today’s topics:
30 10 2003Theatre and Conversation and the Art of Conversation
In an effort to make my blog more interesting, and not just a play-by-play of my
life, I’m trying to discuss more topics, not just events. Bear with me, it might
be a little strange.
I really, really hate how theatres are underfunded throughout the country.
Specifically here, ‘cuz that’s what’s bothering me the most right now. The shop
staff and I have spent the past week battling old, disfunctional equipment when
we should be focusing and cueing. I look around at the other departments and see
newish, nice, functional equipment. Why is it unacceptable for everyone else to
learn their art (and yes, I would say that science is an art) on out-of-date
tools when it’s just fine for us? This outrages me. The majority of the
instruments that we use are over 25 years old. TWENTY-FIVE. There is practically
NOTHING LIKE THEM left in the professional world. I can understand needing to
developing coping skills yadayadayada, but PLEASE. How can you find it prefectly
acceptable to pay money to watch movies and go to the theatre, but you don’t
think it’s “appropriate” to spend money to educate the people whose products you
so enjoy? I’m really disappointed in Knox as an institution for letting this
situation get so bad. I could ramble a lot more, but you probably don’t want to
hear it. That said, if you do want to hear it, just ask me about it
sometime, especially in the next week or so, then you’ll get it GOOD.
You know, one of the things I miss most about living with K, and IMSA in general
really, is the good conversation. That’s not to say that I don’t find that kind
of thing at Knox, but it really does seem to be in a lesser proportion than IMSA.
I suppose that’s why I hang out with a lot more IMSA people than some “funny”
people would say is “healthy.” Or Something. I mean, not to mention the fact
that I already knew them, which doesn’t hurt, I know how to talk to them.
I’m not worried about what they might think and more often than not, we wind up
sitting in the library ’til midnight talking and enjoying each other’s company.
So little of that seems to happen around here. I can’t help but wonder if it has
something to do with the fact that, for a lot of people here, such an emmersed
academic environment is completely new to them. They busy exploring other
aspects of their newfound freedom. I think that’s why I get along with L as well
I as I do. She can have fun AND be smart. (Just not necessairly at the same
time ;P) I miss conversation. A lot. I miss connecting to people the way that I
used to. Chatting over meals in the caf in the middle of a huge group may be
“social” (and the closest thing that I get to “social”) nowadays, but it’s just
not the same. We should do more “sleep-overs” like we did last year. I miss that
too. Especially the “pants-less” part. heeheehee
I just noticed that Knox Theatre has me using the “re” spelling now. Damn. I
apologize for the ramblingness and excessive “quotation marks” – if you expected
high prose, this is NOT the place to be. 
On that note, I’m going to go read other people’s blogs now and then see if I
can see the aurora boreilas (I don’t have to know how it’s spelled to see it!)
I’m really really jealous of you, H. *changes desktop to
Sky”*
“I love you. I love you. You’re an angel. I love you.” *walking on air*
Honestly, I think it has a lot to do with personality. A lot of folks at IMSA
are geeks with large egos or inferiority complexes, one or the other. Some of
those social problems get mitigated while you’re at IMSA, but we still like
being around people who are deeply, passionately interested in many things (not
just one) and who like to talk about them, sometimes at a length that strikes
others as self-centered.
You’ll notice that the most interesting non-IMSA people here are like that.
Look at J. in house, our commander, too, Beth M. in my class, A. You can talk
with them about one topic that has nothing to do with their research or major or
future plans for hours. I’ve noticed that a lot now that I’m talking about
religion and social issues more–A., for instance, is not Christian and not even
interested in seeking Christianity, but we have really interesting conversations
on that topic. Likewise, I’m straight, and she and I still have great talks
about queer issues.
That’s my take, anyway.
I think you’re right. I think it has a lot to do with the curiosity of a person
and their willingness to discuss something with someone that they might not
necessairly know a lot about, but have such an interest in learning that they’re
willing to to try to keep up with it all. Hell knows I “talk” a lot about things
I’m not familiar with, but that’s one of my main modes of learning: listening to
people expound. Sharing knowledge.
heehee. “open source is communism!”