Focus on Photographers; Tuesday, First Period [02/18].

[hashtag_chocobro]

"This week," said Prompto, feeling both relieved and excited that he'd actually had the time and attention span to put into an actual focus on a photographer like the class was supposed to be, but, well, that was the thing with Fandom, you definitely had to be flexible for anything in your lesson plans!, "we're going to take a look at one of the powerhouses of American photography, and that's Annie Leibovitz. She's really a top name when it comes especially to modern portraiture and fashion and celebrity photography. And even though she started taking pictures when she was young and her family was moving around a lot due to her father's job in the military, it wasn't until she took a class in college," he grinned a little at that in particular, with a wave of his hand as if to remind them that, hey! Look at that! They were in class in college, too! Could one of them be the next Annie Leibovitz?? "that she really found her passion for it. From there, she got a job with Rolling Stone magazine for a whole decade, which not only ended up defining her style, but also the style and the vibe that the magazine became known for. After that, she went to work for another magazine, Vanity Fair, but she also did some commercial work and personal stuff in that time, as well.

"A lot of people have cited Leibovitz's use of dramatic lighting and color as a reason her photos are so evocative; others have noted how she really turns her focus on a particular interest or idea about her subject and just exaggerates it to make it more present or stirring. And then other people still have said that, really, it isn't so much about how she shoots her subject or even what she shoots, but rather who: she's taking pictures of well-known or powerful figures in society, celebrities and politicians, people that people know, usually provocatively, so of course that's going to garner attention. If she were taking these pictures of just every day normal people, would they have as much of an impact? Would we regard them as highly as we do? I think that's a really interesting question, especially as someone not from this world, who doesn't really recognize all the social commentary, but still really likes her work, especially the ones that focus on fashion.

"But you're not here for my opinion, but I definitely want to hear yours. So we're going to take some time to look through some of her most talked about photos, why some of them were so controversial or noteable, and then dig into it. Let's start with one highly lauded and popular one that Leibovitz herself didn't think was really one of her bests, actually, of actress Demi Moore while pregnant..."

He was definitely blaming last week on why that one seemed like the best place to start.

Friendship is Magic!, Tuesday, February 18, 2025

[sith_happened]

"Sometimes a change of scenery is the best way to make new friends," Ahsoka started off the class with. Not, they would not be talking about last week. At all.

"And the school is heading on it's Spring Break next week, so now is a good time to learn and practice how to make new friends," Anakin said.

"After all, it's not just that new places have new people, they also allow you to see old people in new lights."

Occasionally wildly hungover lights.

"Especially if you get a randomly assigned roommate," Anakin said, "so we'll use that as our starting point."

"No matter who you get, just remember it could always be worse."

"Don't use that as your opening observation," Anakin added quickly.

"A lesson some of us learned the hard way." Anakin, she meant Anakin.

Anakin shot her a look. "What topics should they try instead?" he asked.

"They're going to the beach so I imagine sand is a good place to start." Ahsoka.

"...sometimes, you will learn, it is not worth your time to attempt to make friends," Anakin retorted.

"And sometimes people will decide they're your friends regardless."

Anakin huffed. "Pair up, pretend you're sharing a room."

Mad Kings & Queens: Raving Royals and How To Survive Them [Tuesday, 2nd Period]

[atreideslioness]

 "Étudiants, bonjour." Ghanima said once the class began, as Trebor sat on the floor and played with a globe. "Today we look at a French monarch, King Charles VI."

"For those of you trying to keep track of where all these people are, France, which you heard mentioned during Wildcat in Snow, is south of England, across a narrow straight," she said, leaning over to steal the globe from her son to demonstrate the various locations quickly before passing it back to him just as his face began to screw up into a 'I do not approve' face.  

Trebor was a good baby, but even the best behaved toddlers did not take well to their parents snatching the toy of the moment, even for educational purposes.

( King of England, and you, duke of Bedford, who call yourself regent of the kingdom of France... settle your debt to the king of Heaven; return to the Maiden, who is envoy of the king of Heaven, the keys to all the good towns you took and violated in France. -- Joan of Arc )

"Charles VI appeared to have passed on his instability to his grandson Henry, whose inability to govern England helped spark the Wars of the Roses."