fandomhigh | Art Appreciation and Protection (7/6)

“Welcome, class, to Art Appreciation and Protection.”

Sophie had thought of the idea for this class the semester before, when she’d still been obsessing over the second David. Today, at least, she could re-live the more successful aspect of the job.

“This class will be only a short overview of various Earth artworks, and the methods used at this time to protect and preserve them. For more in-depth art criticism and more broad knowledge, a longer course would be necessary. I don't hold a degree in art-- I'm an actress by trade, and taught the acting workshop earlier this summer-- but I have loved and participated in the preservation of artworks for the last ten years." By putting them where no one else could steal them. "I think, however, that we have time this summer to get the basics.”

“For instance.” She hit the button on the Danger Shop remote, and smiled, as a photo of the Michelangelo David appeared on the screen. “Michelangelo’s David. Perhaps the most famous statue in the world. Sculpted between 1501 and 1504, commissioned by the city of Florence. A symbol of strength, youth, and beauty; thought to be the epitome of Renaissance sculpture. Unlike many of the previous depictions of Davids, this one is 'peaceful' -- it does not show him in act of killing Goliath, his most famous act. The Digital Michelangelo Project has scanned the statue in an one attempt to preserve the statue for posterity; being able to reproduce it at will is one way to ensure the survival of the art, even if it is separate from the original work.

"Another way is of course, copies. Like all sculptors, Michelangelo made small-scale models, what is known as ‘mercats’ first. He famously made two models, clay fired, then bronzed, identical. Over the last four hundred years they’ve been stolen, lost, re-found, sold, dozens of times. The second David was stolen from the Vatican ten years ago and has never been found.” Ahem.

“The first David… well. Until recently, it was in the hands of private collector, a Mr. Ian Blackpoole.”

Another touch of the button, and they were standing inside a garden party, with food, fountains, and patrons of a museum milling around.

"Inside that door--" Sophie pointed. "Is Mr. Blackpoole's private art gallery. The first David is kept within a climate-controlled vault with:

* a fingerprint key access
* two guards watching the cameras of the gallery outside the room
* a laser grid on the floor which re-sets every five minutes-- not enough time to get across the room and take back the David
* infrared body-heat sensors inside the room which go off within 10 seconds, and
* a weight-detector on the statue's base."

Sophie smiled mischievously. "Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to see if Mr. Blackpoole has spent enough money to safeguard this $8 million dollar statue. Or to act as one of the private guards at this party in order to thwart a theft."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Re-evaluate just what actually this class is about.

Joan listened to the lecture with increasing confusion. Apparently her mother had no idea what this class was actually about when she signed her up. At least it seemed easier to tolerate than her first period class.

It didn't take long for Leto to figure out what this class was really about. He sighed, shaking his head, then addressed the teacher: "Why would I want to steal this sculpture?"

"Various reasons. I can give three immediately; possession, profit, and prevention." Sophie smiled at the young man and said, "Some wish to possess beauty and keep it for themselves, without sharing it with anyone else. Others, of course, wish to sell works like this to people who want to possess it. And last, preventing it from being stolen by either of the first two kinds of parties, but setting a trap in the process, is something an insurance company might hire out to do."

Leto could have thought of a few objections, most of them havig to do with morals, others with the fact that he did not in fact want to burden himself with precious pieces of art. Despite this, he gave up and shrugged.

George couldn't decide if he was impressed, amused, excited or completely confused.

And he really didn't have a clue what all that bloody fingerprint-laser-sensor stuff was.

...or why everything kept changing when the teacher hit that thing in her hand.

Medieval-tech confused kid was confused.

Edited 2009-07-06 11:45 (UTC)

"Do you have any questions?" Sophie said, seeing the expression on George's face.

There was a moment when he considered if he should betray his lack of knowledge. It passed quickly.

"Why does th' room keep changin'?"

"Ah." Sophie, paused, then showed him the controller for the room's settings. "This device? Is connected to the --hmm. Lanterns, in the ceiling and floors of the room. The images are being projected from ones I loaded before class started. It's called the Danger Shop, and the technical details elude me. But it allows us to recreate different environments without having to travel to them in person."

George considered that for a long moment. "Be ye a mage then?"

"Not in the least," Sophie said, smiling. "No magical abilities, or knowledge of this technology required. Merely the ability to push a button, after following directions on the computer." She tilted her head. "And you are one of the new students, I'm guessing, since you aren't already familiar with this device."

"George Cooper, mistress," he said with a nod. He wanted to follow it up with 'what's a computer' but he restrained himself. "Jus' arrived on Friday."

"Welcome to Fandom then, George. You may call me Sophie or Ms. Devereaux, whichever you are more comfortable with." Sophie smiled at him. "If you like, I can find someone to explain how the Danger Shop works to you. Most of the devices and technology here run on some form of electricity; are you familiar with that?"

"T'would be kind of ye," George said. He nodded in response to her question. "Th' magic candles."

What? It totally made sense.

"Then I shall look into it," Sophie promised, and then paused only momentarily. Really, she couldn't explain it any better, and if an explanation allowed him to interact with technology, why fight it. "Yes, the same system and substance. I hope you find this class useful in acclimating to Fandom."

And what he chose to do with the other information was entirely up to him, after all.

George couldn't possibly think of a reason why this class could be useful. Gods' own truth, he couldn't.

"Thank ye, mistress," he said, looking totally innocent. "I'll do my best."

Ellie was listening to the lecture with a look of confusion on her face. She had a feeling this class was going to be...interesting.

Maron was--

Well, just going to bury her head in her hands and dissolve into quiet giggles.

This class.

"We're gonna STEAL things?!"

Inside voice, Claudia.

"We're going to practice stealing things," Sophie said primly. "In an effort to sharpen your skills from the illegal side of the fence. If you can appreciate the effort it takes to commit an art crime, you can appreciate the measures that go into preventing one." And oh dear god, she's thought Harper's fashion sense was blinding.

Claudia blinked. "But aren't you supposed to just, like, look at the art?"

Raven liked Sophie, so she had taken her class this session, but she did not think she belonged here.

Joolushko was appalled. Simply appalled. This was not what she'd signed up for. At least, not what she'd thought she'd signed up for.

"I am not some sort of common criminal," she sniffed.

Art Appreciation and Protection (7/6)

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