More Info Please!

Dear Dan Glickman,

I sincerely appreciate all of the work that the Motion Picture Association of America does. I am glad that films are required to have ratings and that these ratings are readily available. However, I feel that these ratings do not provide adequate information as to the content of the film. Certain ratings send up red flags and warn viewers that the material may make them feel uncomfortable. However, I am frequently disturbed by some of the content that is portrayed in PG-13 movies. As an adult I don’t feel like the content is appropriate and certainly don’t feel like an early adolescent is mature enough to view it. There is a lot of discontinuity in the rating system and the amount of questionable material varies a lot in movies that have received the same rating.
I am not asking that the content of films be changed or that producers be banned from displaying certain things on the screen. I am not asking that violence and sexual content be eliminated from the cinema. However, as a viewer I am asking for the knowledge and warning of the content of a film before I see it. People have the right to know what they are viewing and choose for themselves if it something that they want to view. I realize that some people enjoy watching suggestive content and that others suggest that there are no harmful effects. By all means please allow these people to continue to watch theses movies. What I am asking for is the ability to know what is on the screen before I walk it to the theater.
What I am asking for is that film makers give a detailed list of the reasons that a film was rated a specific ways. I want to know what language, violence, and sexual content is portrayed. How frequently do these messages appear and what is their intensity. I want to know how much cursing I will hear and what violence I will watch. This will simply help me choose what movies I will be comfortable watching. I enjoy watching movies and would like to continue to be able to enjoy this form of entertainment. Instead of having to walk out of the theater or turn the movie off, I would like to know what I will be viewing before hand so I can simply choose to watch a movie that I will feel comfortable watching.
What I would like to see is a website that has a summary of the content of each film as it is released. In addition to the rating I would like some more information about the content of the film. More specifically, what caused this movie to be rated the way that it was. In essence what is a summary of the discussion that took place when the films’ rating was being decided upon.
As a future parent, I would like to know what I am allowing my children to be exposed to. As one of the two people that are mainly responsible for the development and actions of my children, I want to know what they are viewing on the screen and to be able to feel comfortable that they are being exposed to wholesome media. There are so many good films that I would feel at ease letting my children watch and I want assistance in choosing that which they will be exposed to. What I am asking for is more information as to the content of a film and the reasons why the MPAA has determined that it is not appropriate for all audiences.

Thank you!

Laptop Attachment

So the past few days I have realized that I am attached to my laptop and I don't think that I am able to function without it. I am spending the entire break(except a few hours on thanksgiving so I can eat yummy turkey) doing homework and working on grad school apps. I am surprised that this small machine can keep me busy all day. I spent hours and hours sitting on my bed typing away. I have no idea what I would do without my laptop and am so glad that I don't have to walk up to campus to do my homework. In the spirit of thanksgiving, I am grateful for my laptop. Not the work that I have to do on it, but the wonderful machine that makes my life so much easier.

Grad School Fun!!

So I am basically crazy and decided that it would be fun to apply to nine grad schools (what was I thinking)! Well to be completely honest, I think that applying to one is too much work but that's just me. But I had a very productive weekend and actually got two submitted. I was so nervous as I pressed the submit button and wondered if I had read over my personal statement enough times. Now I can't even tell you how many times I had read it but it still did not feel like enough. Oh well, I have decided that I have seven more that I can stress over and that I just have to let the last two go and know that it is all out out my hands now. Anyway I am very much looking forward to the thanksgiving break because I will be doing homework and applications nonstop! It should be fun and good luck to everyone that is working on their grad apps!!!

Papers, Papers, and More Papers

I don't know about you but this week seems to be my week of papers. I have a paper due in every class and I have five papers due in one class(okay they are only one page each but still that's five pages to write, single spaced!.) That comes to a grand total nine papers due this week ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! (But on a positive note I only have one more to write :)) Needless to say I have been using the media nonstop these past few weeks. I have become great friends with Psycinfo and have spent more time on there than I could ever want to. But I am grateful that I can do all of my research sitting on my bed with my laptop. I am glad that I don't have to use the library to find all of my journal articles. Although I am defiantly ready to be done with my week of paper writing I am glad that the internet has greatly eased the process!!!

I Love Football

So last night I watched the Colts and Patriots game and it was amazing. For starters I absolutely love love love football so that was good and then two amazing teams were playing each other so that made it even better. To be completley honest I like both the Patriots and the Colts but before the game I announced that I wanted the Colts to win but that I would be still happy if the Patriots won. I just love watching a good footballl game. The Colts started out strong and then it looked like the Patriots had it in the bag. I was almost sure that the Colts had lost it so i decided that I should probably go to ward prayer. Fifteen minutes later when I came back the score had changed and the Colts still had a shot with four minutes left. Well to make the story short the Colts ended up winning and all was well. I just LOVE football. Oh and I can't wait for the BYU game this Saturday. Go Cougars!!!!!!!

Media Makes FHE Easy

So for my Socialization across childhood class (SFL 351) we had to create an FHE lesson that could be used with small children. My group chose to do it on the Temple. I was surprised at how easy it was. The church website and the Friend made it simple to come up with a lesson, activity, and game. I was surprised at all the websites with really cute and fun FHE ideas. It was great to be able to look at what others do for FHE and then incorporate my own ideas. I don't have any children but I am so glad that when I need to plan weekly FHE that I will be able to use the media as I teach my children the gospel.

The Day The IPOD Died :(

So the other day I was out running and just after I hit my half way mark, my ipod froze. I was extremely extremely upset. I tried everything I could think of and nothing unfroze it. This has unfortunately happened before (at least I was not out running that time) and I had to wait for the battery to die and then recharge it. I realized just how dependent I am on music when I run. If it had died any earlier I would have turned around and called it quits but I was just starting to head home. The rest of my run was so boring and it seemed to take so much longer than it usually does. I am not the biggest fan of running but music makes it so much more enjoyable. I just blast the music and sing along in my head. Luckily it worked the next day and all was well. I really really hope that this never happens again because I don't think I am capable of enjoying my run without music!

It's Not All Bad

So for the sexual content assignment I watched the CES Broadcast, the Broncos and Falcons game, and John Tucker Must Die. I love the movie John Tucker must die but I am sad to admit that there is a lot of sexual references in the movie. I think it is a funny movie but I was upset at how frequently I had to write down a sexual reference. On a more positive note, the CES Broadcast was uplifting and invited the Spirit into my apartment. I am happy that sports games don't have sex in them(since I love watching sports and that is mostly what I watch on TV) but the Broncos are no longer undefeated so the game was a big disappointment.

CES Fireside

I personally thought that the CES fireside last night was amazing. I always love listening to President Uchtdorf speak. I really felt the spirit during the talk and think that this was a wonderful addition to my Sabbath day. This broadcast shows just how much good there is in the media and how it truly can be a force for good. I am glad that I was able to watch it in my apartment and that young adults all over the world were able to participate in this wonderful activity. I love that the church takes advantage of the wonderful advances in society and uses them to help spread the gospel. I am also grateful that I was able to go on the internet and re watch the talk again tonight.