Is A Cigar Just A Cigar, Tuesday, Period 3

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

On the chalkboard behind Cindy were several images: a flag, a dove, and a circle with several lines inside of it. Cindy leaned against her desk, sipping coffee and taking note of who looked at the images with comprehension and who did not.

After the last students had taken their seats, Cindy straightened and addressed the class. "I'm Professor Cindy Perrault and welcome to Is a Cigar Just a Cigar. This is a class about symbolism, not smoking, and if any of you were horribly misled, I suggest you suck it up and enjoy the class anyway." She gave them all a quick smile and continued. "At their most basic, symbols are things that stand in for something else. They are so heavily ingrained in our cultural consciousness that when we see a particularly well-known symbol, we immediately think of what that symbol represents, paying little to no attention to what the actual object or image that we are looking at, even though most symbols have little to nothing in common with the concept it is representing. For example, in our culture, what is the easiest way to signal the intent to surrender?" She tapped the drawing of the flag on the board. "Waving a white flag. In fact, this symbol is so well-known, people needn't worry about not having a flag handy to get their meaning across. Almost anything white will serve: a sock, a pillowcase, a piece of paper, a bra. Whatever. What we have here is a series of symbols: a white shirt symbolizing a white flag symbolizing surrender. Symbols aren't stagnant or static; they change with the times and constantly evolve."

"Now then, because of the way symbols work, they are very much linked to a specific time and place. Some symbols may endure for hundreds, even thousands of years--our white flag, for example, is mentioned in both Roman and Chinese writings dating back from the first century CE--but they only have meaning as long as everyone recognizes them. Because the symbol is divorced from the concept it is symbolizing, not everyone is going to recognize symbols and their meanings." She pointed to the other two images on the blackboard. "Both of these symbolize peace. The dove comes from the Book of Genesis, this other is the internationally-recognized peace sign, adopted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. To someone unfamiliar with either, however, they would only see a bird or an odd-shape, because there is nothing inherent in either image to suggest 'peace.' In fact, depending on the cultural context they come from, these symbols could mean something very different. I have some handouts on my desk if anyone is interested in where the symbolism behind these images come from."

"These are symbols we see in everyday life. In literature, there are hundreds or even thousands more. But, like the ones we're used to, the literary symbols are all created the same way: repetition. Over the next fifteen weeks, I'm going to teach you some of the more common symbols you'll come across in literature, what they mean--roughly, anyway--and why. Unlike some of the more concrete symbols we use regularly, literary symbols often have more than one related meaning. For example, if we were reading about this dove, it could be symbolizing flight, freedom, joy, or, yes, peace. But don't stress it; it'll start to make sense as we go."

"Since this is our first week and there are several unfamiliar faces in the room, we're going to start with introductions. Give me your name, class, where you're from, and a symbol from your culture. For a bit of early extra credit, you can tell me a symbol you saw on your way to class today." Cindy pointed at a random student. "You can go first."

[Pause for OCD is up! Have at!]

Comments

Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

Name, class, where you're from, and a symbol from your culture. For a bit of early extra credit, you can tell me a symbol you saw on your way to class today

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[furnaceface]

Ah, yes. This was the part of every semester that Jonothon loathed more than any other, and today wasn't going to be any different.

He was maybe fidgeting a little as he spoke, not standing up today or even really making eye contact. He'd had enough people all but dissect him already this week to not want to draw more attention to himself than necessary.

//Jonothon Starsmore, a senior, from London. And I suppose if we want to pull on cultural symbols, the Union Jack would be the obvious one. Anyone familiar with it thinks of the United Kingdom pretty much immediately.// He tapped his finger against his knee, and then shrugged a little. //And I've seen a few music notes today, at work. Funny how a circle with a stick coming off of it can make so many people think of music without so much as a thought given to it.//

And now he was going to kind of bunch up at the shoulders a little more and proceed to be enthralled with the top of his desk.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"An excellent example, Jonothon," Cindy said with an approving smile. "Even people who don't understand the difference between an eighth-note and a quarter still understand what they mean. Are you a musician?"

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[furnaceface]

Jonothon glanced up at that, and then he nodded slightly.

//Guitar,// he confirmed. //Preferably electric, but I've an acoustic as well, just in case.//

He could have added that he used to sing, as well, but now wasn't exactly the place.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"My name is Jonas," he started, nodding at the class, "and I'm from a place called the Community. We...we didn't use a lot of symbols. Or any. Everything was mostly spelled out. Our words are completely different from the words used here though the language is the same."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

Cindy nodded, thoughtfully. "No symbols at all?" she asked, intrigued. "Not even little pictures to represent which gender was expected to use which bathroom? Or to designate areas where regular people weren't meant to go, or show show something was hazardous?"

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"We didn't really have a need for that sort of thing," Jonas answered. "My home was small, everyone knew everyone else so there was no need to designate things that were hazardous because there wasn't really anything like that. There were doors but they were locked if you weren't allowed inside."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

"Dana Scully, sophomore, Annapolis, Maryland, USA. From here, but eleven years ago." Might as well be clear. Scully paused, considering. "A symbol from my culture is a snake entwined with a staff; the Rod of Asclepius (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Star_of_life2.svg), standing for the medical profession." She cocked her head. "It's used internationally, not just in the U.S. So it's more a symbol of modern medicine anywhere."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"Where it gets interesting is it's frequent confusion with the caduceus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus_as_a_symbol_of_medicine)," Cindy said, nodding. "Especially when one considers that, as Hermes own symbol, the caduceus is frequently considered to be associated with business, trickery and a silver-tongue."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

Scully gave the professor a wry look. "Not something I want to be associated with as a doctor. They're very similar, of course. Asclepius was the god of medicine, not thieves." She made a face. She'd leave the trickstering to Mulder.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[onapalebicycle.livejournal.com]

"I'm George," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "In my culture ... a guy with a hooded cloak and a scythe is the Grim Reaper. Death."

Nice and morbid. What else could you expect from her?

"Today, I saw ..."

A Post-It note, which reminded her of her own mortality and the unfairness of life and death both. Her duties and obligations, and how she was different from everyone else here.

"... I ... don't think I saw anything today."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[furnaceface]

Jono looked up from the top of his desk at that. He nodded a little. That was a good one.

//Alternatively,// he added, though quietly, //the ankh is a symbol of eternal life.//

Or, of course, of Death.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"Ahh, artistic symbolism," Cindy said. "Our class is unfortunately far too short to even begin discussing art symbolism, save for where it crosses into literature as well, but you're correct. The Grim Reaper has appeared as a symbol for death since the 15th century. From there, we get other skeletal symbols like the skull and crossbones, used to illustrate poisons. Or pirates," Cindy added as an afterthought.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

"Squall. I'm from Balamb Garden, which none of you have ever heard of. There's a logo for the Garden, but it's complicated to draw."

He shrugged. "On my way to class I saw the stick figure on the door to the men's room. That's a symbol."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"How widespread is the use of your Balamb Garden symbol?" Cindy asked. "Is it something everyone would know, or only a select few?"

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[mania-endless.livejournal.com]

"Delirium." And she had to use a whole minute to think about what class she was. Funny, it was probably the first time she had thought about it. "Um, what's the name when you...have, um..." Focusing was a tricky thing at times. "Two years?" Was it Junior or Sophomore?

And someone else had used the ankh, which was her idea. Oh well. Her family was all about symbols. "A sword can mean Destruction." Not that her brother ever used his. "A heart might mean Desire." And how.

"I saw a bee." A number of them, actually, and she wasn't even sure they were there to begin with, but that part of the information always seemed to slip her mind. "Bees are...hard working?" Or something along those lines.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"Hearts can mean desire, love, even friendship," Cindy replied. "And swords destruction, warfare, and violence. While bees and ants are often symbols of industry and hard work, as you said. T. H. White uses that symbolism a lot in a section of meta for-Once and Future King. An excellent book if you're interested."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[weldedtomyspine]

"I'm Jaime Reyes, senior." Jaime flashed a grin at Cindy. It was good to be in her class again!

"And letters are symbolic, right? I mean, that's why different languages use different alphabets sometimes..."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"Hello again, Jaime. And yes, I was wondering if people would pick up on that. The letters that make up out alphabet are arbitrary. Two perpendicular lines have no real connection to the 't' sound that we associate with it. Whether we're looking at hiragana or the Cyrillic alphabet, we're dealing with a mostly-arbitrary set of symbols that we all agree spell out words."

She gave Jaime a long, considering look. "You know, I think I'll make you my TA."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"My name is Elphaba Thropp," she said. "I am a junior, I understand, and am from Munchkinland in Oz. I suppose a common symbol would be an eight sided diamond-like shape, green in color. It it represents the Emerald City, the capital of Oz."

She thought for a moment. "I cannot think of a clear symbol I saw on my way to class, though I am unfamiliar with most of the symbols of this culture."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

Cindy blinked once or twice. "Oz?" she repeated.

It was a good thing that Cindy had already gone over something very similar with Liir last semester, or else she might have been thrown for a loop. She wasn't sure how far apart the Oz he had mentioned and the Homeland of the same name that she knew of had diverged before the coming of the Adversary, but she did know that Bigby was getting a special report sent home.

"How are you settling in, Elphaba?" Cindy asked. "Or did you arrive last session? I was away from the island, I'm afraid."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[awesomebigsis.livejournal.com]

"Ellie Bartowski, senior, and I'm from Encino, California," Ellie said when it was her turn to introduce herself. "There's the v-sign (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-sign#Vietnam_War.2C_victory_and_peace), which is another symbol for peace."

She proceeded to demonstrate the peace symbol.

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"And a sign very important to get right," Cindy agreed with a grin. "Perhaps not so much in America, but very important in Western Europe. Palm facing out, peace. Palm facing in, an insult akin to giving someone with the middle finger here."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[ashockingbitch]

"Jenny Sparks, I'm a senior, and I'm English, so Jono stole my symbol," Jenny said, gesturing to the Union Jack on her t-shirt. And the second thing to come to mind is vulgar," she said wryly. "A lightning bolt," she decided, "represents the presence of electricity."

Re: Introduce Yourselves

[steel-not-glass.livejournal.com]

"What's the second thing?" Cindy asked immediately. "I'm hard to shock, you'll find."