Sexual Anthropology, Monday, Period 3

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

Brennan seemed to be in a good mood as she waited for the class today. The suitcase parked near the lectern might give some hint as to why.

"Morning," she greeted. "Today we're talking about courtship rituals -- dating, if you prefer. In traditional terms, 'courtship' refers to the time period between when two people become aware of each other as potential monogamous life partners and when they solemnify their bond, either with an engagement leading to a wedding or through some other step. Typically the word 'courtship' refers to a relationship that is known to the community, as opposed to an illicit affair."

"Courtship traditions differ in different societies. In ancient times, marriage by kidnapping was the norm. A hunter would simply walk up to a group and grab the young woman who most appealed to him, and she was his wife if he got her home and to the marriage bed safely. Later, parents and other elders selected for arranged marriages -- as they still do in certain South Asian cultures -- and the couple were consulted only for a token consent. This began to change in late medieval times, when the concept of romantic love was glorified. However, it was several hundred more years before romantic love was seen as the most important element in a marriage, rather than a happy coincidence. And even now, there's data suggesting arranged marriages to which both participants agreed are as happy or happier than love marriages."

"Modern courtship -- or, again, dating -- takes several forms. A traditional first date is coffee or dinner and a movie, and a normal modern courtship in the U.S. takes roughly a year to five years to get to the point of engagement. Most couples meet through friends, work, social activities such as religious services or community groups, but personal ads and online matchmaking services are growing in both popularity and acceptability. Also, many people, myself included, eschew traditional dating in favor of other arrangements that don't include the expectation of marriage as a goal. And, of course, gay couples also court and date."

"You've been assigned to pairs, and I would like for each pair to participate in some sort of mock courtship exercise to report back on during the next class. Dean, I assigned you a partner as well to make the numbers even. Your dates can range from a token gift or conversation during this class period to a full date to any of the tactics described in your handout. I know some of you may be otherwise committed or paired outside your normal gender preference. If you cannot do the assignment for personal reasons, please see me after class to discuss alternate work, though there is nothing in this that should threaten your boyfriends or girlfriends."

"Also, please don't assume that the person in your pairing who is physically male has to play the male role for the purposes of this assignment, or the same for the physically female. This is a class exercise, not a true courtship; play the roles with which you are most comfortable."

"You have the rest of the class period to find each other and discuss how you wish to fulfill the assignment. Also, if you anticipate needing me this week, I'm going out of town and won't be in my office on Friday. Talk to me after class or send an email."

Comments

Sign in [7/27]

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

On a daaaaaaate.

Re: Sign in [7/27]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose Hathaway

Re: Sign in [7/27]

[bitten_notshy]

Jack Priest

Re: Sign in [7/27]

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley Reyes

General Class Stuff [7/27]

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

Listen! Take notes! Chat!

Re: General Class Stuff [7/27]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

There was no way Rose was taking notes on dating. She so wasn't that sad.

Re: General Class Stuff [7/27]

[bitten_notshy]

What she was describing was different from courtship at home, but Jack didn't take notes. It all seemed fairly self-evident, really.

Re: General Class Stuff [7/27]

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley was totally taking notes. He needed to. He needed every bit of info he could get.

Re: General Class Stuff [7/27]

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen took copious notes. She'd had coffee with Harry, which hadn't gone badly she thought, but other than that she'd never been on anything even resembling a date.

Re: General Class Stuff [7/27]

[intraspective]

Ino was... not taking notes.

Seriously, to her, if you had to take notes you were totally lame.

(Except Hurley, because she liked Hurley. She just rolled her eyes and smiled at him.)

Re: General Class Stuff [7/27]

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

Zayne took some notes on the history of dating, but this was a topic he actually had down reasonably well.

DATES!

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

Pairings are:

Helen Haras-Uquara - Jack Priest
Rose Hathaway - Zayne Carrick
Esme Weatherwax - Hurley Reyes
Ino Yamanaka - Dean Winchester

The RNG does not love the gay this time around, it seems.

Re: DATES!

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Oh, Rose totally had plans for a date with Zayne. Insane movies for one, oh yes.

Re: DATES!

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

"Is it safe to assume that there's going to be a movie with this assignment?" Zayne asked when he went over by Rose.

Re: DATES!

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Also popcorn," Rose said with a nod.

Re: DATES!

[bitten_notshy]

Jack winced when he realized Helen was his partner, remembering how badly flirting with her had gone. But perhaps he needed to be more patient; he looked to this "date" as a chance to charm her.

Re: DATES!

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen felt her heart sink. He'd hated her and she'd felt so stupid and done her very best to avoid him since then so as not to feel that utter sense of humiliation again.

But it was an assignment, so she swallowed hard and made her way over to him.

Re: DATES!

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley had yet to encounter Esme, and was rather cheerful to do this, in a totally pretend sort of way.

Re: DATES!

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean was happy to help out with this assignment and waited for Ino to come over.

Re: DATES!

[intraspective]

"So a date, huh?" Ino asked, wandering over and grinning. "Think I can handle that when the assignment's so cute, yeah?"

Talk to Brennan [7/27]

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

She is there and tapping away at her Blackberry.

Talk to Dean [7/27]

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

Who got shanghaied into participating this week. Hi, Dean!

Re: Talk to Dean [7/27]

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

See -- this was why Dean loved this school and was going to miss it when he left. Being assigned to date as homework was just that awesome. Especially since as a TA he didn't actually have any marks riding on it.

OOC [7/27]

[doesnt-vomit.livejournal.com]

And we're done. I know BDE will override datey fun/misery for a lot of you -- handwaving is fiiiiine.

Re: OOC [7/27]

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

I will not be around to interact til, like, 5 Central. Am about to embark on flying times!