Inara's education by schooner

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Inara's education

POSTED BY: SCHOONER
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 16:04
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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 8:22 AM

Just a general question: what do you think goes into a Companion's education (beyond the obvious)? IIRC, Joss states in the BDM Visual Companion that Inara is the most educated person on the ship. When you consider that trumps Simon, mister-top-three-percent-surgeon, that's saying quite a bit.

The series and film show Inara has at least some skill in massage, calligraphy, fencing, archery, martial arts, dance, and unusual skill reading body language. Nandi talks about learning the dulcimer, so assume music is part of the training. What else would be necessary, and why? History, maybe? Or business and politics to be able to discuss them with clients? What do you think?

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 8:36 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

I think her education is a broadly based, deep, advanced, what used to be called " liberal arts " education. Music, art, literature, (She knows the albatross thing is a reference to the Ancient Mariner, remember?), history, fashion, culture, poetry, and probably enough philosophy, finance, business and politics to be able to listen and respond intelligently if her clients talk about those things.

Whereas Simon strikes me as a little bit Doogie Howser, deeply skilled at medicine, and related scientific subjects, but totally incompetent at human relationships. He may have concentrated so completely on his subjects as to be totally ignorant on the others.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 9:06 AM

DONCOAT

Ditto the broad liberal arts education thing. A Companion needs to be able to carry on a conversation about just about any topic (except some specialized technical field). She must also be able to entertain those who aren't interested in conversation.

I don't think anyone's mentioned dance yet. I'm sure Inara can perform competently in almost any sort of dancing -- from ballroom (a la Shindig) to the sorts of dances intended to entertain and arouse.

In short, she must be a sort of renaissance woman. In "Time Enough for Love", Robert Heinlein wrote a paragraph listing the things that a competent man should be able to do. I don't have the quote here, but it included items like fly a ship, set a broken limb, handle and shoot a weapon, play a decent game of chess, write a sonnet, and so on. Inara's education would have been like that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:05 AM

STARRBABY

I'm breaking my "lurking" phase to contribute.

In HoG, we notice that she may have a bit of midwifery/medical training. She's never delivered a baby, but she sure seems to know a bit about labor.

She also knew to put pressure on Simon's wound in Serenity.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:32 AM

NCBROWNCOAT

I would agree that Inara got a good liberal arts education, mostly likely more than the typical liberal arts college graduate today.

I remember Nandi saying in HOG that it was always practice, practice, practice about the dulcimer, so I assume that any Companion would have to keep up her skills in all the areas mentioned.

Besides art, music, maritial arts and dance practice that would include current events, politics, business, finance etc. that she would have to keep up with on a daily basis.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:34 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Found Doncoat's quote:

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Anybody can do all that, is a super-being...

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 8:33 PM

RCAT

Quote:
Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
I think her education is a broadly based, deep, advanced, what used to be called " liberal arts " education. Music, art, literature, (She knows the albatross thing is a reference to the Ancient Mariner, remember?), history, fashion, culture, poetry, and probably enough philosophy, finance, business and politics to be able to listen and respond intelligently if her clients talk about those things.

I agree and would add psychology and sociology (also 'liberal arts') as well. I imagine that companions also have more than a passing knowledge in areas such as business, politics and diplomacy (there was a thread a while back discussing the power the guild may hold, considering the wealthy and influential clientel). Inara is also a pilot and, I assume, skilled in navagation. I suspect companions specialize in particular areas they're suited to (grad-school for space-whores?).

A Zen master was once asked which is better for you: Karma, Chi, Zen or Sex?
The Master's response:
Karma is what you use to get sex. Chi is what you use during sex. Zen is where you go after sex.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007 12:53 PM

ZOID

Quote:
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Anybody can do all that, is a super-being...

...So long as one is willing to accept "drive anything with wheels" in lieu of "conn a ship", then I've got 'em all. My Firefly hasn't been delivered yet (but it's on special order)...

And I sure as hell ain't a "super-being". Don't tell me you've never butchered an animal for food. With hogs, it's cut their throats and then hang 'em by the back legs so the blood runs out.

The toughest thing every human being should know how to do -- left off the list -- is how to put down your own dog. I still ain't got the hang of that, and I've had to do it 3 or 4 times. Rips me apart for a solid week, at least...

Respectfully,

zoid

P.S.
Can't speak for Heinlein, but I'd accept "hunt and kill an animal for food". I'm not a 'sportsman', but I know how to hunt for food, and how to clean and cook it. Luckily, I do most of my hunting in the supermarket meat section...

P.P.S.
I grew up in semi-rural Texas. I consider myself a city boy, but my uncle had a farm in Alvin. I helped feed, castrate and butcher cattle, sheep, chickens and, yes, swine (that's 'steaks', 'lamb chops', 'McNuggets', and 'bacon' to y'all).
_________________________________________________

"I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDBOF'

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007 12:57 PM

JLIN13

i think that what Joss meant in the companion at Inara being smarter, he might not have meant that she was as booksmart as Simon, but that she was a much deeper thinker and could see what people were truly thinking

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007 1:22 PM

ASORTAFAIRYTALE

Yeah, they say that they started training at twelve years old, so they must have had some of their basic education at the Companion house too. But also both Inara and Nandi can pretty much tell what others are feeling/thinking without them saying so. I'd imagine that they learned more than artsy things, and that they did have some defense or fighting training of some sort, 'cause Inara can use knives, swords and that crossbow thingy. Companions are suposed to be respected as well, and people tend to respect a person who is educated and knows about things like literature or science, so it would make sense that they learned stuff like that.

---------
Love keeps her in the air when she outta fall down, tells you she's hurting before she keels. Makes her a home.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:04 PM

BONANACROIN

I know this had to have been said befor but the closest thing to Inara's education is that of a Geisha, (with benefits)

. Geisha were trained in the arts of confersation with a variaty of subject, dance, art (to include flower arranging) body language (both reading and projecting) and music.
The Companions are different in that they have carnal training and they can carry weapons. The geisha of old Japan were considered non-people. They had no rights, and could do nothing to defend themselves in the eyes of the law. Their only defense was a wealthy patron; you had the patron, you had protection. They could travel in the most influential circles without being looked down upon, some festivals actually requiered their talent for dance. Copanions are much the same.

I died my browncoat black for those whom have gone befor.

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