“<span style="font-size: small">And so the human race was caused to abandon it's home and retreat into the vastness of the stars. Seeking out a new home to colonize and develop being a paramount concern, many things fell into a corner of thought. We are very fortunate today that those who had studied the humanities were vocal and forceful in their voices. Sailing among the stars and drifting to a new world, humanity had shining stars among its ships as well. Beautiful museums with exhibits representing the pinnacle of human achievement in the arts.” This is what they will say in our future. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here to show you exactly why the Bastion needs this museum.<!--more--></span>

<span style="font-size: small">Imagine, if you will, a long and dark hall, forcing one to contemplate the juxtaposition between being in the artificially, always-lit atmosphere of the ship and the cold, darkness outside the windows and plastic. This hall would be made of a dark mahogany, 15 feet at its width, with very basic strip lighting, and would end after 75 feet in a large dome, made of the same material. This dome would be able to house nearly 300 people at one in standing room. The dome has no windows, no chairs, no benches, no light other than the same strip lighting lining the hall. It is but a dome, sans the four doors that line it's walls. These doors each above them have but a single word, each carved out of oxidized brass. Ranging from left to right, they read; Power, Beauty, Heroism and Love. What four elements of human ingenuity could one argue are more important?</span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> Let us enter these rooms, and explore the indomitable will of humanity through the ages.</span>

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<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: small"><strong>POWER</strong></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: small"> The door opens to a room, made of stone, lit with dim torches. The walls are lined with stone seating, so that one may sit and enjoy the presentation running on loop. Utilizing the latest in holographic representational technology, two figures stand in heated debate. It becomes quickly evident between their discussion and the plaques sitting at the base (forming a square) that the two are discussing Machiavelli's “The Prince.” They trade argument back and forth regarding the commitment to the people versus the state, and who determines when an action is justifiable and right. It is important to note that the discussion, while on loop, is incredibly long. This is to give the reminder that even in the current day and age, these concepts are never dismissed lightly or shunned. At any point in time, humanity with have a “Prince” who will believe the way that Machiavelli did regarding the population he is governing and protecting.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small">Machiavelli presented some very interesting ideas about how best to govern a population, and how sometimes a sacrifice of rights is necessary. Stemming from these works, we received many “anti-machiavelli” writings and discussions. This shows the true nature of humanity, that most scholars and thinkers actually realized what was required from a leader was something other than this dominating force, often called “Machiavellian.”</span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> After the discussion, there will be a brief pause before the loop begins again, so that each person wishing to can insert their identcard into one of the plaques to receive information about Machiavelli and the time, as well as complete copies of the original and the counter works.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small">And so we return to the dome and walk further down the wall.</span>

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<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: small"><strong>BEAUTY</strong></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: small"> Here we have a room that upon entering is still dark, but once the eyes adjust, they see ornately decorated walls with gold and purple strands running along them in various patterns. Central in the room are four pillars of virtual reality engagements. Each pillar contains twenty leashed experience goggle sets. Once the goggles and earphones are placed, the visitor can then engage the virtual reality simulator. What now stands before them is the entrance to The Forbidden City of ancient China. This magnificent structure has been re-created virtually for a complete tour. The visitor can walk around all sections of the palace and see the art that was stored in the rooms through the ages. Accompanying each entrance into a new wing or section are standing information pedestals. These give information on the construction efforts and the history of China.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> The importance of the Forbidden Palace and it's beauty is incredibly important to understanding how eastern culture created value and evolved socially. This information will be displayed in the main room of the palace, inside the inner palace. In this main room, there will be maps of China, showing the evolution and shifting of the political power and how that influenced the common people.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small">The Forbidden City represents one of the largest non-industrial endeavors of mankind, and is mirrored perfectly on the Bastion. Those who created the ship as the new center for humanity can see the same thing in ancient times. Beauty and function are by no means mutually exclusive.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small">Let us know remove the virtual reality experience, and step back into our dome. The third door is but a few strides away.</span>

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<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: small"><strong>HEROISM</strong></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: small"> There seems to be a line outside of this door, but the door remains closed, as though no one is entering. This is because the next show does not begin for a few more minutes. Queuing up in the line is of no great issue, and soon the line begins to move. Shows will be scheduled to begin on a cycle of every 30 minutes as the multiple rooms behind the door allow. In an effort for speed and releasing the experience to a wider audience, there will actually be four rooms behind this door, rotating as a disc changer of old. This is so that when a new group enters, they can sit in the satin chairs provided and experience Goethe's “Faust” in all of its glory. The casts will be selected as a whole, and then assigned to a certain stage for 3 months at a time, which then the casts will be mixed up.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> Here our audience will see all of “Faust” from beginning to end, so that they can understand true sacrifice, as though they did not already know it having left humanity's home, and the Promethean hero. This form of heroism is incredible and easily identifiable with those remaining in the human race. Being able to look at a situation and strive for the good, for the sake of good, regardless of what happens to the hero is one of the best aspects of humanity.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> The play will be produced with an incredibly minimalistic stage design. The audience should understand the characters and their interactions, as that is the feature of this exhibit. People can see the tale of Faust as he exemplifies the values of a Promethean Hero, acting selflessly and earning salvation only in the end, understanding that death brought damnation for him, but good for the world. This type of heroism is classic through the ages, and can be seen in contemporary works, though it is not as directly obvious as in “Faust” and that is important.</span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> This leaves us with one room upon completion of the play. Let us now return to the dome and conclude our experience in the museum.</span>

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<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: small"><strong>LOVE</strong></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: small"> The final room, with the most ominous word listed over head. Love is something that is a foreign, daunting, beautiful, amazing and altogether mysterious concept to every person in the universe. As we walk into the room, we see walls painted from floor to ceiling. These walls contain the art of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away.” Flowing landscapes and bright lights are warm and inviting as the visitors tour the walls and see in great detail the beauty around them. </span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> In the middle of the back wall, a large screen sits, playing the movie, in the original Japanese with subtitles. Above the screen, in large friendly letters we see the phrase by the great Carl Sagan, “For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” Our visitors will understand the power that love, especially non-romantic, familial love holds over all of humanity and the future. The film will be made available to anyone who wishes through an identcard scan. </span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> Love, as we see from Miyazaki is a world-moving force and can reconnect anyone to the life around them. This will be an important message for any traveler aboard the Bastion. In the film, we see a break away from many of the traditional aspects of film regarding love. There is no romantic play, no misfortune or unwilling hero. We have a ten year old girl with the strength to change the world around her. That strength and commitment to love is powerful and important in the journey elsewhere. </span>

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<span style="font-size: small"> And so we have our museum hall. There are many more halls to be explored and expanded with, and I am sure you will see many wonderful exhibits in your proposals here today. I simply wish to remind you, ladies and gentlemen, about the power of human will and strength of character that these works represent. I ask you again, find four other words that define so perfectly what it is to be alive and human.</span>

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