Reflection #8: Risk + Opera = Risera?

This week in class, we’ve had the wonderful opportunity to play a modified version of Risk. Because Risk is an awesome game, I wasn’t sure that there’d be a better way to play than just classic Risk, but I was proven wrong. I think that the modifications that PTJ made change the game a lot, but in a way that makes it better for what we’re studying. Regular Risk is a game pretty much based on power. The goal is to acquire as much territory as you can, build up the biggest army you can and then take over the world. Regular Risk is pretty much the board game version of a realist mentality: don’t trust anyone, obtain as much power as possible and always having a sovereign nation (territory) is the most important thing otherwise you’re dead. With the PTJ adjustments to this classic game, it allowed for more IR theories to be applicable than only realism. At least one group’s goal is to make alliances, which makes one think they have more of a constructivist mentality when approaching the game. I’m not 100% sure what other groups goals are, but I’m sure that we’ll find out and see how different IR theories are apparent in their objectives and moves in the game. I love Risk and I have really enjoyed modified Risk!

Another fun thing we did this week was attend Salome at the Kennedy Center. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the opera, I think that the issue was that I didn’t like Salome, not that I don’t like opera. I felt that because the opera was so short, there was little character development which made the connection I felt to the characters nil. I think that if we, the audience, had had more time with the characters we would have felt more when Narraboth killed himself or when Jochanaan gets decapitated. While the opera wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I did really enjoy visiting the Kennedy Center. The building is beautiful and has a great location right along the river. I especially loved the great hall with all of the hanging flags. Even though I didn’t love Salome, I refuse to give up on opera just yet!