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fandomhigh2012-07-24 01:59 am
misses-broadway.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2012-07-24 01:59 am
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The Origin of Things: Stolen Wizard Culture [Tuesday 07/24]
"Hey, everyone," Troy said, smiling at his class as they sat down. "So, thanks for the essays on Shakespeare's theft of the stories by Albertus Wigglebottom; I'll have them marked and back to you next week. Today, though, we're going to take a look at one of my favorites: The Phantom of the Opera."
He passed around the week's handout, outlining the basic structure of the story and the highlights of the various adaptations. "Now, you may be thinking, 'But who stole it? Where did they steal it from?' Because there's the original novel," Troy explained, " and then all the different adaptations. The thing is, they all stole -- or, at least, the big ones did: Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber."
The best thing about this class, Troy mused, as he kept his face schooled in what he'd come to call his 'teacherface', was that he got to rag on Webber. Ryan would be so proud.
"Webber," Troy explained, "is kind of the biggest thief of the story. See, Webber is a squib, who, with the help of his grandmother Gertrude Damianna Muse, stole half the songs in the musical from the home of famed wizard composer Ametricciana Coluratura. There's no proof, unfortunately, but Coluratura says that she remembers writing the music one evening before bed, and as she's the witch in this situation we know we can trust her word over Webber's." And if you actually believed that, Troy thought -- and weren't under Imperio, because he had to allow for that -- he had a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
… Actually, Ryan probably could buy it if Troy wanted to sell it, so that may not be the best example.
"But if you'll turn to page three of the handout," Troy continued, "you'll see the ways in which Gaston Leroux stole the original story, too. Of course, he had to hide things -- he knew what would happen if he wrote about what really happened. The French Ministry would have found him and obliviated him, and rightly so -- if they were feeling lenient. But the core of the story is very clearly stolen from the life of Merilee Wero Lalongue, her husband Follius Sassins, and the muggle Légal LeBlonde, who wanted to steal her magic. Merilee was the kidnapped daughter of Antoni and Cressida Cleotroilus, raised by the matron of an opera house in Paris after being discovered on the doorstep after her kidnapper, Légal, was discovered by the Paris police. Légal went into hiding under the opera house, watching Merilee grow up while devising a way that he believed would give him her magic.
"He was wrong, of course. There's no way for muggles to ever do magic." Troy managed to resist rolling his eyes, but just barely.
Troy turned to the blackboard, writing out the questions for the week. "I want the first question turned in before the end of class," he explained, "but you can wait for next week to turn in your answer for question two, if you want -- it may take some outside research, if you don't know anything about Andrew Lloyd Webber."
[Please wait for OCD is up!]
He passed around the week's handout, outlining the basic structure of the story and the highlights of the various adaptations. "Now, you may be thinking, 'But who stole it? Where did they steal it from?' Because there's the original novel," Troy explained, " and then all the different adaptations. The thing is, they all stole -- or, at least, the big ones did: Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber."
The best thing about this class, Troy mused, as he kept his face schooled in what he'd come to call his 'teacherface', was that he got to rag on Webber. Ryan would be so proud.
"Webber," Troy explained, "is kind of the biggest thief of the story. See, Webber is a squib, who, with the help of his grandmother Gertrude Damianna Muse, stole half the songs in the musical from the home of famed wizard composer Ametricciana Coluratura. There's no proof, unfortunately, but Coluratura says that she remembers writing the music one evening before bed, and as she's the witch in this situation we know we can trust her word over Webber's." And if you actually believed that, Troy thought -- and weren't under Imperio, because he had to allow for that -- he had a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
… Actually, Ryan probably could buy it if Troy wanted to sell it, so that may not be the best example.
"But if you'll turn to page three of the handout," Troy continued, "you'll see the ways in which Gaston Leroux stole the original story, too. Of course, he had to hide things -- he knew what would happen if he wrote about what really happened. The French Ministry would have found him and obliviated him, and rightly so -- if they were feeling lenient. But the core of the story is very clearly stolen from the life of Merilee Wero Lalongue, her husband Follius Sassins, and the muggle Légal LeBlonde, who wanted to steal her magic. Merilee was the kidnapped daughter of Antoni and Cressida Cleotroilus, raised by the matron of an opera house in Paris after being discovered on the doorstep after her kidnapper, Légal, was discovered by the Paris police. Légal went into hiding under the opera house, watching Merilee grow up while devising a way that he believed would give him her magic.
"He was wrong, of course. There's no way for muggles to ever do magic." Troy managed to resist rolling his eyes, but just barely.
Troy turned to the blackboard, writing out the questions for the week. "I want the first question turned in before the end of class," he explained, "but you can wait for next week to turn in your answer for question two, if you want -- it may take some outside research, if you don't know anything about Andrew Lloyd Webber."
[
Re: This Week's Assignment
"No, I don't believe the punishment would be the same if he were a wizard. As for whether or not it should be, that's the kind of decision I'd leave to our administration."
Re: This Week's Assignment
"Well, since he was raised knowing the magical laws, shouldn't he be held to a higher standard? Someone who didn't understand magic might not realize the implications of what they'd done, but he--and any wizard--they should understand it all completely, right?"
Re: This Week's Assignment
"That assumes that the person dictating the rules is entirely sane," he explained. "And doesn't take a perverse pleasure in hurting those she -- or he -- views as... worth less.
"Of course, I trust our administration," Troy added, just in case. "But, y'know. Hypothetically."
Re: This Week's Assignment
::What?:: Sholeh asked.
=Nothing,= Zeela said. =Just thinking.=
"Do you mean like--" Sholeh opened her mouth to say 'Umbridge,' but Zeela spoke up quickly, too, creating an almost buzz-like sound as two voices struggled to use the same throat.
=Shut up, you little idiot!= Zeela snapped internally. =You want to get us all in trouble?=
Re: This Week's Assignment
AKA: Get a clue, Sholeh. But SHUT UP.
Re: This Week's Assignment
::Zhahar!:: Sholeh squeaked. ::You're not supposed to do that!::
=She's keeping us all from getting into trouble because you're kind of a twit,= Zeela growled. =Now keep your head down and do your work, dammit.=
*Zeela, you needn't be so harsh,* Zhahar scolded. *Sholeh just doesn't understand.*
::Understand what?!::
=And it's that lack of understanding that's going to get us all killed!=
*Not if we intervene.*
::What are you two talking about? Stop keeping secrets!::
*Sholeh, pay attention to your lesson,* Zhahar said, ignoring her questions. *And for the Mother's sake, keep quiet?*