fandomhigh | Sociology of Space Travel, Thursday, 6th period

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sociology of space travel

Sociology of Space Travel, Thursday, 6th period

The screen is once again lit, with Roslin seated at the back of the room. She has her computer with her, as well as a notepad. Glancing up, she a smile flashes across her features as the students enter. "Same procedure as last week -- well, minus the paper turn in. We'll get started in just a few minutes."

Once the bell rang, she lowered her pen and removed her glasses, addressing the class as she rose from her seat. "Last week, we watched an episode of Strifenova Celestial, that explored the politics of space travel. Today, we're going with something a little different; today, we're watching some clips from the film, ~~Lord of the Flies~~ Baron of the Beatles, which -- I believe -- is based on a book of the same title. I want you to pay attention to any similarities and differences between the Celestial situation and the boys' situation on the island. We'll be discussing them in a few minutes."

She turned with the remote and pressed "play." The screen flickered briefly, before it was replaced by a montage of images from the film. This lasted approximately thirty minutes, giving a fairly complete view of the major themes and characters. Once it had finished, Laura rounded the back of the room and switched on the lights.

"Okay, so...What similarities and differences did you notice? What do you think this says about humanity, once removed from society at large?"

The former president allowed the students to discuss the questions, hoping they would bounce ideas off of one another. She glanced at her watch after a few minutes. As the class wound to a close, she smiled. "That's it for this week. Have a good weekend, and I'll see you next time."

[OCD ~~coming up as usual~~ ready and waiting. ETA: Edited because I apparently need to meta 'Lord of the Flies'? ::shrugs::]

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The sign in sheet was back on the desk at the front of the room.

Sam Carter

D'anna Biers

Marco

Naomi Wildman

The lights down, movie playing? That usually means there's some OT discussion going on.

Sam was trying not to doze off, but she hadn't been sleeping overly well since Jack had been sick.

"Hey Sam." D greeted.

"Hey," Sam smiled at her, "How're you?"

"I am very well, thanks!" D smiled back, "how about you?"

Sam yawned. "Pooped. Jack's been sick."

"What's wrong with him?" D ask concerned. "Secondly, have you had enough coffee?"

"Fever, chills, coughing, headaches, sore throat," she listed, "and god, I don't know. What day is today?"

"Poor guy." D frowned slightly. "Seriously? Gods girl, what are you doing here? Go get some sleep or something."

"Krycek and I subbed in for Ares last period," Sam shrugged, "so it made sense to stay awake. I'll stop in and see Jack, then take a nap." Maybe.

"That must have made for an interesting class." D half grinned despite having taken pains to never be reminded that there was someone named Ares on the island. "Just don't let Janet get wind of the not sleepingness. She can be scary."

"It was...unique," Sam snickered, still wondering what the hell was up with Krycek, "and holy hannah, you don't have to tell me to avoid Janet when she's on a tear, especially avoid her when she's got the hypodermic needles out. She is wee, but she is mighty. Hey, why'd you see her anyway? You feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." D said. "It was just a standard post adventure check up. Making sure my knees aren't directly connected to my elbows or anything weird like that."

"See, and I would have thought that would have been fairly obvious," she laughed, "but I'm glad to hear you're well after the adventure."

"Well, a seawhorse is a tricky creature, so it's always best to check." D giggled and grinned. "Thank you. For everything."

"We are very cagey," Sam giggled along with D, "and you're welcome. Use it in good health."

The minute the lights dimmed? Marco was asleep.

What similarities and differences did you notice? What do you think this says about humanity, once removed from society at large?

"I think this means that humanity reverts to its more basic survival instincts when they are cornered or vulnerable and Darwinism takes over, so that the strongest, smartest, most strategic, and most valuable of the survivors of the initial traumatic event will be the ones who rebuild society."

Laura pursed her lips, nodding. "But are the boys really rebuilding a society?"

"They start out that way, and their intentions are good, but they don't end up doing that, no," Sam admitted.

"So everything sort of falls apart," she suggested. "Why do you think that is?"

"According to chaos theory, the final dynamics of any system are a direct result of its initial conditions. Working in conjunction with entropy, any system will seek to return to its most stable configuration," Sam explained (sort of), "so, basically, if we look at the island as a closed system, and the initial plane crash as the initial condition, then the final result is almost inevitable--the boys end up in the most stable environment available to them, no matter what else they might have wanted."

Laura frowned. "So reverting back to tribal society -- at best -- or total chaos -- at worst -- is the most stable environment available to them?" She wasn't condemning, but trying to follow Sam's reasoning to a conclusion.

"The human brain has been programmed through years of evolution to revert to its most basic survival mechanisms--which include living as a tribal society--when it has no other option," she shrugged, " So, in essence, reverting to those mechanisms make them feel safe."

"I think it says that both creators have a rather bleak view of humanity, sum total."

"Bleak, D'anna? How so?" She folded her arms across her chest and regarded the blonde.

"Bleak in that," D worded herself carefully,"they both leave less room for people to be kind, compassionate, or have just a plain sort of goodness." She shrugged and splayed out her hands. "I don't deny that people aren't always as positive we could be, but as a whole, I believe we are a bit better than portrayed in these cases."

"I tend to agree with you, D'anna," Laura replied, slowly. She thought back to the speech then-Commander Adama had given at the decommissioning of the Galactica. He was certainly very "glass half empty" that day. "But if you were to ask the authors or the producers of the show if humanity was inherently good or evil, what do you think their response would be? What would your response be?"

"I think the one would say people were evil and the other would argue that though they aren't, that they have a rather difficult struggle to be good." D folded her fingers together as she came up with her own answer to Laura's question. "I believe that people are born good but that the choices we make, roads we take change who we are, what we are, so that in the end, it doesn't matter what we were but who we've become.

"Let's actually take a poll," Roslin began, continuing on the same train of thought from her question of D'anna (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/1310668.html?thread=76944332#t76944332). "Humanity -- inherently good? Or inherently evil? ~~Maybe chaotic neutral?~~"

Laura resumed her seat in the back of the classroom, gathering her things.

Food? Definitely not overrated.

::goes to find some late lunch::

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Sociology of Space Travel, Thursday, 6th period

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Class Poll - Inherently good? Or inherently evil?

After Class

OOC