New Research Sheds Light on the Behavior of the Wild Harmonicus
For many years, students and teachers alike have been confused and mystified by the habits and temperament of the wild Harmonicus. One of Venture High School’s many indigenous species, the Harmonicus is known for its erratic movement patterns and vocalizations. For many years it was thought that these mysteries would remain unsolved. However, new research into the Harmonicus has shed light on what was one of the biggest unanswered questions at Venture: why does the Harmonica do what it does? In an astonishing paper from two researchers, Mr. Oliver Whitby and Mr. Nate Jones, state of the art data collection and research methods were used to get a better understanding of exactly what makes the
Harmonicus tick, and is the first step in what may be a breakthrough in this young field of study. The study encompasses many aspects of the Harmonicuses behavior, and is too in depth for us to explore fully here, but can be found in full at HarmonTheHarmonica.com. “I have known Harmon for a long time, but his behavior has always confused me, along with many other staff members. This study is truly monumental in understanding the mind of the Harmonicus, and hopefully just the first of many,” says Mrs. Haws, one of the Harmonicus’s friends and colleagues. One of the paper's many astute and groundbreaking findings pertains to the relationship between the Harmonicus and incoming freshmen at Venture. Harmonicus has long been known to have disdain for freshmen. “We were very interested in this, as we hadn’t seen any literature or research on this phenomenon,” said Oliver Whitby, one of the study's authors. “We think the behavior is a way to deflect attention from the Harmonicus’s own immaturities, and helps to increase the social standing of the Harmonicus in the eyes of juniors and seniors.” There have been other attempts at studying the Harmonicus, although they were markedly less successful. HarmonTheHarmonica.com was originally started by Gayden Nerdhal and Hayden Reese, and the original website is still up. They are not affiliated with current students researching Harmons. The Harmonicus has close relationships with certain other species in the Venture ecosystem. Some of the species which can most commonly be found in the Harmonicus’s room are Pauliae Greenhalghi, Wild Hunters, Lenhartiuses, and Ashlianus Hawsia. They are often observed talking during their lunch periods or during breaks. The exact content of the conversation is unknown, but is likely about other students or teachers. “We are still not finished with
our research into the Harmonicus,” says Nate Jones. “We may never be. There is so much more to do. But we are looking forward to the process.”
Photos by Morgan Christensen and Riley Webster
Authored by Oliver Whitby, former Venture 4.0 student