sharp_as_knives: (Default)
sharp_as_knives ([personal profile] sharp_as_knives) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2015-07-06 09:40 am

Creative Inspirations | Monday, period 1

When the students met their teachers at the causeway, they might notice something very odd - Hannibal was wearing jeans. And not his plaid, designer, tailored jeans - fairly inexpensive blue jeans. And motorcycle boots. And a t-shirt. And a painstakingly neutral expression.

"Welcome to class," he opened with. "I hope you have all worn clothes you don't mind getting dirty, as we handwavily instructed. Last week, we saw a mixture of natural and manmade beauty. Inspiration can at times happen when you're experiencing relative quiet and calm, allowed to take everything in on your own terms. This week, we have something different." Which had not at all been his first choice.

Yes, but as much as Jono appreciated Stravinsky, he took issue with dropping the students in the middle of a riot.

Not that this was very different, Jono.

See, Hannibal could think that all he liked. Jonothon was going to maintain that Hendrix playing the anthem was every bit as historical. Because Hendrix.

Hendrix, Hannibal.

Mud, Jono.

//Back in the summer of 1969, there was a music festival that... one or two of you might have heard of,// Jono said, sounding fairly chipper for a man with no mouth. Of course he did. Mud had won over rioting. And also, Hendrix. //By the name of Woodstock. We can't take you to witness the entire weekend, of course. That'd take a bit more paperwork than even I'm willing to do in order to take in a slice of musical history. But we can give you a taste of it, all the same.//

Complete with mud, yes. And Hendrix.

And Hannibal dressed in Jono's clothes. Admit it, Jono, that was half the draw.

Well, he wasn't complaining.

"We will be arriving toward the end of the festival. At this point, the crowd was around thirty thousand people, down from around four hundred thousand. As you can imagine, that many people all in a field in one place for that long became somewhat chaotic. Also, it rained a good deal of Sunday. It was muddy, hot, and there were a lot of very tired people - some of them on rather interesting substances. However, the last act was a guitarist named Jimi Hendrix."

Jono... might have given a bounce on his toes, right then. If you were looking closely. So sue him, it took a lot to get him excited, unless you were talking about musical legend.

//Hendrix was, and remains, even well after his death, a rock icon,// he enthused. //His electric guitar playing continues to inspire and influence musicians to this day. He was always, always looking for bigger, better ways to play - hell, the man played guitar behind his back and with his teeth - but the stunts weren't what made him iconic, not really. He... he was an artist. You'd be hard-pressed to find a guitarist, hell, even a rock musician who doesn't list Hendrix among his biggest influences. Hell, among his biggest heroes.//

Himself included. But that was probably obvious by his kid-in-a-candy-store excitement right about then.

Jono's excitement wasn't precisely infectious, but it was amusing. "So," Hannibal continued, smiling a little, "we will be going to see a portion of Mr. Hendrix's set. Please everybody stay close, and I suggest you not accept any pills, drinks, or cigarettes from the locals." He really didn't want to deal with any of you high.

And Jono... also didn't want to deal with that, and even for fairly responsible adult reasons. But mostly also because it meant he'd have to pay attention to something besides the show.

//So, through the portal, and we'll take in some rock history - those who are familiar with America's national anthem, which I imagine you all are after this past weekend, will probably appreciate the artistic liberties he took when he played it - and then we'll come back and make some art of our own.//

Well, Jonothon would probably just noodle around on his guitar some more. But that was close, right?

"Enjoy the music, the crowd, or the chaos - or even the mud," Hannibal said. "See what it inspires you to."
doesnotkneel: (pb: taken aback)

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[personal profile] doesnotkneel 2015-07-06 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, Edward would be over here, trying to get the ringing out of his ears for the rest of the class.

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2015-07-06 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Is everything all right?" Hannibal asked. Edward hadn't seemed nearly as enthusiastic about this week as last, but he didn't seem injured or distressed, just...stunned?
doesnotkneel: (pb: looking captainy)

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[personal profile] doesnotkneel 2015-07-06 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Edward smiled weakly. "It's just the noise," he said. "Don't have much of that where I come from. Or when, I should say."

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2015-07-07 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Once music added electricity, it became exponentially louder," Hannibal acknowledged. "It's worse when it's indoors. If it's any consolation, my choice would have been a ballet." Woodstock had seemed more likely to enthuse the students.
doesnotkneel: (pb: intrigued)

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[personal profile] doesnotkneel 2015-07-07 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
"That's posh, innit?"

... Though he supposed Hannibal was posh.

"Sorry, Mister Lecter. I'm just still developing my ear for the age."

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2015-07-07 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Hannibal chuckled. "Quite posh these days. But at the time, it was very scandalous. This one nearly caused a riot. Which Jono objected to, so we had mud and loudness instead."

He debated whether to correct Edward on the "Mister", but the poor boy's ears were still ringing, so he let it go.
doesnotkneel: (pb: hat)

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[personal profile] doesnotkneel 2015-07-07 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Edward shrugged lightly. "It's not that I don't appreciate this sort of travel," he offered, feeling like he kind of had to.

Re: Back in the Classroom - Create!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2015-07-07 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Hannibal spread his hands. "We said at the start - not everything will be to everyone's taste. Hence the variety. As far as the class goes, if this inspires you to jarring or disturbing art, that is perfectly fine. If it inspires you to something quiet in reaction, that is also fine. There is no wrong response. For the rest, if you need some quiet time to yourself - perhaps on the beach? - you have no need to stay here, so long as you create art at some point over the week."