fandomhigh | Intro to 21st Century American Culture - Monday

The classroom was still festively decorated for Halloween, but this time, Lorelai had boxes of Klondikes in a cooler in the front of the room.

“Afternoon, everyone,” she greeted with a grin. “After class last week, I was asked to explain a modern invention and I decided that, even though it doesn’t have anything to do with today’s lesson, I’d bring you all Klondike bars. They’re ice cream and chocolate and you can all help yourselves.”

After those who wanted them had taken the ice cream, she started in on her lecture.

“Last week we learned about fall and winter holidays, today we’re going to learn about spring and summer holidays.”

She explained the history and current traditions associated with Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and The 4th of July.

“Any questions?” she asked when she was done. “Before you go, I want to give you a homework assignment for next week. We’ll be starting our TV section and next week’s lesson will cover sitcoms. I want you all to try to catch an episode of a sitcom sometime between now and next class.”

[class info post]

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Zuko was frowning at the bar, poking it carefully and wondering if he should heat it up or what.

He blinked at the homework assignment. "Sitcom?"

"Problem Zuko?" Marty said munching on a Klondike bar.

"What's a sitcom?" Zuko asked and paused. "TV is the box that spies on people, right?"

Marty blinked. "Yeah, okay TV is a box but it doesn't spy on you. At least here it doesn't. I think someone might have been pulling your leg. 'Sitcom' is an abbreviation for a tv show called a 'Situation Comedy'. It's usually a 30 minute program that usually revolves around a recurring cast of characters or environment that is supposed to be funny."

"The principal showed me a monitor that knew what I had done the previous day," Zuko argued, not bothering to add exactly what he had been doing.

"Ahhh. Okay. Yeah that wasn't the TV that was spying on you, that was a camera," Marty said looking around the room to see if he can spot one. "Typically they have them hidden around every room for security purposes. A TV will only display what the camera records, it won't spy on you."

It didn't make much sense, but nothing much in this world did so Zuko was going to take Marty's word for it. "I see. So a sitcom was spied by a camera and then we can watch it on the teevee?"

"Kind of," Marty said scratching his head. "Do you have any kind of theater where you're from?"

Zuko nodded. "We have people who perform stories."

"This is the same thing," Marty explained. "Actors perform the stories in front of the camera (which is out in the open and not spying on them) then later they add a laugh track to make everyone think the story is funny."

"Laugh track?" Zuko repeated.

"A recording of people laughing," Marty further explained. "Shows use it during various parts of the show where the actors make a joke. It's supposed to make them seem funny."

"That's stupid," Zuko decided.

"And you pretty much have summed up the sentiment of most sitcoms," Marty said with a grin. "Sometimes you'll find a sitcom that is funny with or without a laugh track."

"Like?" Because if he had to watch something, he'd prefer it to be good.

Intro to 21st Century American Culture - Monday - Period 5

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