Library, Monday [February 1]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle had woken up craving banana cream pie today, for reasons that had nothing to do with an inexplicable knowledge of such things that defied logical history and everything to do with a weekend spent in a pie throwing booth.

. . . although still, don't ask why she knew about bananas. No, really. There were mentions of bananas in a few of her scrolls from before she'd come to Fandom. Gabrielle was going to cause historians such a headache someday, provided some idiot didn't drive off a dig site in Macedonia in accidental possession of her scrolls, then leave them stashed away in an attic somewhere for 60 years before his grandson sold them to a TV producer.

Speaking of scrolls, there was the usual small stack of parchment sheets spread out on the desk in front of her today, the smell of freshly-brewed coffee lingering about the immediate vicinity, and one bard scribbling away on the fourth draft of that chariot race scene. It was slow going, but it was getting a tiny bit easier to write about that.

Japanese Etiquette & Tradition, 2/01/10, Period 5

[shiroi_tiger]

"While I can't imagine many of you are going to be heading back to situations after you graduate where you'll be performing serious business ventures in Japan, today's class is going to focus on Japanese business etiquette, like it or not," Algren announced as the students made their way into the classroom. Instead of the cushion setup today, there was a table, set with enough seats for the students in the class. Algren was seated at the head of the table, farthest from the door, with his hands clasped in front of him.

( Before you pull up a chair... )

[OCD coming up! The TA's assistance with your delicious coffee and tea was modded with permission.]

Build Your Own Philosophy, Period 2, 2/1/10

[tyler_gone]

The board read:

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. -- Niccolo Machiavelli

"Today," Tyler announced from his perch atop his desk as soon as class was assembled and the door was closed, "we're skipping ahead a thousand years. We're talking about Machiavelli." Two books -- a text and an accompanying set of SparkNotes -- were already on each desk. "He was writing in 1513, telling local rulers what they needed to do to keep power. He was also trying to tell people who wanted power how they could get it. This is one of the first books about philosophy to be flat-out practical. Machiavelli isn't looking at what God wants you to do -- he's looking at what you need to do. He's looking at how to be a wolf and not just another dog."

Yeah, Tyler had an ideological crush.

"We'll be spending a couple weeks on this book, so please take it home. Look at it. Read it. Sleep with it under your pillow if you want. Today, we're starting with one question: Do you want people to fear you, or to love you?" He paused and paced across the classroom, wishing for a cool swirly cape like Anakin's.

"We all want to be loved. We're all designed to crave love. To bask in it from the cradle, if we're lucky. Roll around in it. But people will do things out of fear that you could not get them to do out of love. So -- if you want power -- fear's the blunt instrument. Cruelty, even, if you're trying to keep a large group of people like an army on the same path. At least, if you believe Machiavelli."

"What I'm asking today is what you think. Imagine you're in charge of a country. Do you want the people to fear you first, or to love you first?" He grinned. "Automatic detention to anyone who says both. I'm not in a mood for having it both ways."

He meant that, too.

Horror 101, Monday

[chosehumanity]

"When we talk about monsters, the first image that jumps to mind is usually something slavering and ugly out of Lovecraft," Mitchell began, idly. "Or the monster within ourselves, whatever. It's about fear, and there is very little people fear more than death. Death is this intangible thing, just this close to touch, this... big inevitability. Everyone dies. But what happens when we pass that veil, when we've stepped through that door?"

Mitchell took a moment to himself, then continued. "Ghosts. The souls of the dead. They are maybe the most basic of all ideas of horror, of terror. They've been written as malevolent, they've been portrayed as benevolent, but they are always frightening reminders of our own mortality, of our longing for longevity, immortality, and our fear of it. Even in our age, a lot of people are frightened of what flits by them in the dark. We won't live in houses where someone died, we hide from the knocks and creaks of our houses in the dark."

"We have stories that were kept from long before the beginning of our calendar about ghosts seeking out revenge on those who killed them while they were alive. The ancient Greeks once considered them mere whisps of something or other, but the legend of them quickly molded them into something haunting. The Romans thought they could be used as fuel for curses, and since there have been many stories about ghosts driving people out of their homes."

He shrugged a shoulder. "I could tell you about the renaissance, and that whole rubbish about necromancy, but it wouldn't teach you much. I could speak to you about all the films, but let's face it - if you're from this time, you'll have seen ghost films. You'll have heard of seances, of people coming together to call ghosts towards them to talk to them about what became of their families. Ghosts can be frightening," he finished, "But often it's more our own expectations that get the better of us. After all, how terrifying are idle noises and random movements?"

He hopped off the couch. "I asked you to meet me in the Danger Shop because we're doing things differently this time around," he said. "No films. No discussion. I'd just like you all to go in there."

He pointed at the door behind him.

"We'll see how you react."

[[ wait for the ocd up! ]]

World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

[atreideslioness]

Papers papers everywhere, along with large leather-bound volumes that seemed to tower over Ghanima's desk.  Ghanima herself, however, was for once not holding piles of handouts. 

"Today, class, we journey back to the Classical era, to visit the land of myth that many of you from this planet are perhaps most familiar with.  Today, we meet the Greeks." 

( For word of hate let word of hate be said, cries Justice. Stroke for bloody stroke must be paid. The one who acts must suffer. )

"I'd like you to discuss whether or not Orestes can be held accountable for his actions.  This is the first ever recorded case of 'extenuating circumstances', and the Gods play a large role.  Under orders, or under a curse?  Does it even matter?  You decide."

[Wait for the OCD of JUSTICE has arrived!  Go forth to Victory!]

Study Hall, Monday [2/01]

[takesaftermom.livejournal.com]

Summer set up a variety of snacks, including some healthy options in case anyone wanted to stay away from the sweets.

Summer was not one of them. She needed something sweet to go along with her coffee. She sat down at a nearby table and started drafting a letter to her grandfather. Summer knew he'd appreciate a hand-written letter to an e-mail considering he was bombarded with them everyday. The life of a senator was never dull.

[OCD coming up.]

Ethics [Tuesday, February 2]

[sith_happened]

Anakin, trying to shake off the feeling that he was coming down with something (he very rarely got sick, and this was annoying him), waited for all the students to sit at their desks before addressing them.

"Everyone look under your chairs, please," he said. A third of the students going by how they sign into class would find a bag with a full-sized chocolate bar waiting for them. A third would find a bag with a fun-sized chocolate bar. A third would find nothing at all.

Anakin waited for whatever grumbling there might be to subside. "Anyone feeling a little ripped off right now?" he asked rhetorically. "Two minutes ago no one had any candy and everyone was fine. Now I haven't taken anything away from anyone, no one's any worse off than they were when they walked in the door, and some of you are thinking very nasty things about me. Some of you have more than you did when you came into the classroom and still feel like you've been given an unfair deal."

He smiled. "Isn't envy fun? We never concentrate on the gifts we have been given. Instead we focus on what others have that we want. It's entirely a question of attitude. Today's question: how would someone capitalize on that very human failing if they were seeking to manipulate others?"