Tropes and Scope [Class 5, Period Three]

[bookworm-beauty.livejournal.com]

"Good morning!" Belle chirped, already passing out packets for today's class as soon as students entered the room. "Today, we're not going to do anything too fancy -- we're just going to talk about families. We all have them -- some of them are biological, some of them are adopted. I thought it might be pretty appropriate to talk about trends we see in literature as far as families go. If nothing else, it'll remind us just how bad our own situations aren't."

Though Belle was fairly excited about her own guest, to be honest. More than fairly. Very, actually.

"There are plenty of tropes dealing with families, but let's start with the big ones: we often see large, clan-like family structures in stories, particularly in most pantheons of classical mythology, like Roman and Greek and Norse. Everyone is someone's father and brother and child, it seems, and their power stretches through the entire family tree. Often, these families all run a business together, though occasionally you'll find that they also perform less savory tasks together. I understand there's a number of crime families that work together, similarly," Belle said, flipping through the packet as she spoke. "And of course, with families, you have many different kinds of parents -- doting ones, villainous ones, even entirely absent ones, which is a much more recurring theme in literature than I'd like. Many of our favorite heroes are orphans." Her expression softened, and she added, "Or only one parent is living, anyway."

She cleared her throat, and added, "I'd like you to pair up with one another and discuss, after reading through the packet -- what's the worst-sounding family scenario most commonly inflicted upon protagonists? What's the best? Why would an author choose any of these backgrounds to tell a story? And do you find your own family in any of these trends?" She smiled quickly, and added, "Fiction imitates life, after all."

The Elements of Friendship, Thursday, Period 1

[locointhecoco]

The Danger Shop today was programmed to resemble a barren, rocky field, nothing but dirt and rocks as far as the eye could see. Above the field drifted a bright pink hot air balloon, and in the balloon basket sat Pinkie, peering down at the students with a broad grin, one hoof braced on a megaphone.

"WELCOME STUDENTS!" she crowed. "Today's an easy one! This field is full of pretty pretty gemstones! Grab a gemstone finder," she pointed to a pile of fake unicorn horns on headbands, "and get digging! Whoever digs up the most wins!"

[ooc: OCD on its way is up and ready!]

Sensitivity Training, Thursday 9/29

[onepunchguy.livejournal.com]

There was a big piece of paper and a plethora of markers waiting for the class when they arrived today. It seemed Guy was once again trying an exercise from his book in attempt to make this more than just a half assed class. That horrible, horrible book of tolerance and acceptance.

"Group activity today," Guy said, arms crossed over his chest. "We're gonna all put one of our strengths on this piece of paper and..."

He leaned back, to check the book.

"Make some kind of weird super person out of all of 'em." He frowned at the book like that would make it be less moronic. Nope, wasn't working so far. "Look, just get this crap done and you can all go back to freaking out over your folks showing up to see the school."

He had Green Lanterns visiting. There wasn't much that would freak them out. So he was as cool as a cucumber about this weekend, thanks.

"Anyone with art skills past stick figures can draw the Captain Planet of Tolerance hero if they want to. No freakin' bat ears on it, Brown."

So much loooove for Gotham.