fandomhigh | SOC 201 and 310 Class Meetings (October 24)

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sociology

SOC 201 and 310 Class Meetings (October 24)

Still looking a little green, Grissom sits down at his desk for a long evening of classes.

Criminology

Grissom remains seated for a Lecture on the Legal Definition of Obscenity.

Discussion: If you were to rewrite the law on obscenity, what would it cover?

Homework: Find a piece of media or writing that has been classified at one point or another as obscene, and be prepared to share your thoughts - if its classification as such was justified or not.

Death and Dying

I hope you read the poem from last class. It helps set the tone for our next section, this time on suicide.

After an intriguing (and short) lecture, Grissom looks for reactions.

Discussion: Did the lecture change your perspective at all on the historical figure in question, and if you are unfamiliar with him, how do you feel about a figure of his importance in a culture expressing those type of thoughts?

Homework: Please find one piece of art/writing/etc. on suicide you can share with the class.

[OOC: Criminology, Grissom is very open-minded, but please link to everything this week to keep the posts fairly work-safe. Remember it is an academic setting, albeit an adventurous one. Death and Dying, I'm keeping the suicide section short as to not upset anyone and it will be all art and lit based for the sake of the muns. If you are uncomfortable - drop a IC note to Grissom and he'll excuse you for the week; he's a nice guy like that.]

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John sits down at one of the desks and begins to think about the class discussion assignment.

"If I were to rewrite the definition I think I would try to equalize what the word covers. Today, when most people think of obscenity, they think of something sexual that inspires disgust. While that is very much in the realm obscenity, I would also try and give equal time to focusing on other obscene things such as profanity, the obscenities of war, racism, and censorship. While the sexual side of obscenity is huge, I feel attention should also be paid to the other facets." John laughs a little. "Problem is, that would be a rather long definition, wouldn't it?"

"Legal definitions are often long and detailed for those reasons, although I agree clarity is an issue. Very good thoughts, John. May I ask you - how do you think topics like war, racism, and censorship can be obscene? I am not disagreeing, but I'm interested in the lines you would draw."

"Well, most of the time, I've heard obscenity be described as something that inspires disgust. With things like war, racism, and censorship, certain people are going to find those obscene. People with certan beliefs may think that hatred/discrimination of any kind is disgusting and, therefore, kind racism obscene. Same idea with war. People against war will find disgust in the actions of those for war and those for war might find those against war as obscene and/or unpatriotic, which is a whole other debate."

John stops to take a breath. "While some obscene things can be almost universally agreed upon, a lot of the touchier, hot button subjects will have to be defined by both the points of view they cover."

"Very true. Hence the difficulty with this subject matter in a legal context. Thank you, John."

Cameron takes a seat and has to blow his nose before answering.

"Obscene is a rather relative term. I find some things obscene that other people don't take any offense to," he's definitely thinking of his Ethics assignment now. "It'd probably be ideal to get a whole lot of different people together to sit down and discuss it. I'd try to come up with a law that tries to define it as broadly as possible without taking away basic rights. While acts of obscenity should be discouraged and even punished when it comes to violence, racism and criminal sexual behaviour, you don't want to give anyone the right to arrest a person simply for bad language. Some forms of art and literature would also be considered obscene, but that doesn't mean that we should ban it from our culture on a whim. So I think you'd have to be very careful on how you describe something that is different depending on what person is watching it."

"You are right, we must be exceedingly careful. Thank you, Cameron."

"I don't have a problem with the current definition," Angela says. "I mean, I don't disagree that war or racism can be obscene, but we're talking aboput a legal term for works that aren't protected by the U.S. first amendment, right? And it makes sense to draw that definition as narrowly as we possibly can. it might even, like, include a little too much stuff."

"Excellent grasp of the context, Angela. Thank you."

"Thanks. I might have an advantage in, like, being from here and now, mroe or less."

Welcome to class.

Allie is a little stunned by what she's just read. She certainly never learned that in any of her history classes.

"It doesn't change my opinion of him in regards to his position," she says. "But it makes me wonder how he managed the pressure of the Presidency if he truly felt that way."

"There are different ways of dealing with emotions during stressful situations. I'm sure you will experience that in your study of medicine." He smile. "Thank you, Allie."

The fact this Lincoln guy went from those thoughts to become that kind of leader would suggest a great deal of inner strength.

"That, or an impressive ability at compartmentalizing." Grissom grins.

"Lincoln's bout with depression were well documented and he was also known for his lyrical and his writing. Ask any kid who went to the school system in the United States and had to memorize the Gettysburg address. The fact that he wrote a poem about dying just shows that he had problems like the rest of us."

"Even icons are flesh and blood," Grissom agrees. "But depression, and suicidal thoughts, are not necessarily the same thing. How would you feel about having a leader now who had a documented history of suicidal tendencies?"

"How do the students feel about having a former hitman handle security for the school?" Marty quips.

"But seriously... in today's world (Or at least the one I came from) we get to know our leaders on a more intimate level than we ever did before. I mean how much did we need to learn about Reagan's prostate? Or Clinton's sex life? And I could go and on about Bartlett's MS scandal. Back then? Huge deal. Back when Nixon ran for president and the opponents' VP choice turned out to have Electro shock therapy to treat depression? Big deal. Today... I doubt it would phaze that many people."

*Stark was still distressed after Ethics class. He showed up for Sociology because it was familiar territory and he knew where he stood there, but he was very quiet during class.*

Grissom chooses not to call on Stark today, sensing his unusual quiet might be due to an external force and cutting him a break, merely nodding in his direction.

Rogue looks slightly uncomfortable. "Um, suicide." She rubs her gloved hands together nervously. "It's bad?"

Grissom gives her a soft smile and tilts his head. "Everything depends on circumstance." He leans over to whisper in her ear, not suggestively, but close enough so that the other students can't hear. "Are you going to be okay with this section of the class?"

"Um, I think so." She frowns a little. "I just...um, yeah." She looks down.

"About Lincoln, well, I'm from Mississippi, and we don't have such a high opinion of the man, even now." She smiles a little.

"Still fighting the war of Southern Independence, Rogue?" Grissom joked before lowering his voice once again. "If you need a minute to catch your breath, I have an office in this wing although I rarely use it." He lays a small key on her desk in a motion the other students could not detect. "Across the hall, my name's on the door. There is a couch, although it might be a bit dusty in there and don't eat anything in the fridge, and lock up when you leave. Just ask to use the ladies' room, okay? Keep this for the week."

"Always will. It's like a religion down south."

She palms the key with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Dr. Grissom. I do appreciate it." She smiles up at him, though her eyes still look troubled.

"I must say, I am not properly versed in that culture. I've lived out west for most of my life." He tilts his head down, wrestling with himself for a moment. "I... let's... are you..." He fumbles, at a loss for words to help her.

"It's a whole 'nother world, really. A culture all our own."

She shakes her head. "I...no. Not anymore." The words are whispered, embarassed.

He stops with the line of conversation intended to cut the tension. Looking straight into her eyes, he keeps his voice down but it is assured. "I believe you." He pauses, and then starts stuttering again. "Would you like to... would it help you to talk about it?"

"No. Yes. Probably." She closes her eyes and her face falls into her hands. "But I don't want to."

"Why don't you take a minute. Do you want to come by Open Lab tomorrow? We could talk... about whatever you'd like. Does that sound okay?"

"Lincoln was a smart guy, he knew what was right and what he should do. Even though he was heavily depressed and he wrote about this stuff, it doesn't change my views about the man."

"A man's actions speak for themselves, interesting point of view. Thank you, Sawyer."

After Death and Dying Marty approaches Dr. Grissom.

"Dr. Grissom? Did you hear anything about the gas cloud that was used last week at Spike's Pub which caused several students to Hallucinate? Can you give me some idea of what kind of knowledge and expertise it would take to make such a thing? And do you know anyone on campus who might have such expertise?"

((ooc:Missed the boat on the CSI thing. Garbage was collected the next day at the bar.))

"I'm sorry, I was ill for most of last week and into the weekend, and fell out of the loop. I do not know how one would manufacture or purchase the gas in question without further information, nor do I know of anyone with the specific capability to do so, although I am quite sure several members of the community would have the knowledge to do so. What type of halluciantions, and how long did the symptoms last?"

Marty nods and pulls out a note pad and consults his notes.

"From what I understand it was a hallucineogenic drug that could be carried in a vial, dissapate into gas upon being released and cause people to experience some of their greatest fear for approximately 12-24 hours."

((OOC: More info here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/master_of_fear/1383.html?thread=61287#t61287)))

"They all had a uniform reaction?" Grissom mutters, bewildered. "I'm going to do some reading on this, if you are still interested stop by the Open Lab tomorrow. Thanks, Martin."

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SOC 201 and 310 Class Meetings (October 24)

CRIMINOLOGY

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After Class

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