Page 18 - MSN_346_AugustSeptember

PAGE 18 MODERN SENIOR
CELL PHONES / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
FREE PHONES
If your income is low enough, another
option you should check into is the federal
Lifeline program, which provides free or low-
cost cell phones and plans through numerous
wireless providers.
College Class on Memes Explains to Seniors
Creative Ways People Get ‘Snarky’ Online
BY LISA MARIA GARZA, ORLANDO SENTINEL
(TNS) Nancy Shutts, 78, first encountered
internet memes a couple of years ago when her
grandson shared a term paper he wrote for a
college class. She couldn’t understand what the
big deal was about the silly social media images
with text—usually related to current events.
“I am so left-brained, this does not mean
squat to me,” said Shutts, who has a degree in
medical technology. “But I’m constantly look-
ing at new things to expand my knowledge.”
Shutts and five other seniors came together
in a Rollins College classroom to learn about
memes and other trending images on the
internet from art historian Adrienne Lee.
A meme is a still shot—typically from a
movie, television show or ad campaign—“that
takes on a new life but is rooted in a context
that we all share,” Lee explained to the class,
offered for people 50 or older through Rollins’
Center for Lifelong Learning.
For example, an image of the late actor Gene
Wilder as the title character in the 1971 movie
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”—with
t
SEASON
SIXT Y - FOUR
SA VE Y OUR SEA T .
SUBSCRIBE T OD A Y .
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018
To qualify, your annual household income To find out if you’re eligible, or to locate
must be at or below 135 percent of the Federal wireless companies in your area that partici-
Poverty Guidelines—which is $16,389 for one pate in the program, visit LifelineSupport.org
person, or $22,221 for two. Or, you must be or call 800-234-9473. MSN
receiving Medicaid, food stamps/SNAP, SSI,
public housing assistance, veterans pension or Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box
survivor’s pension benefit, or live on federally 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.
recognized Tribal lands. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and
author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
his top hat tipped upward, head resting on his There’s a level of narcissism, they said, with
hand and a smirk on his face—has spawned constantly sharing carefully crafted details of
countless “condescending Wonka” memes. one’s life on social media.
Popular topics include mocking social media Apopka resident Yvonne King, who declined
use, fad diets, and overused phrases. to give her age, balked at the idea of redefining
“You know to read those words in a snarky, art and comparing artists who painstakingly
sarcastic tone because of how he played that created masterpieces with people who use
character,” said Lee, 39. “Memes are like filters on their photos.
organisms—they have a mind of their own, “People that are participating in it to a
and they evolve and mutate.” great degree ... they’re really not doing it for
The lecture series, also explores other art the art,” King said. “This is not an attack on
history topics in relation to modern concepts anyone, but there’s quite an element of being
such as: Are smartphone selfies an electronic very self-centered.”
version of a self-portrait? Does posting pictures Lee countered with the notion that all artists
of your brunch on Instagram equate to a still- are prideful because they’re putting themselves
life painting? out there through their work.
“It’s that idea that while the media has “All that art comes as a result of artists who
changed or evolved, the intent really hasn’t— are experiencing their world at a particular
that’s rooted in human nature,” said Lee, time ... that’s the real reason we can’t brush off
adding that she imagines Monet’s Instagram these pop culture references, these social media
feed would be bursting with depictions of water trends, memes—it’s our visual representation
lilies and haystacks. of what’s happening now.”
Most of Lee’s students said they reluctantly “Art is for everyone, and through pop cul-
use Facebook to keep track of family and friends ture, I think we find ways to make it more
but don’t embrace other apps. accessible,” she said. MSN
The Helena Symphony announces the 2018-2019 Season, featuring
over two dozen critically-acclaimed guest artists, over 30 masterworks
of music, and 16 exciting performances. In addition to the six
Masterworks Concerts in the subscription series, subscribers can
secure their tickets for Non-Series Concerts now, as well.
Highlights of the Season include guest artists such as renowned Romanian Cellist Ovidiu
Marinescu (performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto), internationally-acclaimed Pianist Claire
Huangci (performing Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2), Violinist Robyn Bollinger, HSO SUBSCRIBING IS EASY!
Concertmaster Stephen Cepeda, and a dozen vocal soloists, including celebrated opera singers
Tenor Kirk Dougherty, Soprano Kathyrn Frady, and Baritone Charles Robert Stephens.
Other Season highlights include exciting programs such as PUCCINI’s opera TOSCA in
Concert, BRAHMS’ First Symphony, BACH’s epic Mass in B minor with two performances at
the Cathedral of St. Helena, and American composer Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island – The Dream of
America performed with projected images and the words from immigrants narrated by seven
actors, including Mayor Wilmot Collins. Other concerts include the music of Beethoven,
Mozart, Haydn, Shostakovich, Respighi, Stravinsky, Mozart, Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Prokofiev,
and many more.
The Symphony also announces the Non-Series Concerts for the 2018-2019 Season.
These concerts include the four-decade tradition of Christmas in the Cathedral (Monday,
December 3), along with a special chamber orchestra concert featuring tango master Astor
Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (Sunday, November 4)
The Season also includes five FREE Education Concerts throughout the season,
complete with narration, actors, and multi-media presentations. Subscribers receive the
six Masterworks Concerts at a significant discount and can also secure tickets for the
Non-Series Concerts in advance.
In addition to the substantial discounts on season tickets, subscribers also receive the new
Bring A Friend Pass, The Art of Listening Newsletter, first access to Non-Series Concerts,
and several other benefits. Subscription packages are available in several price ranges, and
subscribers can secure tickets to the Non-Series Concerts with their season tickets.
SUBSCRIBING IS EASY!
ONLINE: www.helenasymphony.org
Fast and convenient. Select the available seat you prefer.
SYMPHONY BOX OFFICE: 406.442.1860 OR 2 N Last Chance Gulch Ste 1
Symphony Box Office staff are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.