More fan_extension speculation

[tarigwaemir]

Sherman Fairchild, on the Feast of St. Samson

I'm supposed to be looking up physical genomic positions of markers right now, but instead I'm reading LJ. >_>

Anyway, I think I am going to apply as a facilitator for fan_extension after all. I just...need to decide on a course. >_<

1. Kenjutsu in Rurouni Kenshin: A character-based discussion of the various styles of swordsmanship. There's the obvious listing of various special techniques, but I realized that it could get quite complex in its analysis: factors such as speed, weapon, physical bulk, strategy, seme, distance, etc. (The...slightly more sophisticated equivalent of assigning point values for different strengths in those card-based games?) I guess I could start off the first lesson with an introduction to principles in kendo (as interpreted by a total novice!) and then organize discussions on a character-by-character basis. All readings from the manga, which means I'll have to reread some chapters, and maybe the incidental essay. (I foresee that preparing this course will involve me pestering senpaitachi with some really strange questions, hahaha.)

2. AU writing workshop: As baka_neko suggested, the course could involve in-depth discussion of what defines an AU fic and what makes it work. The course could have a discussion component and a workshop component based on the discussion topic. E.g. discussing what AU settings work and don't work for particular series, combined with brainstorming possible AU settings for fandom of choice. I also thought that the "assignments" could be low-key, i.e. you don't need to actually write a complete fic, but following the workshop should help you at least outline one. (Hey, maybe the workshop could actually spur me to finish the sequel to Balance...)

3. Lusitanian xenobiology: The credit for this idea belongs to aetherangelette. I don't know how many people actually read the first set of sequels to Ender's Game, but one of my favorite aspects of Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide and Children of the Mind was the description of the descolada virus and its impact on Lusitanian ecosystems. The course would involve exploring the molecular biology of the virus and its ecological consequences. Readings would come from the three books, plus Wyrms (another novel by Orson Scott Card that has related concepts of alien biology), as well as papers on related topics. Knowledge of high school biology expected, but with all subsequent background material to be supplied during the course. It could even be expanded into a sequence of courses, each course focusing on a new series! I suspect no one would sign up though.

[Poll #780432]
Oh, and since I suspect that a lot of the Hikaru no Go fans on my friends list may have missed this fic: read For Wanting Nails, by dijeron. What if Sai could have told Hikaru goodbye before he disappeared? Absolutely haunting.

Yours &c.

Comments

[klio911.livejournal.com]

obv i voted for kenjutsu because i'm predictable. but i think that lusitanian xenobiology is really cool too, that part of xenocide/speaker (esp xenocide, i think) was one of my fave things as well. it's just so PRETTY when an author manages to create something so intricate and believable, you just gotta love it.
:D

[troisroyaumes]

Yay, so the xenobiology idea didn't sound crazy to everyone after all. I think if I ever talk myself into doing this again, I'll go with that option. ^_^

(Heh, if kenjutsu wins out, I'm afraid you're going to have to deal with weird questions from me. "Izzy, how would you attack with two kodachi?", etc. XD)