Here Be Monsters

October 21, 2009

210361_halloween_pumpkin_2I have been thinking lately about what makes a good story and why stories matter. A few weeks ago, I was at a writing conference where a speaker named Brian McDonald addressed this topic. He said we tell stories because they contain survival information.

This makes a ton of sense to me, because I think that a key element of a good story – the book you can’t put down, the movie you can’t turn away from – is a sense of danger. And danger stories teach us how to survive.

This is probably an overly simple formula, but I think it holds true for the most part:

Danger + Characters You Care About = A Great Story.

The second part of the formula is as important as the first. The following formula is just as valid:

Danger + Cardboard Characters = I Don’t Care.

This is why I dislike most action movies; the characters are not that interesting. But when fully realized characters are in great danger, I’m at the edge of my seat. And that is why I love good fantasy and science fiction. Because in good sci-fi and fantasy, as in all good literature, the characters seem real. They compel us to care about what happens to them (even if we don’t like them). I particularly love sci-fi and fantasy, because the dangers that characters face can connect with deepest parts of our imagination and get in touch with our most primal fears.

And this brings me to monsters. Because if stories contain survival information, then the monsters and villains of sci-fi and fantasy teach me how to survive my fears. These stories show me that fear’s greatest tactic is deception. If I can identify deceit in the words and actions of Screwtape, Darth Vader, or Coraline’s other mother, I am better able to recognize the tactics of deception in real life.

Monsters also warn us of what we might become. Gollum was once a creature much like a hobbit. Darth Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, Jedi knight. Their stories teach us how to avoid their fate and stay human. They remind us that our decisions determine who we will be.

So if you find me digging into monster stories around Halloween-time, it doesn’t mean I’m going over to the Dark Side; I’m just gathering survival information – and enjoying some well-told tales.

1041773_dragonRemember this:

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”      

– G.K. Chesterton

1 Comment | Journal Pages, Recommended Reading, The Art Experience | Permalink
Posted by Elise

Stuck in My Head …

October 7, 2009

Sometimes a song finds its way inside my head and gets stuck in there, rattling around for days. This can be very annoying. But every now and then, a really good song gets stuck in my head – one that makes me happy every time it replays in my mind. This is one of those songs, and I want to share it with you. I love it! Hope you do too.

This is from the DVD/CD Where the Light Is – Live in Los Angeles.

1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Elise

A Pancake By Any Other Name

October 1, 2009

Last week, the family gathered for dinner at my parents’ house. When Jeremy and I arrived, my mom was in the process of cooking an amazing meal. I noticed that she had set aside some baking pans for dessert. I asked her what we were having.

“Dutch babies,” she replied.

I wasn’t sure what Dutch babies were.

“You know,” she said, “They’re those big fluffy pancakes that you make with lots of eggs and bake in the oven. These ones have apples and brown sugar too.”

“Oh!” I said, “I’ve always called them German pancakes. I love those!”

Later, Jeremy walked by. “What’s for dessert?” he asked.

“Dutch babies,” my mom said.

“German pancakes,” I said.

He looked perplexed.

“Big fluffy pancakes that you bake in the oven,” I explained.

“Oh!” he said, “Like pannekoeken!”

“Actually,” my mom said, “the recipe came from Sunset magazine, and they called it an ‘apple oven cake.’”

Once we had figured out what they were, we were all anxious to try the pancakes of many names. When dessert time came around, we were not disappointed. The pancakes were so good, I decided I’d have to make them for breakfast on the weekend. So I did. Not only was it opportunity to use my cast iron skillet (which always makes me feel like a real cook); it was an easy but tasty breakfast.

And look how beautifully it turned out!

 Apple Oven Cake (or whatever ...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find the recipe here. What ever you choose to call it, and whether you have it for breakfast or dessert, enjoy it!

If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, don’t let that stop you from trying the recipe. You can always sauté the apples in a regular skillet, then transfer them to a baking pan and pour the batter in there.

3 Comments | Everyday Beauty | Permalink
Posted by Elise

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