Okay, here's a question for you SCA types: What would make you interested in reenactment/living history/historical interpretation? Would it be seeing people at an SCA event wearing cool stuff? Would it be seeing people at a reenactment event or history timeline wearing cool stuff? Would it be knowing someone who does this and being curious about how their hobby differed from yours?
I'm just curious. I do both (or should I say "all"), but I did reenactments before I joined the SCA, so I can't answer the question for myself. I'm just wondering what impetus makes people want to try reenactment/historical interpretation.
Any thoughts?
And if you are someone who is in the SCA and then started doing reenactments, why did you start?
Kass
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James of York
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I love the idea of trying to get the SCA to be more like a living history group and to see people being more authentic, but I am sure as you seen in the other posts it turns into a pretty emotional debate on both sides of the boards.
Why dont we leave the SCA the way it is and try to have people with sub-par kits get motivated to improve them and those who want a living history group find a living history group.
I am into the living history thing but I feel it's too restrictive.
Why dont we leave the SCA the way it is and try to have people with sub-par kits get motivated to improve them and those who want a living history group find a living history group.
I am into the living history thing but I feel it's too restrictive.
Yours in service,
James of York
James of York
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Snaebjorn Hakonarson
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My love for history. I always loved history and especially the time when you truly fought your opponent. (I'm a large fan of having to look in the eyes of someone you kill. Not just pushing a button from a few miles away.) It always enticed me. The SCA was the first group I'd heard of that did it so I joined up.
Bjorn Swiftaxe
Bjorn Swiftaxe
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."
I can't remember the exact start of my wanting to be more authentic, but it was a combination of boredom with what I was doing in the SCA, a personal challenge to myself, and exposure to this board.
Marvin wanted a gambeson to wear under his armor. So I decided - why not make it as authentic as possible? I have some linen blend fabric, and I can quilt - hey, I can do this! So, I made the gambeson. During the research process, I got interested in armor and clothing of the 14th century. Then I learned how to spin, and fell in love with wool. I learned more from actually handling the wool from its raw state to spun yarn than I had learned in 20 years of sewing. It reminded me that years ago, when I started in the SCA, I had this dream. I wanted to be a medieval princess (who doesn't when they start?) and wear a long flowing dress, and look *just* like the pictures on the covers of all the fantasy novels. And I thought - ya know, I can wear a long flowing dress, and look just like a *real* person from the 14th century; there are all these illuminations I've been looking at...............
So, I threw out all the T-tunics I had accumulated over the years, and started making cotehardies. And I haven't looked back since.
I'm not the *most* authentic person around, but I am so far meeting my goals of (a) no more T-tunics, (b) at least stay within one century, and (c) look better than 50% of other SCA folks out there. I have rediscovered some of the things I enjoyed doing when I first started playing SCA, and have discovered some new things I really like also.
But to answer the original question - would I like to do reenactment? Maybe. With more knowledge has come more ignorance - I am now aware of exactly how much I really *don't* know. I don't feel qualified to do demos for the public; I would probably lose the audience because I would feel compelled to add so many qualifiers that my talk would be more qualifiers than information. If I could do private reenactment, just for me and the others of my group, that would be what I would want. I would be extremely uncomfortable at a public display sort of thing.
Gwyneth
Marvin wanted a gambeson to wear under his armor. So I decided - why not make it as authentic as possible? I have some linen blend fabric, and I can quilt - hey, I can do this! So, I made the gambeson. During the research process, I got interested in armor and clothing of the 14th century. Then I learned how to spin, and fell in love with wool. I learned more from actually handling the wool from its raw state to spun yarn than I had learned in 20 years of sewing. It reminded me that years ago, when I started in the SCA, I had this dream. I wanted to be a medieval princess (who doesn't when they start?) and wear a long flowing dress, and look *just* like the pictures on the covers of all the fantasy novels. And I thought - ya know, I can wear a long flowing dress, and look just like a *real* person from the 14th century; there are all these illuminations I've been looking at...............
So, I threw out all the T-tunics I had accumulated over the years, and started making cotehardies. And I haven't looked back since.
I'm not the *most* authentic person around, but I am so far meeting my goals of (a) no more T-tunics, (b) at least stay within one century, and (c) look better than 50% of other SCA folks out there. I have rediscovered some of the things I enjoyed doing when I first started playing SCA, and have discovered some new things I really like also.
But to answer the original question - would I like to do reenactment? Maybe. With more knowledge has come more ignorance - I am now aware of exactly how much I really *don't* know. I don't feel qualified to do demos for the public; I would probably lose the audience because I would feel compelled to add so many qualifiers that my talk would be more qualifiers than information. If I could do private reenactment, just for me and the others of my group, that would be what I would want. I would be extremely uncomfortable at a public display sort of thing.
Gwyneth
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James of York
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My applologies Kass, I guess the reason for me trying to get more towards living history is a combination of most of the things you have mentioned. Me still being a "Newlywed" to this hobby (9 mos) I have met many people in which I find to be chivilrous and honerable and I want to immulate them, their kits are very period and just plain COOL!!! That made me want to be more period. I love to see authentic kits and to hear the history behind the gear. That is to include the soft kits, pavillions, horses and the whole 9 yards. I love to see period style vendors showing their wares and talents just the way it was back in the day. To be able to look out among the fellow participants and being transported back over 600 years just gives me one of those feelings in my stomach that you just cant find anywhere else.
In 2006 a few from our shire want to participate in the reinactment of the Battle of Hastings. That gives me almost 2 yrs to get a kit together for that.
I just think once a person with the enthusiasm for the medieval past gets a taste of it they just get addicted and want to delve deeper. I think by me getting into the SCA has lit the fire to become more interested in history and actually wanting to live closer to it.
In 2006 a few from our shire want to participate in the reinactment of the Battle of Hastings. That gives me almost 2 yrs to get a kit together for that.
I just think once a person with the enthusiasm for the medieval past gets a taste of it they just get addicted and want to delve deeper. I think by me getting into the SCA has lit the fire to become more interested in history and actually wanting to live closer to it.
Yours in service,
James of York
James of York
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Charlotte J
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Neat question, it's actually something I've been thinking about a little.
I first started playing SCA in MN. It was the most high profile group to join, and my sister is a member, so it came naturally. I actually inquired about 1812 era reenactment at Fort Snelling in St. Paul, but it didn't sound like there was anything for me.
What am I looking for? Something where I don't have to dress like a boy, or be a laundress/camp follower. I want to delve into daily life of the middle and upper classes. I want to make the 'pretty clothes'
but as authentically as I can make them.
My goal lately has been to increase the level of authenticity. One thing I try to ask myself, is "would I be able to walk into a living history event with this?" But I also don't let that inhibit me from going further, instead of just meeting a minimum.
I've been thinking about going to an LH event, if nothing else, just as an observer dressed modernly to see what it's about. I think I'm going to try and go to the Marietta Mansion event in April.
Why would I do LH? More fun events! More fun people! A whole group of people doing the same period as me. That sounds like fun. I couldn't go whole hog yet, I'm missing a lot of gear, because I've been unemployed on and off for over a year.
I don't think I'd ever quit the SCA. Not in the forseeable future at least. I have a lot of friends here, and there's a bunch of other things I like about it, but that wasn't the question.
Cheers,
Charlotte
I first started playing SCA in MN. It was the most high profile group to join, and my sister is a member, so it came naturally. I actually inquired about 1812 era reenactment at Fort Snelling in St. Paul, but it didn't sound like there was anything for me.
What am I looking for? Something where I don't have to dress like a boy, or be a laundress/camp follower. I want to delve into daily life of the middle and upper classes. I want to make the 'pretty clothes'
but as authentically as I can make them.
My goal lately has been to increase the level of authenticity. One thing I try to ask myself, is "would I be able to walk into a living history event with this?" But I also don't let that inhibit me from going further, instead of just meeting a minimum.
I've been thinking about going to an LH event, if nothing else, just as an observer dressed modernly to see what it's about. I think I'm going to try and go to the Marietta Mansion event in April.
Why would I do LH? More fun events! More fun people! A whole group of people doing the same period as me. That sounds like fun. I couldn't go whole hog yet, I'm missing a lot of gear, because I've been unemployed on and off for over a year.
I don't think I'd ever quit the SCA. Not in the forseeable future at least. I have a lot of friends here, and there's a bunch of other things I like about it, but that wasn't the question.
Cheers,
Charlotte
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Snaebjorn Hakonarson
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I have to admit that my interest in history led me into the SCA. My love for the SCA led me here. And the posts here and in places such as the Nadara mailing lists made me want to be even more period. Its reading of the kits that have been made by people like Halvgrimr and Egfroth has made me ashamed of alot of what I wear. So about a month ago I made myself a promise. No more cotton. No more cotton blends even. Nothing but linen and wool and a few pieces of raw silk. (I'm sorry but silk is just to nice so I will allow some stretch.) No more t tunics and dropping the big baggy rus styled pants. (I have one pair but thats for my fighting pants.)
I will still keep wearing some of the items I know aren't period simply because they are beautiful gifts that people have given me. But I am trying to be as close as possible.
Bjorn Swiftaxe
I will still keep wearing some of the items I know aren't period simply because they are beautiful gifts that people have given me. But I am trying to be as close as possible.
Bjorn Swiftaxe
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."
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Captain Jamie
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Kass from what I have seen of LH and Reenactment events it is unlikely that I would participate. Increased levels of authenticity are nice but what comes with it I find irksome. If LH demands an audience then I have to put up with interpreting to turons for most of an event. I don't like explaining to people for the umpteenth time that that really is a real fire that I am melting the pewter on. Disagreements over what a reenactment group's authenticity officer(s) will and will not allow as well as having the group up and change focus are also percieved drawbacks for me. Discussing history and material culture with like minded individuals and with artisans that want to do such things is what I want. I don't particularly feel a need for everyone else to do the same where and when that I am so timelines could be cool. Can I get this with out having to cater to a mostly ignorant public and do the impression/portrayal/interpretation that I want?
Captain Jamie
Captain Jamie
Captain Jamie: "Can I get this with out having to cater to a mostly ignorant public and do the impression/portrayal/interpretation that I want? "
Yes, sorta. The key is to find a LH group that matches the time period you're looking for and attend only their private events. As long as your kit is up to snuff, I don't think most would have a problem with that; on the contrary, they're usually glad to ahve the extra people!
Yes, sorta. The key is to find a LH group that matches the time period you're looking for and attend only their private events. As long as your kit is up to snuff, I don't think most would have a problem with that; on the contrary, they're usually glad to ahve the extra people!