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A Little Late to Deadwood, But Glad I Made the Trip

For the past week or so I have been spending quite a bit of time with HBO's Deadwood. And not just watching it either...many is the night I browse through Wikipedia on my phone when I should be asleep. When was the last time a television show made you investigate things further? Instead of sleeping I am clicking through links on Wild Bill and Calamity Jane. How did this happen?

One thing that Deadwood does better than most is offering rounded characters. Forget rounded...these folks are in 3D and Smell-a-Vision. It is a "root for the bad guys" good time, full of swearing and sex and drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. I love every single person on screen, precisely because they are warts-and-all monsters.

I am also a sucker for the myth of the Old West, where men could make it on their own and all that "possibilities of the frontier" bullshit. Deadwood does not sugar coat the fact that these were hard times, and especially hard if you weren't a white man. This kind of historical, Howard Zinn-like honesty about the past is refreshing when so many other shows try their hand at revisionist history. This was an ugly time, and people did evil things, and the writers don't apologize for it.

Much has been said about the use of profanity on the show, especially how the word "fuck" is used in it's extreme. Initially it does feel out of place...much more Lebowski-esque language than what you would have actually heard in the Dakota Territory in the 1870s. But the producers claim, and I agree, that the important thing to express is the coarse nature of their words, and that the swears of yesteryear wouldn't make much sense to us today. But it would be remiss to only focus on the naughty words and ignore all the other fun the writers have with language. Deadwood reaches new heights when it stresses the social obligations and laundry list of manners that the Victorian Era dictated, all couched in beautiful turns of phrase. The contradictions of a colonial culture obsessed with outward manifestations of dignity amidst the lawlessness of the American West are summed in characters like E.B. Farnum, the dimwitted innkeeper and ad hoc mayor, who desperately tries to straddle these disparate worlds with a vocabulary that is firmly rooted in both.

And for a show that focuses on the evil that man can do when gold and lust combine one thing you don't see a lot of is lying. Characters on Deadwood tell the truth and they tell it to your face. Sure there are plots and schemes. The real drama though is not based in the tension of revealed deceptions, but in the boldness of standing in the open. We don't get that enough, and this nobility in honesty endears us to even the most despicable characters. And despite its brutality, and occasionally because of it, Deadwood is an incredibly funny show.

The complete series box set is an attractive package that is worth adding to the serious TV-ophile's DVD collection. At least rob the torrent...that would make an old evil bastard like Swearengen happy.

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Why do you think they call it Social Media?

Last night I found myself at a meeting of the Social Media Club's Utah Valley chapter (http://smcuv.org/). For those who know me that probably seems a little out of the ordinary. I am not usually the guy who goes to these types of things, mostly for the fear that a MLM pitch might break out. But last night I picked up a couple tidbits, and had some tasty buffalo-chicken stuffed French bread.

For me the real benefit of these kinds of events comes in the thinking that I get done afterward. Same goes for when I read a good article in Wired, or stumble upon some cool little nugget online. Call it "expanding my paradigm" if you want to be a tool about it, but basically these kind of experiences get me out of my rut.

So social media was on my brain while at a meeting this morning. I work for a college and the last 6 months I have been on a committee that puts on an annual symposium concerning Civil Rights and Martin Luther King. It is a good cause so I volunteer my time and my talents (mostly graphic design stuff). This morning we had our postmortem where we talked about what we did right and what we did wrong. As so often happens when you get a bunch of old guard academics together they started talking about Facebook and Twitter and how we should have used social media to drum up interest in the symposium. Academics know that these tools are powerful for two reasons: 1. They can't keep their students off of it during class. 2. Everything they read tells them that "this is important...this means something". But they don't know what it is and they sure as hell don't know how to use it.

So when clueless people get around to confronting the whole Facebook/Twitter thing they tend to treat it like traditional media. After spending 10 minutes saying that posters and flyers get lost in the noise, they suggest doing things like blast e-mails and fan pages and spam tweets. It is like they want a whole new way to have their message ignored.

I explained briefly that the power of social media is not in how it approaches mass communication, but in how it approaches interpersonal communication. If social media is treated like traditional mass media it becomes noise. Messages need to be personalized.

So let's look at our case, where the problem is getting students and faculty interested enough in our symposium to actually participate. In the past our attempts at solutions have been flyers, printed invitations, posters and the campus LCD screen network. These physical manifestations of our message are important and they do get noticed. To eliminate them completely would be a mistake. But the main problem with these messages is that they are not personalized. And because the nature of how they are produced they can never be personalized.

Attempts at PR or advertising using social media often fall into a similar trap. An impersonal message gets spammed out to everyone on a friend list and somehow we feel all Web 2.0. Our friend list becomes a junk mailing list, and the message gets treated the same way, maybe even worse because this crap has come from a "friend".

If we consider these people friends we should treat them as such. When we are looking for participation, for someone to buy into our idea, we need to make that invitation about them. What are they going to get out of it? In the example of our symposium, imagine a student getting a Facebook message from a professor that personally invites them to join the event. As a friend we know what they are interested in (and if not their profile pretty much spells it out) and we can tailor our message to them. "I thought you might be interested in this session...I know you are looking for vita material for grad school...I think this is a great way to share your unique perspective."

This means more work, more interaction, and more willingness to accept the fact that some people you know and like simply won't give a rat's ass about what you are doing. These messages shouldn't go out to everyone. Be selective, be personal. And damn it...be social.

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Just in case this gets erased

A Facebook conversation between myself and my friend Chad Clark concerning comments made by a Mormon Apostle comparing the treatment the LDS Church has faced following their involvement in the Prop 8 debate last year and the way blacks in the south were treated during the civil rights movement.

Apostle says religious freedom is being threatened

VEGOR: I like how he compared the backlash over the Mormon involvement in Prop 8 to what blacks in the south faced during the civil rights era. Totally the same thing. Of course one group faced lynch mobs and fire hoses...the other had people talk bad about them on the internet.

CHAD: He compared intimidation tactics, and he clearly stated it was not as serious as what happened in the south. The tactics used were more than "bad talk on the internet."

VEGOR: I find it interesting that he conflates the two. Particularly given the church's own antiquated views on modern civil rights. There is way more in common between the ongoing LGBT struggle for human rights and the days of Jim Crow. Has the LDS Church been denied any rights? No. But African Americans have been denied equal treatment in the past (both by the government and by the LDS Church) and the gay community faces much the same struggle today. To say that the LDS Church in this analogy is akin to the black people of the civil rights era is laughable at best.

It is particularly fascinating that he uses The Bible to make his claim that traditional marriage is between a man and a woman only. The same book was used by preachers and politicians for centuries to justify the practice of slavery.

While the Church has faced more than just "bad talk on the internet" the few episodes of physical intimidation have been more along the lines of petty vandalism perpetrated by radicals who do not speak on behalf the LGBT community or its supporters. The real "intimidation" has come from like-minded groups realizing that the Church can be pressured with bad press and economics, and this can be done simply by using free speech and the power of the marketplace.

This is a far cry from those of the civil rights era facing state-sponsored abuse. For 100 years after the Civil War black people in this country were beaten, raped, and killed. Little girls were blown up in churches and leaders were assassinated. People were denied jobs, seats at lunch counters and buses, and full voting rights. Many of these acts were done by the government or went unpunished by the law.

If the Mormon church wants to be involved in politics like this (and it has every right to be) than it must be willing to face the backlash. But harsh criticism and Jim Crow are not the same thing...not even close. And to say they are is offensive to a lot of people.

Chad, I have known three different LDS couples, all married in the temple, who have walked away from their covenants in the past year because of the church's involvement in this Prop 8 business. I have had gay Mormon friends (including a former mission companion) who have killed themselves because they realized that their faith and their sexuality would always be at odds. The church says it has the doctrinal feet to stand on in this issue, and that is fine. But the Mormon church of my youth was less concerned with winning political battles and more worried about its flock. As long as the church chooses to be so visible on this issue it will always be the easiest target for those who think otherwise.

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Mad Men: A lesson in restraint

Mad Men continues to be the absolute best drama on television. Nothing else even comes close. Sure the acting is superb, the art direction is out of this world, and the whole notion of exploring modern life by going back to a "simpler time" is pure genius...but what really stands out for me is the patience and restraint this show continues to exude.

Case in point is episode 6 of season 3, which premiered on Sunday. There was an instance where the story, in the hands of lesser TV producers, would have taken the most obvious turn. There are a few spoilers ahead, so if you aren't caught up ye be warned.

So the British owners of Sterling Cooper are in for a visit, and after a major shake up of upper management (love it when the show centers on the office machinations), they throw an office party for the staff to mark the transition, and to send off Joan Holloway Harris on her last day on the job. The usual drinking and grab ass ensues (much like the election episode). The frivolity culminates in a scene where a John Deere lawnmower is being driven through the office by a secretary, who loses control and runs over one of the Brit's feet. Blood splatters everywhere and the tractor ends up taking out a frosted glass wall. It is a very visceral scene that within the context of a normally quiet show shocks the shit out of you. It reminded me of the episode when Betty pulls out the old shotgun and shoots the neighbor's bird, leaving you to exclaim "Where the hell did that come from!"

So after this very un-Mad Men like moment we have an amazing scene in the hospital waiting room where Don Draper and Joan are talking about the accident. Both have had quiet a day. Don has been passed up for a promotion, and Joan's husband has been passed up for his residency at the hospital. For a brief second you think they might take solace in their shared misery and duck into the janitor's closet for a quickie and a smoke. Afterall this is Don and Joan, the two hottest pieces of ass on the show! Our baser instincts would love to see them go at it! But no...the producers instead give us a tender moment that is based in mututal affection, not simmering sexual tension. As Joan leaves (possibly forever) she gives Don a kiss on the cheek. There is no sex, yet somehow we are just as satisfied. OK, maybe not just as satisfied...but that restraint shows Mad Men's true genius. It is about patience and leaving us wanting more. The slow smolder burns hotter than the flash in the pan, and no other show does it better.

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About 5 people in the world will find this funny...but I don't care

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First Look at The Sonosopher Posters

These are by no means official, but I thought I'd get them out there and see what you kids think.

   

Click here to download:

First_Look_at_The_Sonosopher_P.zip (399 KB)

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The Sonosopher: Making Engagement more than a Marketing Scheme

Many of you know that for the past few years I have been involved with the production of a documentary film that focuses on the life of UVU professor/artist Alex Caldiero. Last night I was lucky enough to see a rough cut of the film.
The project has been a collaboration of two amazing UVU Integrated Studies students named Torben and Travis. These guys, with the help of a handful of other students, have put together something quite amazing. I can't wait for you all to see it, and you will get your chance soon enough.
Alex Caldiero is a weird and wonderful man, and this movie captures him and his work so completely. When you see this movie (and trust me, you are all going to see this movie) you are going to be blown away by Alex and by the fact that this is a student project.
UVU does a lot of talk about engagement these days. OK, they beat the term to death most times. What bothers many on our campus is the fact that this idea of engaging students with learning by getting their hands dirty in the real world is not something new. It is often presented as a top-down mandate from the powers at be. The truth is that real engagement has been happening here all along and that only now does it finally have a name and a marketing campaign.
This film is also an example of what is possible in local cinema. As Torben and Travis have been slugging along with The Sonosopher, there are two other Utah Valley documentary projects that I have been lucky enough to be at least mildly involved with. One is from former UVU student Matt Eastin and the other is from two guys named Andrew and Josh. All three movies couldn't be more different, and yet all of them have things in common. In future posts I will tell you more about these other films, and about the exciting future of filmmaking in Utah Valley.
For now I just want to say how proud I am of Torben and Travis. They have made something very special and I know you folks are going to love it.

Check out www.thesonosopher.com in the coming weeks for more details.

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Doling out advice: The New Job

It has been a little while since I posted, and perhaps that has to do with recent events. Last week I got a new job at UVU and could not be happier about it. I am leaving my graphic design/public relations post with the School of the Arts and will be taking over academic advising for the Communication Department. After 4 years of mindlessly applying for every full-time job I was remotely qualified for, I think I snagged the job that I was born to do.

After absolutely dreading every day of K-12 I fell in love with college, and in particular I fell in love UVU. Now I will get a chance to help other students make their way through this maze, and I am really relishing the opportunity. As a vertern student I was always being asked for advice anyways, now I will get paid for it. Higher education can be a lot of fun, but it is also a series of hoops to jump through. In many ways a college diploma is a way of telling your future employer, "I was able to put up this amount of bullshit". I hope I can help some people along their way.

I will miss all my friends at the School of the Arts. We had a hell of a first year, and I think we really made our mark. Thanks for all the laughs.

Now I am trying to soak up all the training I can so I can be ready for the fall onslaught. I am also looking into starting an on-line masters program in academic advising offered through Kansas State in January.

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"Good Boy!" playing the corpse for a search & rescue dog

The wife and I ducked out of work early this afternoon so we could pretend to be lost. A buddy of mine at UVU, Scott Hammond, has been training his Golden Retriever, Dusty, to perform search and rescue for about a year now. Errin and I being dog lovers have been talking about helping out for months now, but today we finally did it. For the "victims" it is a pretty easy deal...you just get lost. Well, it was easy for me. Errin had a much tougher area to be lost in and consquently she looks like she has been attacked by the Swamp Thing.

Scott and his friend Jan are part of Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs, a group of volunteers that spend years training their dogs to find folks lost in the woods. There are very few happy endings on these rescues, Scott tells me that most of the time it is a dead body that they are looking for. Still, it seems to be a very rewarding way to spend time with your canine. The training is quite rigorous and their are many certifications that both the dog and the handler must pass. You can also tell that working with these amazing animals is a lot of fun.

Scott and his group are always looking for folks to help play victims for an afternoon. If you live in Utah County and this is something you might be interested in let me know and I'll hook you up.

http://www.rockymountainrescuedogs.net/

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The kindness of strangers

The wife and I were running some errands tonight after work (Errin was driving on account of my lack of a valid driver's license, and insurance) when all of the sudden our car started chugging and then promptly died at the intersection of 800 South and State Street in Orem. To give you some vehicular context we have been without our faithful Subaru for the past month. Errin's brother-in-law Matt helped us out yesterday by replacing our starter. So the Subie was fully-operational for almost 24 hours.

So when the car died I pushed it into the Maverick station. As I was doing so a friendly dude with a cigarette and a giant cup of soda helped me get the car off of State Street. How nice, right? With good deed done this guy could have moved on, secure in the fact that he was not an a-hole. Instead he offered to take a look under the hood. "I am a mechanic, but don't worry...I won't charge you anything," he said.

The dude's name was Colby (like the cheese) and he determined very quickly that the alternator was indeed the problem (something Matt had figured might have been the case). Without batting an eye Colby said that there was a Checker Auto across the street and he would be happy to replace it for 20 bucks. Within 25 minutes he had taken out the alternator, replaced with the new one, charged my battery, and checked to make sure the alternator was working (he also got Checker to use his old employer's account to get a dealer price, saving me 30 bucks). The Subie works like a charm. I gladly handed Colby all the money in my wallet ($35) and Errin and I couldn't be more thrilled.

So often the cynical bastard in me gives up the human species, and most of the time I have plenty of evidence at my disposal for such a narrow worldview. But every now and then an ordinary dude with a cigarette and a big ass soda proves me wrong. Thanks Colby.

The experience also drove home (literally) something that the wife and I have been talking about for a while, and that is the need for actual skills. When Western Civilization finally goes tits up, which could be any day now, my graphic design skills or my pithy blog comments will only get me so far. it will be dudes like Colby and Matt (people who can grow, build, or fix something) that will be OK, and useless piles like myself will be living off the year supply I keep girded around my loins.

To actual labor, and skills.

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