RESTRICTED SECTION: SHORT STORY DISCUSSION

[angeleyesjg24.livejournal.com]

JOIN THE CLUB!!
(hey mods, would you mind putting a link up to the application on the userinfo page?)

"THE LOTTERY" SHORT STORY DISCUSSION
(the book discussion is above this discussion)


It's time for the two readings discussions!


Rules, Regulations, and Points:

This discussion will run much like the debates held in the main community. To earn points, be sure to heed the following:
-The comment is at least five sentences long.
-The comment stays on topic. No personal attacks or arguments will be tolerated.
-The comment is signed. If you accidentally forget to sign it, please delete the comment and repost it with your name and house in it. No name/house= no points.
-Remember to comment with your subject in the subject line. Like "Christine/Phantom," for example. That way, people can more readly track discussions.

Points will be awarded as follows:
-10 points for your first comment (this will only be awarded once. Not twice, once for each discussion)
-50 points to the top commenter, one in the novel and and one in the short story discussion.
-40 points for second, one for novel and one for short story discussion
-30 points for third, one for novel and one for short story discussion.



Discussions will end Friday, March 24th. This will give you all two full weeks for discussion. Don't hesitate to ask me any questions!

Anna M // Restricted Section Mod

Comments

Re: the ritual

[sleep-x-dream.livejournal.com]

I'm not one to argue but I do enjoy playing Devils advocate every now and then. Most of what I am about to say is coming from a sociological/cultural anthropological standpoint.

Simply because the ritual has been stopped in one location does not mean that it has no purpose or value in another. Many of the various traditions/practices that were once shared by different cultures have become culture specific developing and advancing within that said group. For example the practice of slavery as it is seen in its more traditional forms (Greeks/Romans, African Tribes, etc).


trent|slytherin

Re: the ritual

[rocknrollpixie.livejournal.com]

That's really interesting, I hadn't thought of it like that. Because people in Africa live in the desert with no water source for miles and go to the toilet in a hole outside (some do, I've been there!), but if that was to happen in the Uk we'd have all kinds of social services people around. That's a very good point.

But in The Lottery, aren't they the 'odd ones out' in society as it were? Wouldn't they be the ones social services were all upon as opposed to the norm for that country?

(Please correct me if I'm wrong, I couldn't quite figure that bit out!)

Pixie // hufflepuff

Re: the ritual

[sleep-x-dream.livejournal.com]

I believe this is where alot of people go astray. While the text does mention that a few other towns have stopped the preforming the ritual, it also states that many other towns are still practicing it. SO in a sense the town at hand is not in the minority. It is those who have stopped that are.


trent | slytherin

Re: the ritual

[indilwen.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. From a purely sociological standpoint, this is just another ritual, just another action that people take part in. Really, it's all about debunking: it probably seems strange to most people here that an entire town would be going along with this, but behaviors that are taken for granted by some societies are often seen as strange by others. This kind of behavior has not been uncommon throughout history: many cultures had rituals that this one at least resembles in someways.

Often, primitive societies would have a designated scapegoat that the townspeople would take out upon any misfortune that came their way. Each year, the Druid Celts sacrificed hundreds of people to the gods at Samhain, by burning them alive or drowning them in sacred cauldrons. Ditto the Aztecs- people were sacrificed by having their hearts pulled from their chest cavity atop the stone temples, and it was an honor. These rituals were greatly revered by those practicing them, and they held value to those who had been steeped intradition, no matter what the outside opinions were.

These days, we read about this type of behavior in history texts and go "Well, that's fine, that was their thing." But if modern society gets wind of this sort of behavior anywhere else in the world, they're suddenly on fire to go halfway around the world if they have to to stop it because it's "wrong". In my opinion, it's not wrong, per se, it's just different from what most people today are used to. It's not like these actions are performed on a whim and for fun.

Sangrita, Slytherin