Funny moments in Art History

Madonna (with a long neck), Parmigianino, 1540.

This painting is creepy on so many levels. First off, look at Mary's fingers! They are ridiculously long! And her neck is really long too (obviously, from the title of the piece). She must be trying to get a kink out of it or something. The Christ child looks more like a toddler, and this pose echoes the pieta, which is definitely not a happy subject. Then we notice some really weird things with the space. Why is it that, on the left side, there are room for 5 heads but only one body? Where are the rest of those bodies? And why don't they move to the right side of the painting where there is an incredibly deep view? But the right side is creepy as well. There is a tiny bald prophet way back there, which is really weird because all the depictions of prophets in these days showed them with hair! The only bald prophet I can think of is Dallin H. Oaks. And then there is the column - at the bottom there are about 10 bases, but at the top it looks like just one column. And what is it doing there, anyway? Isn't there a building it belongs to? This picture looks like the inspiration for Salvador Dali, if you ask me.

I hope you found that as funny as I did. Mark Magelby is a wonderful teacher and really makes this subject entertaining!

CES Fireside

Sister Elaine S. Dalton spoke at the CES fireside tonight, and it was incredibly moving. She spoke of the power of virtue and the need we have for a return to virtue in our world today. Sister Dalton proclaimed that the core of virtue is chastity and we can't be honest or have integrity without living a chaste life. I had never thought about that before, but it is so true. I can't think of any unchaste person who is honest and full of integrity! We are the ones to lead the world in its return to virtue - for if not us, then who will do so?

Sister Dalton also reminded us that "The temple is the reason we do everything in the church," and that we cannot get distracted from making it there! We must be virtuous in order to do this.

A wonderful choir performed this gorgeous song that I had never heard before. It's called "I Marvel at the Miracle" with lyrics by John V. Pearson. They are as moving as the lyrics. I have a link the full set, but here is my favorite part:

I pled with God to shed his grace
And take away my sin.
He did and, yet, I turned away
And stumbled once again.
At last I knelt before His throne
And offered Him my soul.
He wept, then gave it back to me
Renewed, and washed, and whole.

I wonder at the grace divine
And power to redeem;
That Christ alone could overcome
And change eternity.
My thanks cannot sufficient be.
My praise is incomplete.
For all I pay, my debt remains
For God's great gift to me.


How grateful I am to have living prophets and the Atonement of Christ in my life! I pray that I may find ways to use my tremendous blessings with my fellow brothers and sisters.

Betsy-Tacy

Which Betsy-Tacy character are you? Your Result: Tacy Kelly   Tacy, though bashful with people she doesn't know well, can be just as merry as Betsy and the others in the Crowd. Remember the Irish Colleen and the brogue accent? Tacy is a true friend who both sympathizes with and understands Betsy whether she is sad, happy, obsessed with a certain boy, etc. Although Tacy doesn't lose her heart easily, when she does it's for keeps (Harry Kerr!)
Julia Ray
Betsy Ray
Emily Webster
Irma Biscay
Tib Muller
Carney Sibley
Winona Root
Which Betsy-Tacy character are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Ways to Find Contentment

A friend shared this list with me, which I think is pretty wonderful.

Be still.
Know God.
Make your bed every day.
Pray. Pray always. This is the mastery of thoughts.
Be kind to everyone. Especially yourself.
Study and ponder the scriptures first thing in the morning.
Find ways to talk about and live what you study each day.
Respond quickly to promptings.
Say I love you as often as possible and really mean it.
Look people in the eyes when they're talking to you.
Treat the one you are with as if they are the most important person in the world. In that moment, they are!
Take a good long look in the mirror every day. Be sure to make eye contact with yourself. AND don't pass judgment.
Look for hints of greatness in yourself and others. Vocalize it.
Eat healthy.
Exercise daily.
Feel the sun shine on your face for at least 10 minutes a day.
Never give up chocolate. Ever!
Try to listen more than you talk.
Remember that someone always has it worse than you. Get over yourself.
Laugh every single day. The harder the better.
Read a conference talk or Ensign article every day.
Never hold back a positive comment, compliment or thought. BUILD! BUILD! BUILD!
Trust that life is divinely guided and is happening exactly as it should be.
Say thank you.

Any other ideas to add?

Back to School

"Don't you just love...fall? It makes me want to shop for back to school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

Well, it may still be summer in California, but school is up and running here in Provo. I am taking German 102, Doctrine and Covenants Part II, Art History 202 (Part II of the Western art overview), Art History 300 (the Theory and Historiography of Art History), and Clogging. It is fun! I have great teachers and very interesting subject matter, but lots of reading! That's good though; I will be nice and busy!

I am living with my summer 2008 roommate, Rachel, and our friend from that term, Cristina. They are great girls. I love them so much! They make me laugh, put up with my messes, drive me to the grocery store, and just love me. I am blessed to have them in my life.

I've had some disappointment this past week. Last Friday I auditioned for Women's Chorus, and didn't make it in (they said I didn't have enough experience). Wednesday night I auditioned for the Folk Dance Teams, got a callback, but didn't make it, also because of a lack of experience. I'll be honest; it's been tough. With two rejections so close to each other, I felt for a while like these events were reflective of my self worth. I used to think that I was pretty good at singing and dancing, but after this I felt like I wasn't really good at anything. I really wanted to go home.

Fortunately, I have good and parents roommates who took good care of me, and even better I have a Heavenly Father who takes really good care of me. That night I ran into Doctrine and Covenants, Section 24 verses 8-9

Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.
And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling. Attend to thy calling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office...

I don't think the Lord created me to be exceptionally good in "temporal things." Some people here have extraordinary gifts in music, dance, languages, academics, and all kinds of other things, but I don't. But the Lord has given me another calling...and that's ok with me. :]