McKell Park, Author at BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

AdLab Student Project “Your Decisions Write Our Stories” Dominates Awards Season

McKell Park — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 22:43:14 +0000

The project, titled “Your Decisions Write Our Stories,” won several awards this year, including a Gold Award at the International Andy Awards and Best in Show at Utah’s American Advertising Federation Awards When BYU advertising student Connor Dean first heard about Dr. Scott Warren, an Arizona State University professor being charged for ‘harboring illegal people’ at the border, he was confused by the backlash Warren received for his actions. “To me, it was a modern-day Good Samaritan story of a man choosing to go against prejudice to help save another life,” Dean said. “I began to think, what would I do in the situation? What is right and what is wrong? What is the greater commandment as children of God, to love one another or to love the law of the land?” Quickly, Dean’s personal reflections morphed into an advertising project titled “Your Decisions Write Our Stories.” The video — branded with the LA Times — tells the story of the wife of a border patrol officer who stumbles upon a young boy and his pregnant mother as they attempt to cross the border near the couple’s home. The student team — Connor Dean (Producer), Enoch Lui (Copywriter), Cam Tribe (Art Director) and Quinn Frehner (Strategy) — decided to produce the commercial in a narrative structure, allowing the audience to understand the complex issue through a relatable and emotional story. “I tend to gravitate more towards narrative-type storytelling in commercials because I feel that I can share important messages in a beautiful and relatable way,” Dean said. Although the ad addressed controversial messages about immigration, the students hoped to shed light on humanitarian aid at the border, a topic the group believed many are unaware of. “Border groups such as No More Deaths and Border Angels organize water drops and supplies for refugees crossing the border in harsh conditions. There have been legal ramifications to these individuals for helping immigrants as they seek a better life,” Dean said. By using the captivating story and character development, the team wanted to promote more understanding for illegal immigration, and encourage a different way of thinking about immigrants coming into the United States. “Instead of being passive about topics that might make us uncomfortable, such as illegal immigration, we can make a conscious effort to develop empathy for others and to see them as human beings with valid life experiences,” Dean said. The students also hoped to convey a message about the importance of finding truth, even when that truth can be difficult to hear. The words that appear at the end of the commercial — “your decisions write our stories” — are a reflection on the relationship between what one believes to be true and how that can affect decision making. “We make decisions based on what we believe ‘truth’ is. Paradoxically, in today’s world truth is harder to find, even though there are more news stations, search engines and resources than ever before,” Dean said. “We won’t discover truth if we rely solely on our own experiences to perceive the world, because people everywhere have extremely different circumstances and realities that we cannot comprehend.” Enoch Lui, who worked as the copywriter for the project, found personal fulfillment from his involvement and the opportunity to use his voice and talents for good. “The project meant a lot to me because I served my mission in Guatemala. I saw a lot of people leave their homes to try to find a better life in the United States,” Lui said. “We weren’t trying to show one side or the other, and we were just trying to give the facts, but we felt like it was an important message to share.” The AdLab had a great impact on the success of the project, as the students were able to bring their creative ideas to life using its resources. Dean was able to benefit from real-world experience in film production. “As a commercial film producer, you are in charge of the whole production process,” he said. “You need to understand film production, narrative structure and story development as well as handling things like budgeting, casting and scheduling. The AdLab has been so crucial in my education and growth as a producer. We have access to amazing resources such as cinema cameras and editing and coloring software.” Ultimately, “Your Decisions Write Our Stories” sought to bring empathy — not based in political views, but rather real people and stories. “I hope that people can watch this story and form opinions not based on political affiliation or preconceived notions, but on seeing and hearing the stories of other people — especially those who are marginalized,” Dean said. “I hope we can become better at not simply accepting the truths that are portrayed to us by our own culture, but that we can put in the work to recognize the experiences of humanity everywhere.” Watch the full ad here. Awards Won: Gold Cube – Art Directors Club (ADC) for The One Club for Creativity Gold Award – The International Andy Awards Gold – Telly Award Utah AAF – Best in Show

The post AdLab Student Project “Your Decisions Write Our Stories” Dominates Awards Season appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

BYU Acting Alum Shares Experience Starring as Sam in New Book of Mormon Videos

McKell Park — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 20:27:18 +0000

Cooper Sutton, who now lives in Manhattan, New York, recalls his involvement in the Church project launched last year In late 2016, BYU acting alum Cooper Sutton received a call from the casting office after a referral from his professors to participate in the upcoming Book of Mormon videos. After the casting process, Sutton was cast as Sam, the son of Lehi. He joined more than 100 BYU students and alumni who brought the beloved Book of Mormon stories to life. “I initially thought it was a mistake since I envisioned Lehi’s sons as older and massive, but I sent in a tape, which led to a couple of in-person auditions, and was eventually offered the role,” Sutton said. To prepare for his role and get into character, Sutton received guidance from seminary and institute teachers, as well as several general authorities who were able to meet with the cast and provide additional insight into the characters. “Sam isn’t mentioned very frequently, but it was exciting to me to see that from only a few verses, you can still get a pretty good idea of who he was and what he believed,” Sutton said. “My favorite part about him is his willingness to believe and support his younger brother, even if it meant less attention to himself.” The filming process was rigorous, with long days of shooting. The first day of filming began at 1 a.m., and one shoot even lasted for an entire 24 hours. “Through it all, we were very well taken care of and I really enjoyed the entire experience,” Sutton said. “Any time on or off set I was surrounded by the best people, and it made the work extremely easy.” Sutton’s favorite part of the experience was spending time with the talented cast and crew and forming genuine friendships. He was able to travel with the actors who played Nephi, Laman and Lemuel, and even participate in setting up for some of the scenes. “I had a ton of time to talk and get to know everybody, which can be rare on shorter projects,” Sutton said. “I had a lot of laughs and made many lifelong friends.” Sutton, who graduated in 2018 with a BFA in acting, credits his time at BYU as critical to his success in this role. The rigor of his program helped him prepare for the intensity of the filming process. “There was a point [when I was at BYU] when I would be filming two or three TMA 285 projects a week during school, which was all outside of my normal acting courses,” he said. “That amount of time spent memorizing and working with cameras and scripts was an incredible whirlwind of learning.” When asked what advice he would give to current or aspiring acting students, Sutton explained the importance of exploring what you really love. \ “Get a taste of all the various forms of acting, from Shakespeare and musicals to film and voiceover, but don’t be afraid to spit out what tastes bad,” he said. “What will make you happier: getting a perfect grade in your classical acting class, or booking a commercial through your agent? Spend your time and energy on what will benefit you and your career the most, all while being honest and keeping your commitments.” All of the videos in the new Book of Mormon Videos series can be found in the Gospel Library app, the Gospel Library section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on the Book of Mormon Videos YouTube channel.

The post BYU Acting Alum Shares Experience Starring as Sam in New Book of Mormon Videos appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

BYU Illustration Alum Creates Short Film for DreamWorks Animation

McKell Park — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 18:43:50 +0000

Department of Design graduate Andy Erekson released short film “Marooned” last summer Since leaving BYU, Andy Erekson has taken the animation world by storm. After graduating with a degree in illustration, Erekson got a job at Sony, where he contributed to full-length and short films such as “Hotel Transylvania,” “Smurfs,” “Smurfs 2,” and “The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol.” He then moved on to DreamWorks where he has been for the last eight years working on films such as “Home,” “Captain Underpants,” “Troll Hunters,” and “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.” One of his most recent projects “Marooned” was released last year. The short film — set sometime in the near future — follows a robot and his friend as they desperately try to get back to Earth after being stranded on the moon. Erekson’s film explores themes of friendship and sacrifice as the pair quickly realizes their journey will require more than they expected. “Marooned” was released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing in 1969. “I started working on the concept around 2012,” said Erekson, who both wrote and directed the film. “I came up with the story and characters and began to storyboard it in my downtime.” When DreamWorks announced a need for new pitches for an upcoming short film program in 2017, Erekson submitted his idea. “Marooned” was selected as one of 8 films to be produced, allowing Erekson to see his own creation come to life. “What made ‘Marooned’ special to me was I was able to see it from its conception to the finished product,” Erekson said. “Even more satisfying was to watch it with an audience and see and hear their reactions to the story.” Erekson’s film premiered in France last summer at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and played at several more festivals throughout the world. “Marooned” was also shown in theatres in front of DreamWorks’ “Abominable” in Los Angeles, New York and Utah. “It was a fantastic experience, and I’m grateful to the crew and everyone involved in making it happen,”Erekson said. “It was truly one of the highlights of my career.” Erekson has experienced many different roles in his career as he has made his way through the animation world. “I love that I get to be a little bit of everything,” Erekson said. “I get to be a director, editor, cinematographer, an actor and an artist all in one.” During his experience at BYU, Erekson learned the principles of design and storytelling that were necessary for a career in the business. “I chose illustration specifically because I wanted to learn how to draw, paint and tell visual stories,” Erekson said. “All of those things apply to what I do today.” Since finishing “Marooned,” Erekson is now head of story for DreamWorks’ “Boss Baby 2” which is set to release in 2021.

The post BYU Illustration Alum Creates Short Film for DreamWorks Animation appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

TMA Alumni Jake Swain And Becca Petersen Star Opposite Each Other In Broadway’s ‘Mean Girls’

McKell Park — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 17:24:39 +0000

The pair performed together in the cast of Mean Girls after years of friendship When Jake Swain and Becca Petersen found out they would be starring alongside each other on Broadway, it was a dream come true. Swain — who grew up in Orem — discovered his love for acting at a young age, and after realizing accounting was not the major for him, he pursued a career in theatre. Petersen also began dancing as a child and found her passion for performing while growing up in Indiana. The pair met while Petersen studied Music Dance Theatre and Swain studied Acting at BYU. Petersen still remembers meeting Swain during a sophomore year improvisation class. “I walked into our sophomore year improv class and noticed a new classmate joining our core group of major students. From day one Jake was outgoing, kind, driven and genuine,” Petersen said. “We hit it off right away and have remained close friends ever since.” Swain remembers looking up to Petersen and her talent for acting in those early years at BYU. “I remember one scene, in particular, we did in our improv class where I really noticed Becca,” Swain said. “She was so open and good at being vulnerable while at the same time being direct. I was impressed.” Swain and Petersen went on to perform and travel around the world together in BYU’s Young Ambassadors — including touring for a month in China. The pair parted ways for a few years when Petersen moved to New York City after graduating from BYU a year before Swain. Petersen performed in a workshop of the musical “The Prom” the national tour of “Newsies,” and made her Broadway debut in the musical “Bandstand.” In 2018 Petersen joined the cast of Mean Girls as a dancer in the ensemble, understudy for Cady Heron, understudy for Karen Smith, understudy for Regina George and dance captain. Read the full article at tma.byu.edu.

The post TMA Alumni Jake Swain And Becca Petersen Star Opposite Each Other In Broadway’s ‘Mean Girls’ appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Enoch Lui Reflects on Developing Creativity and Divine Inspiration During Time at BYU

McKell Park — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 18:58:11 +0000

Lui — a native of Seattle, Washington — will graduate with a BA in communications with an emphasis in advertising on April 24, 2020 Enoch Lui always considered himself a “creative.” However, after heading to BYU to pursue a career in filmmaking, he quickly realized something was missing from his original plan. “I realized I was probably too business-oriented for the fine arts, but also too creative for business,” Lui said. “Then I stumbled across the AdLab, saw all the incredible production work they were doing, and felt like I had found my place.” Lui eventually began the creative track in the advertising program and discovered his passion for copywriting. As he made his way through the program, Lui worked on several projects that helped him develop his own creative voice. One video project Lui was involved in — titled “Your Decisions Write Our Stories” — won Best of Show at the Utah AAF American Advertising Awards this year. It tells the story of a border patrol officer who discovers that his wife is hiding a pregnant woman and her young son as they attempt to cross the border into America. Working on the project helped Lui realize his potential to communicate impactful messages to his audience. “The project meant a lot to me because I served my mission in Guatemala. I saw a lot of people leave their homes to try and find a better life in the United States,” Lui said. “We weren’t trying to show one side or the other, but we felt like it was an important message to share.” When asked what advice he would give to future advertising students, Lui noted the importance of taking initiative and always being yourself. “As a creative, you shouldn’t have to be told to seek out creativity. You should be actively seeking different kinds of art and critically analyzing it,” said Lui. “It’s so important to take that personal initiative and have passion projects.” “Project Tala” — a mural painted in downtown Provo — was such a passion project for Lui and his friend Teiano Lesa, celebrating their Polynesian heritage. “It was something we wanted to do just out of our own creative expression,” Lui said. “We did it in honor of our Polynesian heritage.” Before being accepted to the advertising program, Lui took creative writing classes and visited film sets to learn the process, his dream of being a film director always in the back of his mind. He has kept his love for film alive by completing BYU’s film minor along with his advertising degree. “We are all talented in different ways, but what can really set you apart is your work ethic,” Lui said. “Whatever you can bring to the program is unique to you because we all have different backgrounds and stories.” Through his time at BYU, Lui discovered that advertising could be an avenue for him to make positive changes in the world, especially while using his unique voice as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Advertising can change culture. The media has a powerful influence on how people engage with brands and how they behave,” Lui said. “As members of the Church we have a unique voice that we can use — and a voice this field really needs.” Lui was inspired by a lecture given by BYU alum Brent Anderson, who explained that the key to success in advertising is balancing being a believer and a creative. “He explained that in the first verse of Genesis 1, it says ‘God created.’ God Himself is a creator, and He put us here to create,” Lui said. “While I don’t necessarily ask God to help me come up with an amazing campaign, I know I’m inspired about ideas and can have judgment from God about the work that I produce.” Lui hopes to use his creative voice as he begins work post-graduation as a junior copywriter at McCANN — a leading ad agency in New York City. Q&A WITH ENOCH LUI, BA ‘20 COMMUNICATIONS | ADVERTISING What did you want to be when you grew up? “I wanted to be a film director. I think I still kind of do a little bit.” What was your favorite class that you took at BYU? “Tongan 101. I didn’t do very well, but it was fun.” Is there a specific work or practitioner in your field that has had a particularly strong influence on you? “Brent Anderson.” Do you have a hobby outside of what you do for your major? “Along with painting murals, I also started a movie club in the program called ‘The Curriculum’ where we watch movies each week and then talk about them.” What is your favorite snack between classes? “Mr. Goodbar.”

The post Enoch Lui Reflects on Developing Creativity and Divine Inspiration During Time at BYU appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Communications Graduate Abbie Speed Reflects on Lessons Learned at BYU

McKell Park — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:40:13 +0000

Speed — a native of Denver, Colorado — will graduate with a BA in communications with an emphasis in communications studies on April 24, 2020 Abbie Speed’s road to graduation wasn’t a smooth one. After switching majors many times, transferring schools and maneuvering her way through health struggles, she finally found her place in communications studies. “I had intended to minor in communications since my experience in the introduction classes gave me a passion for the field, but none of the disciplines within the department spoke to me,” Speed said. “Then — thanks to divine intervention, no doubt — the communications studies major opened up just as I was about to declare the minor.” Speed moved to Utah as a transfer student and battled health challenges during her first year at BYU, often missing classes while taking her GE courses. “I felt lost and I jumped between majors like I was playing a game of Frogger,” said Speed. “It was chaotic.” After taking Mass Communication and Society (COMMS 101) from Jessica Zurcher, Speed discovered her place at BYU and things finally began to make sense. “It was like my life just settled into place,” Speed said. “I got medical care and worked with the accessibility office to make changes in my schedule, and my health drastically improved.” As Speed progressed through her major, doors opened for experiential learning opportunities, such as a study abroad in New Zealand where she was able to build her portfolio and experience the country’s beauty. “It was a thrilling experience to explore that gorgeous place and envelop myself in the rich culture, art and history there,” Speed said. “I was also able to piece together videos, blog posts and digital artwork from my work there to add to my portfolio. It was the highlight of my life.” The communications studies major also helped Speed strengthen her weaknesses and build compassion and understanding for her peers. “In the communications major, I have come across many situations to practice listening and engaging in an open — but respectful — dialogue with people who disagree with me,” said Speed. “If everyone in the world would take the time to respectfully listen, perhaps we could eliminate unnecessary hate.” During her time in the major, Speed has relied on her strengths in writing and public speaking and has fine-tuned her research skills while working on a variety of projects. “Communications is such a relevant field in the media-driven world we live in,” Speed said. “It’s very exciting to be on the ground floor diving behind-the-scenes of that world.“ Although she plans to begin BYU’s graduate program in mass communications in the fall — and perhaps work towards becoming a professor one day — Speed does not want to plan out her life with too much certainty. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in college, it’s that my plans only tide me over until the Lord puts His own into play,” Speed said. When asked if she had any advice for new communications majors, Speed encouraged them to take advantage of all their resources. “College is a hard and turbulent time; there is a lot of pressure and uncertainty,” Speed said. “But you aren’t alone. There are so many resources available through TAs, professors, advisors and fellow students. Don’t be afraid to reach out to those around you, because they might need your support just as much as you need theirs.” Q&A WITH ABBIE SPEED, BA ‘20 COMMUNICATIONS | COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES What did you want to be when you grew up? “I thought I would be a famous author someday. I suppose that’s still an option, though I doubt I’ll ever be the next J.K. Rowling.” What was your favorite class that you took at BYU? “Water Aerobics. For those of us with joint issues — or for those who just hate getting overheated while working out — water aerobics is a fantastic form of exercise, and the music and instructors are just so fun. I would recommend it to anyone!” Is there a specific work or practitioner in your field that has had a particularly strong influence on you? “I have worked very closely with the communications studies faculty, and all of them have influenced and inspired me in their own way. I want to be Kevin John someday, with his confidence and his ability to connect with his students and make them feel comfortable. I want to be as kind and put-together as Jessica Zurcher. I hear her voice in my head guiding me and encouraging me in what to say when I am trying to comfort or calm someone. I want to be as knowledgeable as Clark Callahan, who just seems to have an endless fountain of knowledge — and a fantastic sense of humor to make that knowledge applicable. I want to be as balanced as Scott Church, who mixes humor and pop culture into his lectures, making for a perfectly professional, but engaging approach to teaching. All of these professors have inspired me to become a better student, leader and person.” Do you have a hobby outside of what you do for your major? “Communications studies is a great major for me because it allows a decent amount of creative freedom for me to apply those hobbies. I love to write short stories. I am an artist and musician and I adore taking things apart and putting them back together. I’m a bit obsessed with puzzles and creating murder mystery games. I am a video game enthusiast, and I read way too many novels.” What is your favorite snack for between classes? “I don’t usually eat between classes, but when I do remember to grab a snack, I like to munch on pecans before my exercise classes.”

The post Communications Graduate Abbie Speed Reflects on Lessons Learned at BYU appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

BYU Alum Creates Documentary Highlighting Refugee Women in Greece

McKell Park — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:36:43 +0000

Communications alum documents the refugee experience to promote compassion and understanding The refugee experience is a popular topic in the media, with images of families escaping violent, war-torn countries and debates about immigration policies sparking controversy worldwide. This exposure often leads to an increased understanding and empathy, but can also create a feeling of “us” versus “them.” When Scott Lunt heard about an opportunity to be a part of the Azadi project — an organization devoted to helping refugee women develop digital media skills to empower their employment opportunities — he was all in. Lunt — a BYU alumnus who graduated with an MA in communications in 2007 — was first asked by Priyali Sur, the founder of Azadi, to help teach the filmmaking portion of the workshop. Quickly, however, Lunt recognized the potential of the experience to shine a light on individual refugee stories. “Right from the start, Priyali and I both thought it would make a good subject for a documentary to illuminate the lives of these human beings in a way that we can all learn from,” Lunt said. “I reconnected with a fellow filmmaker, Hanna Stawicki, and asked her to join me as a co-director. She agreed, and we were off.” The film — shot entirely in Athens, Greece — follows three refugee women as they rebuild their lives in a new country. The women explore lessons they have learned from being displaced from their home countries, while gaining confidence, resilience and storytelling skills through videography. Read the full story at comms.byu.edu.

The post BYU Alum Creates Documentary Highlighting Refugee Women in Greece appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Students Portray The Black Experience At BYU With New Project “Blindspot”

McKell Park — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:46:21 +0000

A group of BYU students used skills developed in class to highlight their unique experiences and promote diversity awareness among BYU students and faculty Evelyn Harper did not always want to be an advertising major — she thought she was destined for a career in biomedical engineering after watching both her parents work in the field. But after realizing she hated biology in high school, Harper glanced at the BYU major list, found advertising and never looked back. Harper, who is graduating April 2021, has discovered a lot about herself and her future career goals during her time at BYU. “I have learned what my potential is,” Harper said. “I never knew what was possible, and knowing that now is such a blessing and pushes me to work even harder.” Aside from her academic endeavours, Harper is also passionate about creating a more culturally competent environment at BYU. Harper — along with around 40 other BYU students — recently released a project titled “Blindspot” which seeks to highlight problems that are potential blindspots among BYU’s social culture. The project includes videos where large eyes on a screen follow people as they move, introducing students and faculty to the experience black students have being stared at on campus. The project also showcases a photo and story series containing metaphorical photos and personal stories from black students explaining racially insensitive comments they have experienced like, “It must have been easy for you to get into BYU! All you had to say in your essay was, ‘I’m from Africa!'” and “I’m not saying you didn’t deserve it but my friend didn’t get in because affirmative action helped you.” “There’s things we can sweep under the rug, but we need to allow minorities to express their concerns and feel heard and know that there is something being done,” Harper said. Read the full article at comms.byu.edu.

The post Students Portray The Black Experience At BYU With New Project “Blindspot” appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

BYU Student Wins First Place in Renowned Photography Contest

McKell Park — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:24:10 +0000

Graduating photography student’s winning shot will be published in acclaimed Photo District News magazine When Sara Anderson found out she was a winner of the PDN Faces Portrait Photography Contest, she could not believe it. After receiving the confirmation email from an unknown contact and a celebration emoji in the subject line — months after she expected to hear back — Anderson was not sure the news was legitimate. Once she had verified the authenticity of the email, her skepticism quickly turned to celebration. The PDN competition is run in conjunction with Photo District News magazine — an award-winning publication that has covered the photography industry for over 30 years and has around 500,000 readers each month. Anderson first heard about the competition from photography professor Daniel George. Despite her hesitancy, she considered applying after learning about the scope and popularity of the contest. “It’s always a shot in the dark with these kinds of contests, but if you don’t try you’ll never have the opportunity,” Anderson said. After deciding to enter and selecting possible photo submissions, Anderson took her photos to Department of Design Photography area head Paul Adams — whose work was accepted by the publication several years ago — for an expert opinion. “As a mid-career professional with other accolades under my belt, I listed it as a top-tier peer review and was extremely proud of the accomplishment,” Adams said. “It is rare indeed for a student to be published in this magazine.” The inspiration for the winning shot came from Anderson’s reflections on tensions within relationships. “I had been thinking a lot about relationships, whether that be family, friends or romantic relationships. I thought about how they can change and ebb and flow,” Anderson said. “I wondered what it looks like after an argument with a couple, especially in a tight space like a car. You can’t leave, you can’t walk away. What does that look like? What does that feel like?” Anderson noticed an old car that had been sitting on the street outside an auto shop near her home for over a year. One day she went inside, asked if she could use the car for a photoshoot and her idea quickly came to life. “At the time I was in a location lighting class with Robert Graham and we were talking a lot about visual storytelling,” Anderson said. “We were studying photographers who light on location and use models and styling to help tell narratives, so that was on my mind.” Anderson called up her married friends to use as models — one of whom is a film major at BYU and had an understanding of and appreciation for the creative process. “A lot of the time, my ideas are loose until I get the people in the space and talk through things with them,” Anderson said. “They were good about picking up on the idea. For the man in the picture, it was easy to think about the character and the narrative because of his film background.” Anderson, who will graduate in April with a BFA in photography, was originally drawn to the art after watching her aunt and cousin work as photographers while growing up. “I’ve always been drawn to people and in high school I would do portraits or family photos as a way to make money,” Anderson said. “For myself, though, it was always about interpretive portraiture or storytelling and that has been a theme throughout a lot of my photographs.” Majoring in photography has helped Anderson find her artistry and meet other creatives who think like her. “I would attribute a lot of my artistic growth to the photo program,” Anderson said. “The faculty here have been a huge inspiration and they push me to find my artistic voice. Before the photo program photography was a hobby, but it has become my lifestyle.” Photography has helped Anderson find herself, explore themes and ponder her own life experiences. “I feel most like myself when I’m creating,” Anderson said. “I also feel the happiest when I’m being creative and doing something with my hands. It just really fulfills me.” Anderson’s photography exhibit “The Archer House” was displayed in the HFAC from Feb. 15-26.

The post BYU Student Wins First Place in Renowned Photography Contest appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Are Disney Princesses Harmful to Young Girls? New BYU Study Says No

McKell Park — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 22:50:52 +0000

Disney princesses excite and inspire young girls all over the world, captivating them with beauty, bravery and royal status. This princess frenzy — a hallmark of the childhood experience — also fuels passionate debates about the unrealistic expectations these characters set, especially concerning body image and romantic relationships. BYU communications professors Tom Robinson, Clark Callahan and Scott Church, along with graduate students Mckenzie Madsen and Lucia Pollock, recently published their research paper “Virtue, royalty, dreams and power: Exploring the appeal of Disney Princesses to preadolescent girls in the United States” which investigates the topic through the eyes of the girls themselves. “This study is unique because it’s talking about Disney princesses, but it’s not an adult talking about them,” Robinson said. “We’re showing what the young girls themselves think and discovered that they do not all think alike.” Read the full article at comms.byu.edu

The post Are Disney Princesses Harmful to Young Girls? New BYU Study Says No appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.