmetrics here.  I especially like the commentary about the state of things as well as the hopeful outlook for 2012.

Posted in Internet, Movies, Uncategorized | Leave a comment