Sociology 310 and 500 Class Meeting

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the first class meetings for Sociology 310 and Sociology 500. If you have signed up for either class, please consult the roster to confirm your enrollment.


Sociology 310: Special Topics - Death and Dying

Please sign in below in the appropriate space. The syllabus for this course has been posted.

This class period will serve as an introductionary exercise. Please state your name to the class, and share why you are interested in the course material. The subject matter is difficult, and it is important to be respectful of the viewpoints of others.

In class we will read Walt Whitman's poem To One Shortly to Die. Please feel free to share your thoughts in regards to this poem. Although not a written assignment, your participation will be noted.



Sociology 500 - Sociology of Deviance

Please sign in below in the appropriate space. Copies of the syllabus for this class can be located on my office door.

Please introduce yourself to the class and the professor. Your assignment for next class is to write a short essay that defines deviance. There is no wrong answer, this is merely to understand the different perspectives of all students in this seminar.


[OOC: Sorry for the delay, and lumping these together. I was slammed by RL unexpectedly. Grissom will be around to speak to students if they have questions this afternoon, however, all classes will be slow-played now and in the future for everyone. Play as much as you can regarding assignments, comment at least that you attended. Classes will be stored in my memories so you can catch up. Next week classes will run on a normal schedule and happen separately, and "coursework" will be laid out for the semester in part. Thank you.]

Comments

Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome to class.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[marieann-d.livejournal.com]

"My name is Rogue. I decided to take this class because I've lost a lot of my friends and teachers, and will probably lose more in the future." She pauses, as if pondering whether to continue, but decides to remain silent.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing, Rogue. I know that this subject can be difficult, please share what you are comfortable with, and if you have any special needs or questions feel free to stop by my office anytime.

I do look forward to your participation. I've lost some friends and mentors as well, and fear of loss is something we will discuss at length.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Callisto.

Having dedicated my entire existence for the past few years to the death after a prolonged and painful dying of the warlord who slaughtered my family like animals, I guess you could say that Death and Dying are subjects very close to the blackened cinder that remains of my heart.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing, Callisto. It will be extremely eye-opening to have the opinion of someone in class who sees death in such a unique light.

Feel free to relate class exercises to your own experience. I believe that it tends to make all of us understand the material more thoroughly.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[-farmboy-.livejournal.com]

My name's Westley. I'm interested in the class because... this is a wee bit embarrassing... I keep having these dreams where I'm dead. Only I'm not quite all the way there yet. Sort of like a chicken right after it gets it's head cut off, only no one can see me moving around or hear me. Everyone thinks I'm totally 100 per cent without question certifiably dead. But I'm not. I'm just... mostly dead.

I suppose I'm here to get a better understanding of death. And to make the dreams stop.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

We will be studying death as a symbol in our society, so perhaps this class can help you.

Also, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Please, do not feel embarrassed. We all have different reactions to the concept of death, and this class should be an open forum free from the scrutiny of others.

Thank you for attending class, Westley.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[conathon.livejournal.com]

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Sawyer, for sharing your story with the class. I think you will find that you are amongst a group of students who also have painful histories, and that this will be an environment where you can feel comfortable expressing yourself. If you need any special consideration, stop by my office if you'd like anytime.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

I'm Buffy.

I'm taking this class because I've had a lot of people I know die---some due to my calling or line of work. I know I have a lifetime ahead of people I know dying. I also know that my life isn't destined to be a long one. When the people around me die, I don't handle it very well. I'm hoping that this class will give more perspective so that when my time comes I can meet it bravely.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[sumeragi-13.livejournal.com]

*bows* Good afternoon, professor.

"My name is Sumeragi Subaru. I decided it would be a good idea to take this class because, being 13th Head of the Sumeragi Clan and Omnyouji Magician, part of my daily routine is dealing with the dead and dying, as well as their loved ones. And although I have been doing this for quite some time, it still affects me very much... I would like to understand death itself more, and also the proper ways of dealing with the situations that I come across in my line of work."

Subaru stands nervously, eyes reflecting that he is thinking of such a situation at this very moment.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[harried-potter.livejournal.com]

I'm Harry Potter.

Um. I'm interested in this subject because a few people close to me have died, many of them trying to protect me from someone. This...uh...enemy who is trying to kill me seems to...seems to have a fear of death.

He was once human, but he's found a way to...to extend his life so he can't be killed. And I'm getting tired of killing him. I...I guess I just hoped to understand death and dying - the perspectives and fears of it - better.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[cyloninyourhead.livejournal.com]

Shelley Godfrey.

At the end, everybody dies, no matter who we were, what we did or who we knew. It is the great equalizer of life.

Re: Sociology 310: Death and Dying

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Midshipman Archie Kennedy, lately of the HMS Justinian. Purely by virtue of my membership in the Royal Navy during wartime, I am exposed to death, oftentimes protracted and gruesome, on a regular basis. Heads blown off by cannonballs, gangrene, flesh torn to pulp by flying splinters . . . every time a ship is cleared for action the chances of seeing all of these things, and more, are very good.

I fear I've grown somewhat inured to the sight of the dying because of what I do. It's a necessary means of coping. Nevertheless, I think it would be advisable to study death from the perspectives of others, and what better place for diverse perspectives than here?

Sociology 500: Deviance

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome to class.

Re: Sociology 500: Deviance

[addams-daughter.livejournal.com]

My name is Wednesday Addams. I have joined this class in order to establish what, exactly, society as a whole defines as 'Deviant Behavior'. Abnormal Psychology and its various applications are a family interest, and it is a subject which has always fascinated me.

I am looking forward to this class and to the essays written by my fellow students.

Re: Sociology 500: Deviance

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Good afternoon, Dr. Grissom. Ah, hello, I'm Susan Ivanova. My duties with EarthForce require me to interact with several different cultures and societies within those cultures, some practices of which I may see as deviant.

Random example, arbitrarily dividing an entire race into two factions which then beat each other senseless. *rolls eyes* Only the Drazi . . .

I want to understand what is deviance in order to help me function in this role as Green Drazi Leader an authority figure. Hearing other students' perspectives will be very interesting.

Re: Sociology 500: Deviance

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Hey there, teach. Angelus, reporting in for class.

I would define deviance as anything interesting that good people deny themselves just because they don't like having fun. You can't be good if you're not suffering, and the cheapest way to suffer is to pretend you don't want to have a piece of that pretty little schoolgirl, or don't get hard thinking about peeling off the skin of that nun... as for example.

There's nothing in the world that's true deviance, just really fun stuff that some people are too pathetic to admit that they desire.

Re: Sociology 500: Deviance

[demonbelthazor]

*wanders into class late*

Sorry, didn't realize this class fit until my schedule until just now. Name's Belthazor.

*settles into seat*
*watches the exchange with Grissom, Sara, and Angelus with amusement*

Re: Sociology 500: Deviance

[other-logan.livejournal.com]

Good afternoon, professor, Logan Huntzberger speaking.

Deviance is a word my grandmother uses to describe "kids these days"

Re: Sociology 500: Deviance

[littleluck.livejournal.com]

*waves at the class*

I'm Dom. Took the class because... uh... it looked fun. And it might help me explain my family one of these days.

[det-lbriscoe.livejournal.com]

Detective Briscoe knocks on the door politely.

"Excuse me Dr. Grissom? Detective Lenny Briscoe fandomtownies PD."

Holds up photo:



"We're currently looking for a student that goes by the name washwaslaconic. We're hoping that we might be able to use your expertise in forensics to track his location."

"Whatta ya say Doc? A little professional courtesy?"

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, Detective. Whatever I may do to assist you. Let me run back to the dorms and get my kit. Where was this student last seen? I believe it would be prudent to search his dorm room or apartment for clues. Do you have his last known address?

Also, I am unfamilar with this town's legal procedure. Will I be needing a warrant? I am also available for any interrogations you may need to conduct. I suggest we speak to his known aquaintances.

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Grissom, sorry for the fuss. I need to unenrol in Death & Dying this time out.

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

I understand. Good luck this semester.