atreideslioness: (Dune)
Ghanima Atreides ([personal profile] atreideslioness) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2010-09-29 09:44 am

Cultural Appreciation, Week V [Wednesday, Periods 4 & 5]

When students met on the Causeway today, they'd find Ghanima in a simple sundress, sunglasses already on and a cardboard box at her feet. "Today, we're going somewhere nice and warm," she said as their portal rippled into existence behind her. "Our destination is New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Historical Park, as well as the museum that they have on-site."

"From AD 850 to 1250, Chaco was a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area--unlike anything before or since. Chaco is remarkable for its multi-storied public buildings, ceremonial buildings, and distinctive architecture. These structures required considerable planning, designing, organizing of labor, and engineering to construct. The Chacoan people combined many elements: pre-planned architectural designs, astronomical alignments, geometry, landscaping, and engineering to create an ancient urban center of spectacular public architecture--one that still awes and inspires us a thousand years later."

"By 1050, Chaco had become the ceremonial, administrative, and economic center of the San Juan Basin. Its sphere of influence was extensive. Dozens of great houses in Chaco Canyon were connected by roads to more than 150 great houses throughout the region. It is thought that the great houses were not traditional farming villages occupied by large populations. They may instead have been impressive examples of "public architecture" that were used periodically during times of ceremony, commerce, and trading when temporary populations came to the canyon for these events."

"In the 1100s and 1200s, change came to Chaco as new construction slowed and Chaco's role as a regional center shifted. Chaco's influence continued at Aztec, Mesa Verde, the Chuska Mountains, and other centers to the north, south, and west. In time, the people shifted away from Chacoan ways, migrated to new areas, reorganized their world, and eventually interacted with foreign cultures. Their descendants are the modern Southwest Indians. Many Southwest Indian people look upon Chaco as an important stop along their clans' sacred migration paths-a spiritual place to be honored and respected."

"I've got bottled water, sunglasses, and a variety of hats in this box here, for those of you who burn easily. Grab what you need, and off we go."

[OCD up!]

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] whateverknight.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Squall's lip twitched, and he huffed. He'd deny both of those things, if asked.

"I'm just making sure Rinoa is safe," he explained. Since Christian obviously had the magic power to hurt his castmate from the other side of the country.

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] boho-to-be.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Rinoa?" Christian blinked at Squall. He'd barely spoken to Rinoa since the first week in Fandom. "Why would I want to hurt my Snow White? I appreciate your concern, but -- it is just a play."

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] whateverknight.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Squall stared unblinking into Christian's eyes. The confusion appeared to be genuine, as far as he could tell. "Okay, then. Good." He nodded, and that was that.

Of course, that still left the danger of Christian seducing her.

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] boho-to-be.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good?" Christian asked. He was almost sarcastic by now, utterly confused by all the changes in Squall's mood. "So you haven't any more questions for me?"

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] whateverknight.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Squall didn't HAVE moods, so they couldn't possibly have been swinging wildly and uncontrollably. At all.

"Not right now," he answered with a shrug. "Should I?"

He'd keep his eye on Christian, though.

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] boho-to-be.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know," Christian said with great dignity. "I didn't start this to begin with."

Re: Tours!

[identity profile] whateverknight.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Neither did I," Squall insisted. It was, of course, all Rinoa's fault.

With that settled, he turned and focused on Chaco.