Working With Jerks, Wednesday, May 18, 2016 [3rd period]

[imafuturist]

If Steve and Tony looked annoyed at their current ensemble, it was because they were. Do you know how hard it is to navigate stairs with two people in the same shirt? Very. Especially when neither one will stop bitching.

But this was for teamwork. And teeth would be gritted to get through it to teach their class A Very Important Lesson. 

"Hi," Tony said, smiling like he didn't have the urge to elbow Steve in the stomach if he didn't stop moving. Okay, so the smile was a little manic on the edges. Sue him. "This looks ridiculous, doesn't it?"

"Yes," Steve answered for them, "but apparently this is a tactic used to improve teamwork." By stupid people, his face finished for him.

"I don't even know how someone came up with it," Tony muttered under his breath like the only child he was. He cleared his throat and continued on like he was perfectly poised despite... everything happening. "Sometimes a little enforced closeness can help overcome interpersonal friction. And we're going to put that to a test with you all."

Those were some five dollars words that someone had totally picked up from the bullshit corporate retreats he'd been forced on.

Would they talk about synergy and vision statements while forcing the students to sit through Powerpoint slides that they'd read aloud like the words weren't there in front of them? Darn right, they would. Because working with jerks also meant sitting through terrible, terrible "team building" exercises. As a team.

Tony felt the Powerpoint was especially insidious.

Modern Shakespeare, Wednesday Per 1 & 2

[glacial_queen]

The beanbags and other comfortable seating were back as the class settled in to watch Scotland, PA, a take on Macfinlay. Before the movie began, Karla passed around a plot summary of the original play. "In what is usually considered Shakespeare's take on the folly of ambition, we have the Macfinlays who are given a prophecy: Macfinlay will become king of Scotland. However, Scotland already has a king, Duncan, and Duncan's children are next in line for the throne. Rather than waiting to see how the prophecy might shake out, Lady Macfinlay suggests to her husband that they murder Duncan and take the throne for themselves. Macfinlay's best friend, Banquo, also receives a prophecy at the same time, saying that he will never be king, but his children will be."

She continued to go over the play in far greater detail than the handed out summary went into. The summary was useful for a quick reference for the students who were unfamiliar with the work (and could read it), but they deserved to have a fuller understanding of the play before watching the adaptation. Once her lecture was finished, she started the movie. "In this version, the story has been updated to America in the 1970s and the Macfinlays murder over a burger joint rather than a nation. There's popcorn and soda if you wish to make this a real movie experience. Otherwise, pay attention, take notes if you'd like, and be prepared to discuss the movie after it ends."