Tagged Read Free

games or watching bad movies and didn’t want to be disturbed.
    â€œIt’s coming along pretty well,” Oswald said.
    Julia got up. “Let’s get going. I really do have to go to this art class.”
    â€œI’m so happy to have you sit in on our class, Julia,” Mrs. Johnson said, “although since you’re only a visitor, I’m going to ask you not to take part in our discussions.”
    â€œOf course. I understand,” Julia agreed.
    Oswald and I exchanged a look. We were both thinking the same thing—could Julia keep her opinions to herself for a whole period?
    â€œA lunch,” Oswald said to me out of the side of his mouth so that Julia, sitting a few seats over, couldn’t hear. “The first one to say something that makes her talk gets lunch bought by the other.”
    â€œDeal. You bring your wallet and I’ll bring my appetite.”
    â€œAll right, let’s get started,” Mrs. Johnson announced.
    People settled into their seats.
    â€œLast week we were discussing how art may take many forms,” Mrs. Johnson began. “That it is not simply painting or sculpture but includes poetry, plays, music, dance and more.”
    â€œWhich means comic books, movies, TV, novels, hip-hop, commercials, music videos and video games,” Oswald said proudly.
    His first attempt to get to Julia. She didn’t blink.
    â€œAll of those and more,” Mrs. Johnson agreed. “Although some might argue about a few of those forms being art.”
    Judging from Julia’s expression, I figured she was one of them.
    â€œThis week we’ll focus on the way that artists not only shape their society but are shaped by it.” Mrs. Johnson paused. “Let me explain. Raise your hand if you like techno-pop dance music.”
    A few girls raised their hands. I had to stop myself from gagging.
    â€œIn order to have techno-pop, you first need to have techno. Without the electronics, it wouldn’t be possible. How many people like it when a musician releases an acoustic CD?”
    Almost all hands went up, including mine.
    â€œThen you would have loved music prior to 1900, when all music was acoustic. Not to mention it was live, since there were no recording or broadcasting techniques. No CDS, tapes, videos, MTV or satellite radio.”
    â€œBut aren’t you just talking about the tools of a culture rather than the entire culture?” I asked.
    â€œIn part. There’s also no doubt in my mind that if Beethoven were alive today, he’d be playing either electronic keyboards or synthesizer. But what would Shakespeare be writing?” she asked.
    â€œPlays,” Julia said, so quietly I could hardly hear her though I was sitting right beside her.
    â€œHe certainly wouldn’t be writing plays,” Mrs. Johnson said. Julia didn’t react.
    I couldn’t help but wonder, if it was Mrs. Johnson who got her going, should Oswald and I buy her lunch?
    â€œHe’d probably be writing for tv or movies,” somebody at the back chipped in.
    â€œThe contemporary version of playwright would be screenwriter,” Mrs. Johnson said.
    â€œSo if Shakespeare was writing today, then Romeo and Juliet would have been a date movie,” Oswald said.
    â€œAnd The Two Gentlemen of Verona would be a buddy movie,” I added.
    Julia made a slight huffing sound, but no words came out.
    â€œ Hamlet would definitely be a horror movie,” Oswald said.
    â€œWith major special-effects potential. Maybe a car chase,” I said.
    â€œEnough about Shakespeare,” Mrs. Johnson said. “Others?”
    â€œWhat about Jane Austen?” Oswald asked. He knew Jane was Julia’s favorite writer.
    â€œI don’t know her,” another student piped up. “Is she a writer?”
    Julia made another little sound but didn’t speak. Good—I didn’t want to buy anybody else lunch.
    â€œShe wrote sweeping epic