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?"
myownface: (Hmmm...)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] myownface 2013-07-15 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"... Wait, that was an island thing? I thought I was just... you know... singing."

A day spent singing show-tunes in his room while keeping his roommate from eating his cat really wasn't all that out-of-the-ordinary for this place. Sparkle hadn't even suspected.
myownface: (Mmmhmm.)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] myownface 2013-07-15 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Because we can't have an island thing without people feeling terrible about it," Sparkle replied, nodding a little. He didn't seem terribly surprised, either. "At least singing is usually pretty harmless. Unless it involves opening up and singing things that give shit away, like those times when people lose the ability to lie, around here."

Sparkle needed his ability to lie. He needed it to live.
Edited 2013-07-15 18:01 (UTC)
myownface: (Intense)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] myownface 2013-07-15 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, there are plenty of songs that can mean whatever the hell you want them to mean," Sparkle replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "You can sing one thing, and then tell people later when the island gives you your wits back that you were clearly singing in metaphor, duh."

Because... you just could, okay?

"And then make up some hokey bullshit interpretation for the song and to hell with anyone who doesn't believe you."
myownface: (Throwin' Crap.)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] myownface 2013-07-15 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Guess so," Sparkle snorted. "Though I live in constant hope that I'm not going to be on this stupid island that long."

He could just continue to dream the dream.