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"Yeah, We Used to be in the SCA"
Jun. 3rd, 2012 06:46 pmI went to the Museum of the Regiments today to check out the exhibits and see AP (who was participating, and it was her birthday) there. I saw non-SCA Medieval re-enactors, WWII, Civil War, Frontier, Assorted Revolutionary and colonial-period units. It was a lot of fun.
What wasn't fun was this, paraphrased, conversation (which I've been a part of before) when talking to other re-enactors:
I think with that one, I actually quizzed the person for specifics. Turns out it was a tavern a few years back, when I was Seneschal. They'd been invited there by the Baroness and did in fact get treated poorly. I have vague memories of them being there (and I think I greeted them with something like "We're all geeks here, welcome."). Had I known what their treatment from others was, I'd have probably cracked a few heads. Seriously, when did we change "chivalry and honour" to "chivalry and honour, unless you're dressed like pirates or carrying a musket"?
Sure, at an official event, we expect people to dress "in period", but I've seen a lot of leeway on that, especially since the SCA defines "period" so widely (roughly end of the Roman Empire to beginning of the Italian Renaissance, about 1000 years). My own garb barely passes. Sometimes. I don't get a lot of comments about it (possibly because people complaining to me about my garb get a response of "So you'd like to make me new garb? Cool.").
But at a tavern or some other informal event? Relax. We have much more in common with these people than we have separating us. "You like dressing funny, having pretend fights, drinking in large groups while camping and complaining about the price of linen? I like those things too!" Besides which, why be rude? What is it gaining you? As far as I can see all you get is a more insular, cliquey group. I guess if you're still in junior high school those are desirable things.
I'd love to see a big summer camping event that included all of the re-enactors. Sort of a Burning Man for history geeks. I think that there are enough people to do something like that. It would require a big site (something like the Quad War site would be OK, except it's a little off the beaten track, and I have problems with the way the owner runs things). The organisers would need to get insurance, merchants and advertising in place. Some simple rules to keep the looky-lou's out (i.e. you must be in a historical costume at all times except when entering and leaving the site). Other than that, have several areas in place for each group to stage their battles and others to watch. If separate groups want to stage anachronistic battles with each other, have at it.
Still, this is the sort of thing that I think requires one strong organizer to pull it off (something like how The Calgary Comic Expo could never have been done by the ConVersion Society). An initial success would mean a bigger event year after year. What's the worse that could happen? People might have fun.
What wasn't fun was this, paraphrased, conversation (which I've been a part of before) when talking to other re-enactors:
That looks like a lot of fun.Then they'd give examples:
Would you be interested in trying out re-enactment yourself.
On, I already do that - I'm in the SCA.
Oh. We were in the SCA once. We left because we were being treated poorly.
- People made fun of our garb.
- People made fun of our garb, even though our garb was more authentic than theirs.
- They don't like that we're outside of the SCA's period.
- The SCA's rules are too strict.
I think with that one, I actually quizzed the person for specifics. Turns out it was a tavern a few years back, when I was Seneschal. They'd been invited there by the Baroness and did in fact get treated poorly. I have vague memories of them being there (and I think I greeted them with something like "We're all geeks here, welcome."). Had I known what their treatment from others was, I'd have probably cracked a few heads. Seriously, when did we change "chivalry and honour" to "chivalry and honour, unless you're dressed like pirates or carrying a musket"?
Sure, at an official event, we expect people to dress "in period", but I've seen a lot of leeway on that, especially since the SCA defines "period" so widely (roughly end of the Roman Empire to beginning of the Italian Renaissance, about 1000 years). My own garb barely passes. Sometimes. I don't get a lot of comments about it (possibly because people complaining to me about my garb get a response of "So you'd like to make me new garb? Cool.").
But at a tavern or some other informal event? Relax. We have much more in common with these people than we have separating us. "You like dressing funny, having pretend fights, drinking in large groups while camping and complaining about the price of linen? I like those things too!" Besides which, why be rude? What is it gaining you? As far as I can see all you get is a more insular, cliquey group. I guess if you're still in junior high school those are desirable things.
I'd love to see a big summer camping event that included all of the re-enactors. Sort of a Burning Man for history geeks. I think that there are enough people to do something like that. It would require a big site (something like the Quad War site would be OK, except it's a little off the beaten track, and I have problems with the way the owner runs things). The organisers would need to get insurance, merchants and advertising in place. Some simple rules to keep the looky-lou's out (i.e. you must be in a historical costume at all times except when entering and leaving the site). Other than that, have several areas in place for each group to stage their battles and others to watch. If separate groups want to stage anachronistic battles with each other, have at it.
Still, this is the sort of thing that I think requires one strong organizer to pull it off (something like how The Calgary Comic Expo could never have been done by the ConVersion Society). An initial success would mean a bigger event year after year. What's the worse that could happen? People might have fun.
