Music and Radio

Topic 1:
There’s only been one time I can think of that I censured someone listening to music. That would have been my son, Noah. Noah liked/likes to listen to some really great stuff, however, as a teen he started to listen to stuff with some interesting language in it. Now, this on it’s own doesn’t bother me; Noah happens to be the eldest of four kids. My younger three daughters loved to listen to what he was listening to. When going by his room one day and listening to some of the lyrics that was coming from his room I decided it was time to talk about what might be ok for him was not say good for his sisters that are ten to twelve years younger then he is. We compromised on the subject, while the girls were at home he could listen to whatever he wanted while wearing headphones. If the girls were gone I didn’t care if he listened to his music on his sound system. I felt pretty bad about having to put limits on when Noah could listen to music. In a lot of ways Noah was and is very sensitive to music and what’s good and what isn’t. I did feel pretty good about being able to compromise and come up with a solution that worked for both of us.

Favorite genre changes with my mood and quite frankly with my age. As a teen and young adult I liked the modern stuff that was on the radio, most of the time. My parents liked to listen to music, we always had music on, when you walked into the garage Dad was listening to rock, Mom liked oldies and musicals on TV. My Dad was in the military and because of that I was influenced by different cultures and music. Starting at about twenty-three to about twenty-five I really got tired of listening to the same stuff on the radio. I have to stay one genre that has stuck with me through my life has to be Celtic music. My great-grandmother would sing Irish-Gaelic to me as a baby, I blame her. Right now some of my favorites artists are Bad Wolves, John Lund, Alter Bridge, Lacey Strum and of course Jeff Johnson. So, basically one extreme to the other. I love variety and I’m very proud my children are the same way.

Topic 2:
1.I would love to say that the idea had merit and could be done. However, in the Albany/Corvallis area I have my doubts. I don’t get the feeling the younger generation would support this type of endeavor, nor do I think there’s a large enough base to support a student radio station. The population is to diverse and very spread out.
2.I feel like the area that isn’t being served is the farming community, I had to learn by accident about the farmer’s market the school puts on during the growing season, why is that? A helpful program would be on growing and how to eat certain vegetables.  Maybe when to plant, what to plant and what to watch for in relation to bugs and the weather. Helpful hints would be nice too. Another program that would be interesting is to air some of the guest speakers that come to the school, this would be helpful for the students that live to far away to participate or for students that work and can’t make it. Airing the lectures from guest speakers from OSU would be really nice too. I know these ideas are a throw back to when radio was first invented, but gosh it would be great to have some of this information on the radio.
3. I gave this a lot of thought, why couldn’t the radio station do like most other radio stations of it’s kind and have sponsors and seasonal fund raising? I know that the UofO radio station fund raises seasonally. Which means they have listener supported fund raising three to four times a year.  Say if a person gives $5.00 a month of a flat $60.00 they’d receive a pen with the school colors, $20.00 a month or a flat $240.00 they’d receive a t-shirt; this would do a few things bring in money and do some advertising at the same time. The sponsors name or logo could be put on the t-shirts and mentioned on the air and online. Another idea that a radio station does that I like is have a section online where you can vote on songs that the station plays that you like so you can hear it again or hear the band again. This helps up and coming artists and puts the music in the hands of the listeners, which, might bring listeners back to hear the content. These could be future contributors.

Books and Magazines

Topic 1:

I’ve known about this list for several years, since I was in school. Truthfully, I really never gave it a second thought. See, reading was huge in my family. I could read almost anything I wanted, within reason for my age and maturity. After looking at the list I saw many books I’ve read or know about, for instances; Captain Underpants, Twilight, Harry Potter, The Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Finn. I loved all but The Catcher in the Rye, I only read it because it was part of a high school class. I read Harry Potter to my kids when they were young and we discussed it. It opened up tons of great conversations that we used as learning tools. When my kids were older we all read Twilight then saw the movies together, it gave us something to talk about and amazing family outings. My thoughts on these books is I personally enjoyed them, used them to teach my kids lessons and we all learned from past thoughts on say racism from Huck Finn; as well as history. Do I agree with everything I’ve read? No, however, I like to learn and be uncomfortable. It’s the only way to grow, and I wanted to teach my kids that too.

I’m very thankful that there are people out there who love kids and books enough to make sure that both are safe. Having said that, it’s my responsibility as a parent to watch what my kids are reading, or, have them read something that will make them uncomfortable so we can discuss it. That’s my job, I’m not real excited about someone telling me how to do my job. I do understand not all parents are like me or have my parenting style, so, having another set of eyes out there isn’t a bad thing. I’m not keen on having books removed from the library, once that kind of thing starts where does it end? The objections sound reasonable, however, going back to my last statement, once this kind of thing is started where do we as a society draw the line?

Some of the books/authors you’ll find are Stephen R. Lawhead (most all of his published works), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (not just Sherlock Holmes, he has many other very good books), Bollinger, cookbooks, Handwoven and The Bible. When I say The Bible I mean one written in its original language. Just to name a few (very few). What would all this say about me? I love to read, but more, I love to learn. I read and keep books that I find joy in also, I have books from my childhood and from my parent’s childhood. It would show I read a wide variety and I like to learn new things from different prospectives. I’m passionate about weaving, spinning and not taking someone else’s word about something as important as what God has to say in His word.

Topic 2:

The three that come to mind and you’ll also find in my home is Handwoven, Spin-off and Biblical Archeology in Review. One other that I love is National Geographic. I find when I have the chance to stop and read something like this I want to learn and be entertained. I’m also looking for help, ideas for my next project and what people are doing with their abilities as a weaver or spinner. A good example of this is Master Weavers/Spinners giving lectures or classes, this is included in these magazines. Or amazing trips to Europe for spinners who want to experience spinning with other spinners from different parts of the world. And, of course, the beautiful projects that are included in the magazines! Biblical Archeology is fun because the magazine talks about history, what’s been found and where. The pictures of artifacts that have been found are amazing. I love the potshards, glass and coins they’ve found. It’s all very exciting to see how people have lived and how they created.

Most of the advertisements in these magazines are for equipment to weave or spin (looms, spinning wheels and drop spindles), product to weave or spin (different types of fiber or blends of fiber), classes in different parts of the world or, classes in archeology and language. I think as a consumer is shows I’m willing to spend money on something I love. I’m willing to learn and buy what I need to learn. In a weird sort of way, it also shows I’m not into the new techie stuff or up and coming gadgets, most everything I buy lasts for many years and the basic construction has been around for literally thousands of years.             

Project 2

Introduction:

“Thus does the world change, not with a sword. But with a word”

Conor mac Ardan

Why this author? Why this book? Who the heck is this author? All very good questions. Let me introduce you to my favorite author, Stephen R. Lawhead. I was introduced to Lawhead more than twenty-five years ago, when I read one of his first books he had published, he blew me away. The imagery, language and story he told hooked me in the first chapter. In his newest book, In The Region Of The Summer Stars Book 1, Eirlandia, he has done it again. He has used historic accurate time and place and has wound cultural myth into a seamless story. One reason this author stands out for me is he doesn’t rely on the same old way stories have been told. Lawhead brings a fresh look to his characters, time period and understanding of how everything worked together. Even though Lawhead has not been in the news he has won several awards for his writing. (stephenlawhead.com)

Describe:

Lawhead was born in Kearney, Nebraska in 1950. He graduated from Kearney State College with a BA in Art in 1973. In 1972 Lawhead married Alice Slaikeu, they live in Orxford, England and have two sons Ross and Drake. During the last thirty years of writing Lawhead has collaborated with wife Alice (This was news to me.) and son Ross. Not only does Lawhead write books for adults, but he and his son have written children’s books. Over the last thirty years Lawhead has won several awards, for is work titled Taliesin, he won the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s Gold Medallion Award, Scarlet won a Christy Award in the category of Visionary Fiction and in 2003 Lawhead received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

In The Region Of The Summer Stars Book 1, Eirlandia, ravaged by a barbarian force, Conor an outcast embarks on a mission to prove his innocence. What Conor has discovered will change Eirlandia.

Amazon shows In the Region of the Summer Stars Book 1, Eirlandia as having 4.6 starts, with 75% of readers rating the book at 5 stars. Goodreads gives the book 4.09, many who reviewed the book note that a lot of research has gone into the book and given the era new life. I could not find any information on how well the book has sold since its release date of 15May2018.

Analyze:

Eirlandia does remind me of previous works in that it takes place in Ireland, deals with clans and it talks about the ‘Learned Brotherhood’. These themes were also in Patrick, Song of Albion Trilogy and The Dragon King Trilogy. This is where the similarities end, if you’re thinking, if all these books are the same why read them? It’s kinda like saying if J.R.R. Tolkien’s books are all the same why read them? Lawhead has an understanding of the era, history and myth to pull off depth of character and feel of time and space. What pulls all this together is his imagination.

Let’s talk about the differences, Dream Thief and Bright Empires Series are more sci-fi. Dream Thief takes place on a ship and on a totally different world. Bright Empires Series is on this world, however, this series explores time travel and ley lines. Another difference is the books construction, meaning, Lawhead devotes whole sections to one character. He looks at a specific event through individual characters’ perspectives. In Eirlandia this gives depth to not only the story but the characters.

In my opinion Lawhead and C.S. Lewis are a lot alike. Both have Christian themes, write for different levels of understanding and can tell a known story with a new take on the story. For instances, in Albion Trilogy Lawhead talks about the manifest world and otherworld. This has always reminded me of C.S. Lewis’ take on The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In both books the characters enter different portholes for different realities. In both series you can’t have one reality without the other reality. It’s the same thought but told so differently both authors rendering is interesting and captivating.

Interpretation:

Eirlandia talks about Druids, this subject has many social connotations to it.  As with many subjects that Lawhead tackles in his books he gives the Druids a fresh look. He doesn’t use the same tired often wrong research that has been used for many years. This type of new approach is vitally important today, I think it opens people’s minds up for a different way of looking at a group of people. Even if the reader doesn’t agree with Lawhead, doing the research to figure out why the reader doesn’t agree will broaden their understanding of the subject and may lead down many other roads of discovery. Don’t we all need this fresh approach in our lives today, doing our own research, thinking for ourselves and enjoying the journey? It’s sad but often Druids are stereotyped and are considered offensives. I’m sure you can think of a few stereotypes as your reading this. Now, think of our society today and some of the stereotypes that are being held now. Isn’t it important to learn to think for yourself, do your own research and be able to break away from the pack and think on your own?

The target audience can be anyone who reads at any level. That’s the beauty of Lawhead, like C.S. Lewis or Tolkien; you can be young or old and still enjoy the story and message. I’ve read or listened to Lawheads books on audio and enjoyed them both ways.

Evaluation:

While I think this is a good book and is relatable, I don’t think it’s his best work, while I don’t think its his worst work either. One of Lawhead’s strengths is making a character relatable, taking the character and you the reader on a journey and not sugar coating the hardships or making the good times too good. For example, Conor is accused of theft, found guilty and exiled from his clan. Being falsely accused is something we can relate to but, being exiled is not something in our society we can relate to.

Will this work be forgotten next week? No, not forgotten but not thought of as fondly as The Albion Trilogy. One reason is Lewis in The Albion Trilogy is so human, we walk with him through a safe comfortable life to a life lived to it’s fullest. We can relate to living in a safe comfortable bubble then being thrown into circumstances that through choices can make you more, while Lewis is learning to live out loud, we in turn are taught how to. It’s the journey and the choices we make or don’t make.

I’m very happy that some of the professional critics feel as I do about this book; “Fierce companions, mighty foes, and fae magic all intertwine with multiple points of view in an exciting tale.”——Booklist

“Brilliant storytelling filled with lyrical language.”—RT Book Reviews reviews

 

Engage/Summary:

Many years ago Lawhead partnered up with an artist name Jeff Johnson who has put music to Lawhead’s books ( music). Johnson has done music for King Raven Vols. 1-3 (2008) and Eirlandia (2018), you can also listen to and watch Jeff Johnson on YouTube (ArkMusicMovies). Do I own the music and books? Of course I do! As to who turned me onto Lawhead and Johnson, that was a family member. My husband and I both enjoy the music and books quite a lot. Two of our children have also read Lawhead books, and enjoy the journey Lawhead takes them on.

I looked Lawhead up on Facebook and found he has 8400 likes and 8000 total followers. It appears that he keeps up on his Facebook postings and people post of knowing the area that he talks about in the book and of their own journeys and how their books look after the journeys. That I have to admit was really neat.

What did I learn from the assignment? I few things, I didn’t know that Lawhead had enrolled in Northern Baptist Theological Seminary or that during his research for The Pendragon Cycle had sparked his interest Celtic history, culture or Christianity. It’s interesting to note it wasn’t his enrollment in seminary that brought out his curiosity in Celtic Christianity but research for a book. Something that I’ve taken away from this assignment is why some of his other books don’t hold up next to Albion. It’s the journey, the humanity and we can relate to this journey Lewis goes on. It’s more than relatable, there’s turning points in the story just like in our own life. As with Conor (Eirlandia), Lewis (Albion) and Patrick (Patrick) it’s the choices that we make or don’t make, living out loud and taking those uncomfortable steps that really makes the difference in our journey.