endsthegame: (Default)
endsthegame ([personal profile] endsthegame) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2013-07-15 12:37 pm

Practical Philosophy, Monday

It was downright balmy out today, which frankly was a first for Ender's class - he was more used to having to watch the skies for sudden attacks of rainstorms or the like. Not that that ever stopped him, but still: it was nice not to have to worry about.

He walked in and sat down when everyone had settled, putting the bag of sandwiches down in the middle of the group. "So," he said. "Last Friday, most of us encountered an old Fandom classic - bursting into song whether we like it or not. Usually not."

He stretched out his legs. "Now there's a lot of discussion about art, expression, of which music is a part. Many have argued that a well-developed civilization needs art, to get people to better themselves - the paternalistic approach - or because expression is a fundamental part of human nature. It is, I suppose: we all express ourselves in our own ways, whether it be through song or painting or macaroni sculptures."

Ender paused, looking wry. "Of course," he said, "You could argue that what happened last Friday was more a 'spewing forth', an unpleasant regurgitation of your or someone else's expression that you didn't intend and didn't ask for. Is it still self-expression when it's done at metaphorical gunpoint? And something that I wondered about - is there a point to doing it, voluntarily or not, in front of someone you've already shared yourself with? Or is it freeing to just... sing out what's on your mind, without social filters, but with an easy excuse to blame it on?"
flickofthewrist: (forget your password)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] flickofthewrist 2013-07-15 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"I didn't sing." He'd missed that particular bit of whimsy, thankfully. "So, I can't really participate in this discussion."

Or maybe he just didn't want to think about what would have happened had he ended up singing about the crap inside his head. He really didn't want to think about that.
flickofthewrist: (always cheating)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] flickofthewrist 2013-07-15 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm relieved." There. Expression. "I don't want to sing. Ever."