Sept. 3, 2010 I The Clarion
Arts & Life
Page 5
Class explores 'The Meaning of Life'... Python style
By Sarah Bowers
Staff Writer
This is no ordinary class, and it is not
for the faint of heart. It’s the BCE 111
“Perspectives” class—and what a perspec
tive it provides: The World According to
Monty Python!
The class was created by Dr Scott Shef
field, who was asked two years ago to teach
a BCE 111 class. “I was thinking about
what I wanted to do that would be fun,” he
said, “and I like Monty Python and Monty
Python humor So I decided just to take a
shot, and to try to create a course.”
And thus the class was created.
This is the second year the class has
been taught, and judging by how well it is
received by its students, it will probably be
a class for years to come. “This is only the
second year I have done it. It just sort of
came from my imagination. It’s a strange
course!” Dr Sheffield says with a laugh.
For those who do not know, Monty Py
thon is a British comedy group that formed
in the 1960s. Monty Python humor is de
scribed as “serious business,” and always
on the “edge of absurdity.” Inspired by
their shocking, and sometimes disturbing
humor, a word was created and put in the
dictionary: “Pythonesque -adjective, of
humor, bizarre, and surreal, as in the BBC
Television comedy series, Monty Python’s
Flying Circus.”
Also, it is rumored that the word
Columbia/The Kobal Collection
The Monty Python gang: Eric Idle, left, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones and
Terry Gilliam in 1971.
“spam”—when used to describe those
unwanted advertisements or mail sitting in
your E-mail inbox, as opposed to the curi
ous caimed lunch meat—was taken from
the Monty Python skit “Spam-A-Lot.”
The World According to Monty Python
encourages fun, creativity, and silliness
which can be accidentally squelched in
other, more formal classes.
“It’s not as much lecture,” Sheffield says.
“It’s more interacting with the students and
helping them figure out how to be fuimy.
And I enjoy that.”
Behavior such as yodeling, dancing,
telling jokes, and bursting into song are
not frowned upon, but encouraged... unless
done in bad taste!
It’s definitely a class where students have
to overcome their shyness very quickly.
“This class is just off-the-cuff, spontaneous,
and unpredictable. It’s just a fun course,
okay?” says Dr Sheffield with a smile.
Expect to hear a lot about this class in
the future.
What’s Happening at BC
Club and Organization Fair: Today, 3-6
p.m., in tlie Residential Quad. IVIeetand
greet BC’s clubs and orgs—there are more
than 25 of them! This is a great way to get
involved whether you are a new student or
a returner.
Multifaith Council Retreat: Today 5-10
p.m.. Spiritual Life Center. For more
information, please contact Dean of
Students, Chris Holland.
CAB Underground Trivia: Tonight, 9 p.m.
Test your knowledge, and win bragging
rights (and maybe more!)
BC Athletics: Men’s Soccer vs. Mt. Olive:
Sunday 2 p.m., soccer field.
CAB Presents Deal or No Deal: Saturday
9 p.m. in The Underground.
Test your luck and win big!
BC Athletics: Women’s Soccer vs.
Belmont Abbey: Sunday 4 p.m., soccer
field.
EMERGE Info Meeting: Sunday 5 p.m..
Reserve Dining Room. Everyone is
welcome!
CAB Presents Movie Night!
“Iron Man 2”: Sunday 9 p.m. on the lawn
in front of the AEG. Bring a blanket!
Beyond the Wall Poster Sale: Tuesday 8
a.m.-5 p.m.. Reserve Dining Room
CAB NFL “Kick-off Party”: Thursday 8
p.m.. The Underground
Peach Salsa
from Chef Boy-ar-Dave
Average Cost of Meal: $5-$7
Time of Preparation:
10 minutes
Serving Size: 5 or more people
Ingredients:
3 ripe peaches
of a small red onion
1 package of mint leaves
1-2 tsp. of sugar
V4cup of olive oil
Instructions:
Cube up the peaches as small as
you want. Cut the red onion in half
and chop up the onion into small
slivers. Remove the mint leaves
from the stems and roughly chop
them. Mix the peaches, onion, and
mint together. Add 1 tsp. of sugar
and slowly add the olive oil. Toss the
salsa and taste. Add more olive oil or
sugar if needed.