Utah County writer Brian Evenson knows what Stewart means. He and playwright/filmmaker Neil LaBute will present "Dissenting Opinions: Art from the Dark Side of Happy Valley." Evenson will also present "Faithful to Whom — Art or Church?" The talk will explore what happens when LDS artists "stretch boundaries." Evenson himself lost his job at Brigham Young University after the publication of his first novel and now teaches at Brown University.

Popular culture's portrayal of Mormonism will be addressed in several talks, including "The Americanization of Mormonism Reflected in Pop Culture" and two discussions about "Big Love," the TV show about modern-day polygamy.

Author and Orlando Sentinel reporter Mark Pinksy will take on the bigger topic of pop culture and religion during his Smith-Pettit Lecture at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Pinksy is the author of "The Gospel According to the Simpsons" and "The Gospel According to Disney."

The four-day symposium will include a broad range of topics, including former church President Spencer W. Kimball, feminist bloggers and "the yoga of Christ."

For more information about the Sunstone Symposium, including a schedule of events, go to www.sunstoneonline.com or call 355-5926.

---

E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com