Researching was oh-so-fun. I decided to research on the art of ventriloquism because I've always wanted to learn how to do the practice. With the prospect of an upcoming research paper, I decided I might as well do it on something I could use in the future... because I will obviously be using ventriloquism in my life probably on a daily basis... Anywho, I had a spectacular topic, and plenty of research articles to go off of. In fact, probably too much research for the amount of time the typical college student with a job has.
What research I had a chance to look for was great--- super interesting, and with all the research I could probably be a ventriloquism guru now. If only I could have done the research justice. Anyway, since I didn't have about thirty hours to devote to learning the art, my paper really wasn't as in depth as I would have liked it, but I felt like I got the general idea of the topic in any case.
The other big part about the research paper that could have been a little better... was that I didn't personally really support my thesis. I just needed something to go off of so I decided to argue that ventriloquism wasn't actually talent but trickery from technology. WRONG! It's totally an art! But alas, I had to have something somewhat logical sounding so the entire time I was writing to the paper I felt like a I was betraying the fine art I will someday learn. Whatever.
Other than not having enough time to do the research justice and not agreeing with my thesis... I felt the paper went marginally well. That is the actual paper--- not the writing process of it. And by writing process I mean sitting out in the half-lit living room of my apartment until the wee hours of the morning.. Well maybe not so wee, but I did manage to get to bed before my roommates got up for the day. So, in essence, I need to work on not procrastinating in the future. But that's life, and it's done! C'est la guerre, Napoleon.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
October 2014 General Conference-o-rama
I LOVE general conference weekend. What could be better than sitting around in your pjs, eatin' some cereal, and listening to some of the best advice out there. Of course all the talks are thought provoking, but there was one in particular I really liked.
Dallin H. Oaks generally speaks with a very didactic, logos technique that generally speaking, goes right over my head. Maybe I was a little more alert this time.. or maybe his rhetorical approach was a little different, but I had no trouble relating to his talk, and I loved his subject: Love Thy Neighbor. Throughout his talk, he uses mainly ethos and logos to persuade.
He used an ethical appeal right from the beginning when he told us that to love thy neighbor, was something that Jesus Himself had commanded. Elder Oaks talked about how Christ loved those around Him, even when he was so horribly treated by them. Christ was the perfect example. He further uses ethos when he includes himself in as part of the audience.
Elder Oaks then used logos when he went on to talk about how this is perhaps one of the hardest things-- to love others, especially when they are our enemies. He related Christ's example with how we live today. Elder Oaks talked about the importance of being friends to those of different faith, background, etc. He also talked about the difference between disagreeing and being disagreeable.
I loved Elder Oaks talk. I felt like it was a wonderful reminder that we need to be kind to all those around us, no matter the situation. It's so important to realize that in life we deal with others in everything we do everyday and it is so crucial to treat others the way we would want to be treated.
Dallin H. Oaks generally speaks with a very didactic, logos technique that generally speaking, goes right over my head. Maybe I was a little more alert this time.. or maybe his rhetorical approach was a little different, but I had no trouble relating to his talk, and I loved his subject: Love Thy Neighbor. Throughout his talk, he uses mainly ethos and logos to persuade.
He used an ethical appeal right from the beginning when he told us that to love thy neighbor, was something that Jesus Himself had commanded. Elder Oaks talked about how Christ loved those around Him, even when he was so horribly treated by them. Christ was the perfect example. He further uses ethos when he includes himself in as part of the audience.
Elder Oaks then used logos when he went on to talk about how this is perhaps one of the hardest things-- to love others, especially when they are our enemies. He related Christ's example with how we live today. Elder Oaks talked about the importance of being friends to those of different faith, background, etc. He also talked about the difference between disagreeing and being disagreeable.
I loved Elder Oaks talk. I felt like it was a wonderful reminder that we need to be kind to all those around us, no matter the situation. It's so important to realize that in life we deal with others in everything we do everyday and it is so crucial to treat others the way we would want to be treated.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Ventriloquism (Thesis Creating)
I read a book about a family of ventriloquists a few years ago and with that, a new dream was born. I want to learn ventriloquism! How cool to just be able to throw your voice around and trip people up. But because I have only read the one book(fiction) on ventriloquism, there's a whole lot of research that needs to be done before I can be a ventriloquist whiz...
First of all, what is the history of ventriloquism? How does it work? Is it even really possible to do? If it is possible, is the voice the only tool needed? Once mastered, how would I be able to use it? How common is it for somebody to be a ventriloquist? How has the art of ventriloquism changed with the new innovations of technology(so much use of microphones now, etc.)?
Suggestion 1, by Ammon Boone
Can some people learn it and others can't? What is the difference? Do you fit one or the other?
Suggestion by Kyle Nielsen
How do you learn how to do it? Are there schools that you can go to? Is it something you learn from somebody who already knows how to do it?
Suggestion by Emily Woffinden
What are some of the reasons people put forth the effort to learn ventriloquism? My favorite question you have come up with is "what is the history of ventriloquism?" That should be very interesting!
Thesis: Ventriloquism is not really an act of throwing the voice, but rather a trick of confusing the mind through visual effects both through distractions and through technologies.
First of all, what is the history of ventriloquism? How does it work? Is it even really possible to do? If it is possible, is the voice the only tool needed? Once mastered, how would I be able to use it? How common is it for somebody to be a ventriloquist? How has the art of ventriloquism changed with the new innovations of technology(so much use of microphones now, etc.)?
Suggestion 1, by Ammon Boone
Can some people learn it and others can't? What is the difference? Do you fit one or the other?
Suggestion by Kyle Nielsen
How do you learn how to do it? Are there schools that you can go to? Is it something you learn from somebody who already knows how to do it?
Suggestion by Emily Woffinden
What are some of the reasons people put forth the effort to learn ventriloquism? My favorite question you have come up with is "what is the history of ventriloquism?" That should be very interesting!
Thesis: Ventriloquism is not really an act of throwing the voice, but rather a trick of confusing the mind through visual effects both through distractions and through technologies.
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