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fandomhigh2005-10-20 06:05 pm
godinakilt.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-10-20 06:05 pm
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Celtic Studies classes for Thursday
A large bag of Hersey's Kisses is sitting on the desk next to Camulus, and he looks about ready to break anyone who even thinks of touching it. Numerous shiny wrappers are spread all over the desk and floor. Susan Ivanova is hovering nearby, looking slightly unnerved.
"Good evening, class," Camulus growls. "Let's begin. For the Gaelic lesson today, I have procured some language tapes for you. There is are two pages of vocabulary contained on the tapes. Homework for tonight is to practice your pronunciation."
***
In Arthurian Traditions, Camulus pulls out a very, very thick copy of 'La Morte D'Arthur'. "If you will recall, I asked you to read an excerpt from Malory's text in preparation for our guest speaker. Susan Ivanova. Pay attention." He sits down and begins unwrapping Kisses, glaring at the class.
Ivanova blinks, surprised at her rather brusque introduction. She looks at the class and straightens. Public speaking is what she does. "Ah, hello, my name is Susan Ivanova. I'm not quite sure how this came up, but I was talking to Professor Camulus one day and I mentioned that a short while ago I had a run-in with a man claiming to be King Arthur. He told us that he was the resurrected King Arthur, come because Earth was once again in danger. Of course, we all thought that he was insane." She frowns. "Probably would fit in well here. Marcus, a friend of mine, was the only one who believed him. Oh, and G'Kar, but G'Kar doesn't know who Arthur was. He told us the story of the last battle, after which he was "taken and slept", and the last great battle between his forces and those of . . . Mordred? Anyway, they were trying to treat with each other, when one of the knights noticed a snake in the grass and drew his sword to kill it. Of course, the other side thought that this was a signal for attack, so attacked first, and everyone died."
Camulus, his mouth full of chocolate, grunts and waves to indicate that this is an important point. Ivanova glances at him and continues.
"Of course, he wasn't Arthur - I'm fairly sure, there's a bit of vagueness about that - but he was the gunnery sargeant on the ship that started the Earth-Minbari War, when most of EarthForce was wiped out by the Minbari until they abruptly surrendered at the Battle of the Line. Only now we have the full story. This man, David MacIntyre, was in command of the guns when first contact with the Minbari was made. They came towards us with gun ports open, a gesture of respect for them and of aggression for us. Needless to say, it didn't end well.
"David only snapped out of his delusion after he wiped out some lurkers who were causing trouble and returned Excaliber to the Lady of the Lake - who he thought was Delenn. Definitely not the Lady of the Lake." She trails off, looking towards the professor, who swallows and stands.
"Thank you, Ivanova," Camulus says. "Arthurian tradition extends so deeply into almost any human culture that you come across. Updates of the Arthurian legends and tales are constantly retold - usually when a culture is most in crisis. You'll see this when you look at when each romanticised version of the Arthurian legends are told. It was usually in times of great political upheaval when a coherent national feeling was needed. Homework tonight is to come up with other such heroes that might be symbolically ressurected in times of need. Ivanova will remain to answer any questions you might have."
[[Closest thing to showing a movie I could do. *considers asking Mac-mun for help* Iva/Cammie-mun will be on later tonight.]]
"Good evening, class," Camulus growls. "Let's begin. For the Gaelic lesson today, I have procured some language tapes for you. There is are two pages of vocabulary contained on the tapes. Homework for tonight is to practice your pronunciation."
***
In Arthurian Traditions, Camulus pulls out a very, very thick copy of 'La Morte D'Arthur'. "If you will recall, I asked you to read an excerpt from Malory's text in preparation for our guest speaker. Susan Ivanova. Pay attention." He sits down and begins unwrapping Kisses, glaring at the class.
Ivanova blinks, surprised at her rather brusque introduction. She looks at the class and straightens. Public speaking is what she does. "Ah, hello, my name is Susan Ivanova. I'm not quite sure how this came up, but I was talking to Professor Camulus one day and I mentioned that a short while ago I had a run-in with a man claiming to be King Arthur. He told us that he was the resurrected King Arthur, come because Earth was once again in danger. Of course, we all thought that he was insane." She frowns. "Probably would fit in well here. Marcus, a friend of mine, was the only one who believed him. Oh, and G'Kar, but G'Kar doesn't know who Arthur was. He told us the story of the last battle, after which he was "taken and slept", and the last great battle between his forces and those of . . . Mordred? Anyway, they were trying to treat with each other, when one of the knights noticed a snake in the grass and drew his sword to kill it. Of course, the other side thought that this was a signal for attack, so attacked first, and everyone died."
Camulus, his mouth full of chocolate, grunts and waves to indicate that this is an important point. Ivanova glances at him and continues.
"Of course, he wasn't Arthur - I'm fairly sure, there's a bit of vagueness about that - but he was the gunnery sargeant on the ship that started the Earth-Minbari War, when most of EarthForce was wiped out by the Minbari until they abruptly surrendered at the Battle of the Line. Only now we have the full story. This man, David MacIntyre, was in command of the guns when first contact with the Minbari was made. They came towards us with gun ports open, a gesture of respect for them and of aggression for us. Needless to say, it didn't end well.
"David only snapped out of his delusion after he wiped out some lurkers who were causing trouble and returned Excaliber to the Lady of the Lake - who he thought was Delenn. Definitely not the Lady of the Lake." She trails off, looking towards the professor, who swallows and stands.
"Thank you, Ivanova," Camulus says. "Arthurian tradition extends so deeply into almost any human culture that you come across. Updates of the Arthurian legends and tales are constantly retold - usually when a culture is most in crisis. You'll see this when you look at when each romanticised version of the Arthurian legends are told. It was usually in times of great political upheaval when a coherent national feeling was needed. Homework tonight is to come up with other such heroes that might be symbolically ressurected in times of need. Ivanova will remain to answer any questions you might have."
[[Closest thing to showing a movie I could do. *considers asking Mac-mun for help* Iva/Cammie-mun will be on later tonight.]]