I had a discussion the other day with someone in my Theology class about how everyone is an artist, whether they claim that to be true or not. Everyone forms art in their own way, through writing, painting, singing, doodling, etc. Art is a matter of what we do and how we do it, rather than it being displayed in a museum or whether we are widely known for what we do. To me, art is something that is inspirational to a small group or even a select few. We view art all around us. Art is everywhere and whether we realize it or not, we enjoy it. When couples go to the movies they are viewing art. When people go to a opera they are viewing art. Even when someone is looking at the stars or the sunrise, they are looking at the natural art of the world. Admiring art can, in a sense, make us artists because we understand that art is art—and even recognizing art can make us artists. We don’t have to be displayed in the Louvre or perform at the Grand Ol’ Opry to be considered an artist. We are artists either way and everyone can make art in his/her own way. We just have to be creative and use our imaginations.

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Perhaps you are already a part of the Hunger Game following, but if you aren’t yet, you do yourself a great injustice.  It has become the new book trilogy of the time, depicting the struggle of a young heroine in a post-apocalyptic world.  Panem, a mostly poor country that envelopes all of what would today be North America, is ruled by the Capitol, an advanced and thriving city of technology and entertainment.  The Capitol has complete power over the 12 districts of Panem.  To keep the districts from rebelling, every year the Capitol institutes what is called the Hunger Games.  On Reaping day, one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen are chosen from each district.  The twenty four children are trained and then thrown into an arena and forced to fight until the death, all of which is televised to all the districts by the Capitol who find great entertainment in the games.  The story follows the life of Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl from district twelve who takes her sister’s place in the games and finds herself at the heart of the game’s horror.  If this short synopsis doesn’t have you hooked yet, you can read more about it at thehungergames.wikia.com.

Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games, continues the story of Panem and the totalitarian Capitol in her next two books Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  This young adult novel has received praise for its fast paced, action packed prose that keep both movement and suspense.
 

For those who don’t enjoy reading, and obviously for those dedicated fans too, The Hunger Games has been adapted to film and will be released in theaters on March 23.

Tags: apocalyptic capitol destruction hungergames katniss killing panem reaping suzannecollins

    Why does it seem we never have real conversations any more?
    The other day I sat in the cafeteria at school and observed a few of the group conversations around me.  They ranged from “Did you see the game yesterday?! I still can’t believe the call on that play where that one player did that thing and the ref called him for something ridiculous that didn’t even happen!” (I don’t really keep up on sports, as you can probably tell) to “Oh my gosh! I was catching up on Secret Life last night, and…” What happened to discussing books? Local art? Intelligent thoughts of any kind? If we’re going to discuss movies, could we at least talk about the symbolism in it instead of how great that one actor looked in that one scene? (Yup - that was another conversation I picked up on whilst sitting there.) Are our brains truly fizzled out? When I walk through the lounge in our dorm building, it is often tuned to something ridiculous like Cartoon Network (while that is fine for middle schoolers, I think college students could aim a little higher on their selection of entertainment).
    I want to encourage any of you who are reading this to have a real discussion with someone this week.  Have a conversation where you walk away with a nugget of knowledge to ponder later.  Read a book and talk about it with a friend. God gave us these amazing brains - lets use them to their fullest!

Tags: brain-matter contemplation conversable conversation-starters lacking

Well, it’s December, and I’m here to say that somehow last month I successfully managed to ‘win’ NaNoWriMo!

This was the first year I’ve ever done NaNo. In fact, in previous years I’ve expressed my utter disinterest in the whole matter. I can gladly say that my mind has been changed and I really like the whole idea now. Granted, I would never use NaNo for anything other than writing a pretty bad draft. The speed that is required to work out 50K words in only a month makes for some sloppy writing at times. So, for me, this was perfect because it gave me an excuse to work on the novel that had been festering since the summer. Unfortunately, that did leave my other novel abandoned and alone for a month… but I digress. It was difficult at times to be working with unfamiliar characters and I fear that I really didn’t get to know them as well as I could have in a month, however, because I have 50K of this first draft knocked out already, it’s not going to get tucked away forever and never worked on again. Because, really, I only got through about half of the plot in 50k. I’m just too long winded. I can’t imagine someone wrapping up a story in only 50k words. I need at least 100k to get everything out and said in a story.
This is probably because of the world building I do…

I personally learned a lot while doing this. I learned that for me, fantasy is apparently my niche as I struggled even with this urban fantasy setting. I learned that I tend to forsake all natural conventions of grammar when I’m writing really really fast. I learned that the new spell check feature on the Mac is amazing because if you hold down a vowel key you can choose from its accents. ï løvé thàt (don’t read that with the accents. It was just an example). I also learned it’s great time writing demons and necromancers, but I miss the ones that are in my other novel. Finally, I learned that it’s possible to write 50k words in a month while taking 16 college credit hours and swimming 20 hours a week. So, whatever your excuse is for not doing NaNo, I really don’t think you have one. It’s possible, it’s great fun, and you can definitely accomplish far more than you ever thought you would.

Tags: creative nanowrimo sightlines writing

As the semester is drawing to a close, all of us here at Sightlines want to wish you a merry Christmas, and encourage you to keep writing! The Christmas holiday is a great time to relax and recharge after a tough semester, surrounded by friends and family, good food, yuletide cheer and all that. Christmas is also a great time to curl up next to the fire with your laptop or notebook and pen, your guitar or bassoon, and take the time to write all those poems and short stories and songs that eluded you throughout the busy semester. I find there is also a certain state of mind, a sort of magical inspiration surrounding Christmas that causes us to look deeper into ourselves than we might during other parts of the year. So if you find yourself snowed in this Christmas break, never fear: just sharpen your pencils, tune your guitars, whip up some hot cocoa and Burl Ives and rock that creativity! Oh, and by the way, Santa dropped by the office the other day to check out the new Sightlines mag. He was very impressed. To all who submitted, thank you for your efforts and you’re definitely getting presents this year. Have a merry and safe Christmas, writers! Stay writing!

Tags: christmas sightlines writing

“You shall know them by their fruits…”
-Matthew 7:16, AKJV

A couple of weeks ago as part of the Malone Writers Series, nationally-known and respected poet G.C. Waldrep graced Malone’s campus with his visit—an especially memorable experience for the Creative Writing enclave here at the school, and one I personally am not soon to forget.

When I first cracked open Waldrep’s book Disclamor, I was unsure of what odd fruit those pages held, whether a correct response would be to savor the pungent flavors of his poetry, the rapid fire of synapses and roiling jazz of open consciousness, or quickly spit them out. G.C.’s work may be described as surreal, frenetic, and beautifully honest. G.C. the man may also be described as surreal, frenetic, and beautifully honest. The man is surreal; he belongs to a conservative, Pennsylvania-based Amish community to which he is supremely dedicated. He studied at Harvard and Duke Universities from which he holds a PhD in History, an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Iowa. He is a professor of English at Bucknell University. Oh, and he loves sushi. A once-aspiring and admittedly failed novelist, G.C. describes his art for writing poetry as a gift, and it wasn’t until after graduation, his conversion and entering into the Amish community that he began penning poems. He views inspiration as God-given, a lightning flash, spontaneous combustion and outpouring of ideas, this blooming of words and images beautifully honest, and according to him, inseparable to faith. He describes the initial process of writing as immediate and complete, revision as a time to understand what the poems mean, or more specifically, how they mean. His poems contain an unmistakable musicality, this especially evident in his collection of poems titled Archicembalo, winner of the 2008 Dorset Prize. And what is an archicembalo, you might ask? An archicembalo is an early form of piano or harpsichord possessing many extra and in-between pitches, highly experimental in its use. It was also G.C.’s nickname as a student of vocal performance. He describes this aptly-named book as an experimentation with language, the application of musical theory to poetry. Even now I find myself humming the musical whimsicality of moments I was honored to spend with him: listening to him speak in chapel, hearing him recite his poetry, learning from him in the classroom, sharing a meal of beef filet and lemon-horseradish remoulade—yet another metaphor for the man, his work—simple meat with a flavor of fancy dressing. His faith, his work, himself: surreal, musical, whimsical, and brutally, beautifully honest. Frenetic? Well, you’ll just have to meet him, whether in person or in his work. You’ll know what I mean.

Tags: creative poetry series waldrep writers writing

The first thing you do is load your gun. Full ammo and a few clips on hand are standard. Socks are important too, functioning as weapons in last ditch efforts to stay alive.

And it’s best to go in groups. You’re able to watch all sides with much less effort, and you are somewhat insured against group attacks. After all, that’s how the prey stays alive in the wild.

When actually leaving a building, there are a few rules you should follow:
1. Always watch your back
2. Give a wide berth to corners
3. Look for hiding spots
4. Note entrances for safety
5. Go slow when you can, bolt when you need to

Of course, I’m talking about Humans Versus Zombies - the college-campus game that has thousands in a state of fear, paranoia, and cunning.

Humans Versus Zombies made its first appearance on Malone’s campus during the spring semester of 2011. Hosted by APO, the theatre group at Malone, this game introduced several players to what it is like to be hunted, and what it is like to hunt.

Few survive by the end of the week. I, unfortunately (but that is ultimately a matter of perspective) did not make it to the end. I was tagged this semester on Tuesday’s mission after failing to effectively hide with my partner.

And O the hell of it!

Admittedly, my and my partner’s “deaths” were the result of my foolish thinking. I had us on the inside of the “U” formed by Regula, Mitchell, and Timken. My idea was to funnel the zombies to a single point. The problem was that the available area was too large to ever accomplish that. So we were pounded on.

We didn’t go down without a fight, though. I fired away with my bolt-action Nerf rifle, while my friend unloaded with the Nerf Stormfire. Eventually they got us (my friend’s death was classic—stereotypical zombie-swarm attack).

My first reaction: self-pity over my stupid tactics. My second: I’m killing ALL the humans.

But oddly the subtle anger faded and I realized that I was enjoying being a zombie. Wednesday’s mission proved fruitful for me, during which I tagged two humans to add to the horde.

And one of them thanked me. She actually praised my tagging her.

Why? She felt so paranoid, so constricted by fear, that her life gained new stresses and challenges, all from the game.

Do you hear that? She thanked me for bringing peace to her life. She said I was “responsible for a lot of [her] happiness in life right now,” to paraphrase. Other players, on the zombie side of things, experienced the rush of hunting (quite organized hunting, too, due to good leadership and tactics). People would group together and storm humans when they left places like the cafeteria and chapel; and, from experience, the surge of energy that comes from planning and executing an attack is intense.

So we must ask ourselves: what kind of game is this that someone could be so stressed over it? My answer is that it is a very fun one and that it should be continued into the far future.

Yes, the game brings the height of adrenaline and the excitement of the hunt, but so do all sports. Sports players feel an even more intense burn in their bodies and minds just from trying to score a basket or make a field goal.

For students who aren’t usually as active, Humans Versus Zombies gives them a context in which to use what skills they have to “kill” or stay “alive.” And while the pressure of performance can get to some people’s heads, it’s still a very fun game that both engages and entertains as it rewards and satisfies.

So play a round, shoot some zombies, tag some humans, feel alive, get some exercise, enjoy the game. It’s life or death, but it’s fun either way.

Tags: nerf versus zombies

ALL ABOUT SIGHTLINES

WHAT IS IT?

Sightlines is Malone University’s Journal of the Arts.  It is an online publication that is growing in diversity and direction.  A major goal of the Sightlines staff is to begin bridging the gap between arts, fusing them together, and helping to create a more complete and dynamic collection of student’s art and interests. 

WHAT KIND OF SUBMISSIONS DOES IT ACCEPT?

Sightlines welcomes submissions in writing, poetry, short story, short scripts, essays, and both fiction and nonfiction.  In addition, it is welcoming any photography, video and films, mp3 songs, and much more.  The staff is open to any new ideas or other art mediums that could be joined with Sightlines. 

WHEN ARE SUBMISSIONS DUE?

The date has been changed to November 23rd.  Originally, the deadline had been on the 1st and then the 15th, but we are extending the date so that more of you have time to polish up your work and submit! 

IF I SUBMIT, WILL MY SUBMISSION BE IN SIGHTLINES NEXT PUBLICATION?

Each staff member carefully looks over each submission.  The staff decides which submissions will be included in the next publication, edits them, and they appear online at sightlinesmag.org.  Submitting a piece is not as scary as it may seem, so don’t be worried, just give it a try!  The Sightlines staff does not create the art, YOU do.  Without your submissions, there is no Sightlines.  We encourage your participation in Sightlines and greatly appreciate it.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PART OF SIGHTLINES?

If you are interested in growing the community of art here at Malone, please notify Sightlines!  New members are always welcomed.

Tags: creative fiction nonfiction poetry publication sightlines submission writing

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the richness and importance of books –not only for their words, but simply for their tangible existence.  Andy Goldsworthy has a poem called “Library.”  In it the author is describing a collection of books.  He writes:
   
    This book saved my life…
    This book I tried to carry balanced on my head with seven others.
    This book I actually licked.
    This book — remember? I carved a large hole in its pages, a “how-to
    magazine for boys” said this would be a foolproof place to hide my
    secret treasures. Then I remembered I didn’t have any secret treasures
    worth hiding. Plus, I was down one book…
    This book, from when I was five, its fuzzy ducklings, and my mother’s
    voice in the living room of the second-story apartment over the butcher
    shop on Division Street…. I’m fifty now. I’ve sought out, and I own
    now, one near-mint and two loose, yellowing copies that mean to me as
    much as the decorated gold masks and the torsos of marble meant to the
    excavators of Troy…

I have books like that. I have a book that ruined my life and also saved it in ways I can’t explain to anyone.  I have a copy of Streams in The Desert that was owned by my great grandfather McCleary, a Presbyterian minister, which contains a pressed carnation from my great grandmother’s funeral.  My Bible contains an interesting assortment of mementos that anyone else might find random and meaningless.

Each has a distinct story that goes beyond the words contained in their pages.  Anne Fadiman talks about this in her essay “Never Do That to a Book.”  She explains that there are two types of readers:  courtly book lovers who gently care for their books to keep them in pristine condition, and carnal lovers who love their books to pieces. To the Fadiman family, “…a book’s words were holy, but the paper, cloth, cardboard, glue, thread, and ink that contained them were a mere vessel, and it was no sacrilege to treat them as wantonly as desire and pragmatism dictated.  Hard use was a sign not of disrespect but of intimacy.”

She goes on to recount stories of reading experiences: a book critic who read The Collected Poems of Edgar Allen Poe on a backpacking trip through the Yucatan and closed an interesting bug in-between the pages, an avid bird-watcher who left a note from the first time he saw his first trumpeter swan, a mother who cherishes the stain of an egg yolk on a cookbook from her child’s first batch of blueberry muffins…
There is a certain intimacy to be gained in the experience of defaming a book. Handling it allows you to connect with it in an extra special way.  Anne Fadiman says “Just think what courtly lovers miss by believing that the only thing they are permitted to do with books is read them!” Books can be used as decorations, doorstops, paperweights, mementos… anything.

Recently I discovered an art form that takes this idea a step further: Literary Art.  On a recent visit to 2nd April Art Gallerie, I browsed a gallery full of intricate and innovative sculptures, posters, and jewelry made out of old books.  The artist was wearing a sunburst necklace out of book pages.  I was thrilled.  I signed up for a class to learn how to create a piece of book art. I’m excited to interact with a work of literature in a tangible way - in an act of courtly love.

The class will be at 2nd April on November 15th at 6:00 P.M.  The cost is $20.00 and includes all supplies.  Anyone interested can contact Pam Neff at 330-685-2276 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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    Sightlines hosted their fourth Open Mic Night event on Thursday, October 13 - a show of student talents in music and poetry, where Cory Heddleston and Steve Berkenkemper won cash prizes for their performances.
Sightlines, Malone’s online Journal of the Arts, has been reaching out to the community by organizing events to bring not only writers, but musicians and artists together.  Open Mic Night featured over a dozen talented artists who competed for a first place prize of $50, and a $25 cash prize for second.
Brittany Yeager, a staff editor of Sightlines, said, “It’s great to have both performers and audience members.”  Sightlines has been aiming to grow its musical audience.  “We did a good job with advertising, and I think the turnout reflected that.”
All of the artists were well received, especially the two winning musicians.  Paul Croce, another staff editor of Sightlines, said “I’ve known Cory for awhile, and I knew that he was a musician, but I had never actually heard him play his music.  It was nice being able to finally hear him play.”
Heddleston played his original song called “White Bird”.  He said, “The song reflects my own personal insecurities.  I overcame these insecurities through Christ by just letting go, and this song symbolizes that.”
Karli Fassos, a junior studying early childhood education, said, “This was my first time attending an Open Mic Night.  I loved it and was glad I got to hear Cory play.”  Yeager was also pleased with Cory’s performance, saying it was “lyrically unique.  He brought a nice style to the song, and it was a performance that everyone could relate to and appreciate.”
Berkenkemper performed the song “Brother on a Hotel Bed” by indie rock band Death Cab For Cutie.  He chose the song because he said it was easy to play with one person.  He performed the song by himself, playing both drums and keyboard while he sang.
The Sightlines staff was impressed by Berkenkemper’s ability.  Croce said, “I thought it was really creative and inventive.  He had a fun set up and it was interesting watching the way he performed his music.”  Yeager agreed, saying Berkenkemper’s performance was “unique, requiring a lot of concentration and skill.”
Heddleston and Berkenkemper both agreed that they would like to perform at Open Mic Night again in the future.  “It was a lot of fun,” said Heddleston.  “I’ve never been a huge fan of competitive music, but I thought it was all really interesting.”
Berkenkemper said, “I really liked the diversity. I thought everyone else had really good song and sound.”
The winners were chosen by the Sightlines staff, a decision they said was very difficult to make, given the impressive talent of each participant.  Although both winners were musical acts, a number of contestants performed poetry readings.
The growing diversity of artists on Malone’s campus is evident at events like Open Mic Night.  Croce said, “Personally I was impressed with the amount of people that showed up and were excited about it…there are a lot of talented artists at Malone.  I’m glad that they were willing to share those things with the rest of the students.”

Tags: creative events expression music poetry