Period Nazis

[jamesq]

I've often heard the term "Period Nazi" in relation to the SCA. For those of you not in the know, it means people who get all irritated by people who don't put the same amount of effort into playing the game as they do themselves. This usually manifests itself with disapproval of one's garb. Modern footwear, mixing wildly divergent areas and eras, purely fantasy-based elements are all likely to get one in trouble with the more "authenticity" minded mavins. Obviously, by using "nazi" in this term, it's universally a term of derision. To call someone a period nazi is to say that they 1) take the game way way too seriously and 2) they have the personality of that irritating busybody at the library who wants all the copies of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" removed because it contains boobies.

I know some people who take their persona uber-seriously, and none of them are period nazis. The closest I've come to disapproval over my choice of garb (by my friends) is an offer to make me some new garb. An offer I wholeheartedly accepted. My only request was no Lanskenect. Beyond that, I have no idea what I'm getting.

I have encountered Period Nazis occasionally. Twice at Winter War two years ago. I got called on my hiking boots by one and by the bottle of Diet Coke on my table. Another time a former princess railed against my foot wear suggesting very strongly that I go get more appropriate shoes. In all cases I thanked the person in question for their concern over my garb and that I would take their suggestions under advisement. I now pour my drinks into a tankard (if one is available) and wear black shoes with my garb rather then my normal hikers/runners. In no way are these options more period, but they are less obviously out-of-period.

I occasionally worry about it because my usual garb is not even vaguely in period. The traditional Scots look that I use is largely an invention of the 18th century with the resurgence of Scottish nationalism. I stick with this for two reasons. First, I like kilts, and it's one of the few places I can get away with wearing them without being called a fag. Pretty much the only other way I could do it would be to move to Scotland. I went to a lot of pubs when I was in Scotland, and there was almost always someone wearing a kilt. If the local football team was playing, they'd be the majority. The second reason is I can get a multitude of garb this way for fairly cheap. Sport Kilt can sell you a basic ensemble (kilt, hose, sash, highland shirt) for under $100 and it'll generally be delivered in less then a week. For a person with zero crafting talent, that's a huge incentive. It's not like my garb was going to be any more accurate or well constructed without kilts to fall back on.

I am trying to improve my garb. I bankrolled othelianna to make me some period garb for Quad War and it looks pretty sharp. mommaquilter is working on the previously mentioned mystery garb that I might get by Montengarde 12th Night. As time goes by I'll be able to retire more and more of the kilts to a purely recreational status (i.e. summer camping events where one needs lots of garb simply because it gets grubby fast in the great outdoors). I want to do this because I've witnessed so many good examples of garb.

Don't underestimate the effectiveness of a good example - it's made me want to improve my game more then anything else. Period Nazi's on the other-hand make me want to dig in my heels and say "Fuck You".

Which brings me to Harvest Feast, the event I went to yesterday. garething's take on it is 99% accurate. It really was an awesome event. The folks from Bitter End really know what they're doing and they "get" the SCA in ways that I truly appreciate. The 1% that was sour was during court, when the Crown Prince and Princess (vikvikingsson and ya_inga) told everyone that when they take the throne, they're going to ban tri-corner hats. Why? The stated reason was because they don't like out-of-period pirates. I guess banning the hat is better then the rumours about banning pirate personas outright I heard. It's still not very nice though. It's basically telling a bunch of people "you're not playing the game right and we're going to force you to follow the rules by changing them to suit our opinions."

To their credit TRHs then added that they'd like to encourage in-period pirate personas, and anyone making the grade would be given a Letter of Marque (in the context of the SCA this basically means they get a fancy scroll and some bragging rights).

The problem is that the Letter of Marque seems like an after-thought. An acknowledgment that banning the hat would be unpopular and that they needed to do something to sweeten a bitter pill. Far better to go with the Letter of Marque first and leave the ban off completely. All carrot and no stick. The people who would want the prize are the people who will make the effort and permanently change there garb. Those that don't will probably wear their hats right up until the official pronouncement, then ditch them until the reign ends, only for the hats to return again. To my mind banning the hats shifts more people from group A to group B out of simple you're-not-the-boss-of-me orneriness. If I had a pirate persona, I'd certainly do that - precisely because it triggers my don't-let-bullies-get-their-way streak.

So yeah, it could have been handled so much better by going with plan B alone.

Do Kings and Queens in the SCA generally make these sorts of rules? Being in the boon-docks of An Tir, I've seen Kings twice and Queens once - and I've been playing seriously for four years. It's simply not on my Radar.

The current King and Queen (Owain and Wrenn) did issue a rule that heavy fighter's knees needed to be clearly marked. An argument could at least be made that this is safety issue (there was a flurry of discussion when that happened that argued whether made anyone safer or if it was security theater. It seems to have settled down to acceptance since then). The tri-corner hat ban strikes me as being roughly equivalent to banning yellow clothing. On it's face arbitrary and more to say "we can do this, so we will do this" rather then for any other reason.

It's entirely possible this is a non-issue. After court I heard nary a peep about it, which differs from the huge furor I heard at the last Bitter End event, where royal shenanigans where pretty much the only topic of discussions. Maybe people are willing to give a local King and Queen the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they simply don't care. Maybe they actually agree with a ban on hats more associated with Jack Sparrow then the Middle Ages. Certainly pirates (along with gypsies and "generic cleavage-friendly Ren-fair chicks") aren't that popular in the SCA, for reasons that baffle me. Hell, most of the pirates I've seen have way more memorable and impressive garb then the multitude of generic T-tunics I've seen.

My views are simple: If the person is not an asshat and is making an attempt at appearing non-modern, they should be welcomed. If they feel that period garb is important they will come around. It's better for that person to come around by seeing good examples then being nagged about how they're doing it "wrong".

I'm not a pirate, so why do I care? My own garb could easily be banned next I suppose. It's a rule that will - at best - accomplish it's goals only for the duration of the reign, and that makes it a wasted effort. Mostly it just feels wrong.

[ps. I'm not saying they can't do this, I'm saying it's a bad idea to go through with it.]

Comments

[devoidofthought.livejournal.com]

hahahahaha!

I can haves period-nazi persona?
Roo! You are epic fail! Full of pudding even.

[ya-inga.livejournal.com]

Actually the established interraction of the Middle East and Asian cultures with Europe throughout the middle ages readily allows for personas of many types.

[ya-inga.livejournal.com]

You make me laugh honey : )

[jamesq]

I've actually encountered that. It's exactly as irritating as you imagine.

[mommaquilter.livejournal.com]

> makes my smacking impulse itch to engage.

What'd ya have to go do that for!!!! Now I've got coffee sprayed all over the computer screen!! ROFL

[devoidofthought.livejournal.com]

I actually really want to figure out how to make period gypsy garb. Gypsies fascinate me. Also, I was totally told bedtime stories about the gypsies(cigani) coming to steal away naughty children. True story dat.

Regarding period footwear - personally, I'm not a big fan of shoes. To spend any amount of money on shoes I will rarely wear isn't worth it imho. I also have really bad ankles and need support a la stompy boots or hiking boots. Also, I have many hobbies, and I'd rather spend the extra money on my other interests.

As I've said, I think the hat thing is silly. Not everyone cares about being historically accurate. I don't, and never will. I make a quasi effort. I still can't be bothered with a persona. It just isn't something that can hold my attention.

Some people need to realize that there are people in the SCA who like the good company, the archery/fighting/rapier/A&S/whatever else I missed aspect, but also have a very active social life outside of it.

Okay fine, I think the whole SCAdian politics thing is laudable.

[ya-inga.livejournal.com]

If you are interested in period gypsies, Margareta in Borealis knows more than anyone I know. I think I still have the handout on the class she taught on period gypsies at Quad War a few years ago if you are interested.

If you'd like to hear our view on the "ban" see my reply below : )

[wendy-licious.livejournal.com]

There's no "reply below". I think LJ ate it.

[jamesq]

Inga decided to delete the comment.

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

From the mouth of Mistress Margret of Montengarde: "The middle ages end at my ankles." I am still trying to get her out to events.

My question is this, should I don this outfit? The pattern is drafted directly out of Janet Arnold, Patterns of Fashion, and is dated 1602. It's the mulberry set, done in black on black.

*sigh* Why is this never easy?

Cormac

[jamesq]

When you get your white scarf the question will no long be "Should I don this outfit", It'll be "Should I outfit this Don".

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

... and they want to get me twitted.

[jamesq]

I feel that TWIT is the highest award I could possibly aspire to.

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

Of all the things that could be nailed to the post, why this one? If it's period thing, why not pick on plastic armour, or drinking containers?

Likely a small issue in there eyes affecting so few; a small stick to encourage the greater whole? I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with this little announcement.

This is a shade of things that I hoped wouldn't happen.

[hislittlekitty.livejournal.com]

I think because its a 'far out of period' thing that's become more popular of late (due to some pop culture) and is easy to fix.

A few of the people I talked to at the event do have tri-cornered hats that they can easily remove a stitch or two from, and remove the third fold.

[mommaquilter.livejournal.com]

Are they continuing the "Pirate" thing that Owain & Wrenn started? Dunno.

I agree with you about the carrot thing - Letter of Marque for those Pirates that want to go Privateer instead may work better in the long run. It's one of those things that are going to be hard to enforce after they step down - the following Kings & Queens can continue the ban, but it's going to fizzle in the long run. Don't know if something like this has ever been tried on any other type of garb?

Could be it's because it's obviously out of period. But so are vampire teeth, Gypsy & Harem outfits (the belly bunnies look specifically), dragons, elves, etc. You don't see many of them (excluding Belly Bunnies), but they are out there. I agree with you about the pirates putting far more attempt and energy into their garb than some of us - me included. Hey, baggy Norse pants aren't period either......uh oh. lol

[jamesq]

For those who don't know (like me), what exactly was the "pirate thing" that O&W started? They didn't actually ban pirates did they?

[clarification: banning as-in we don't want pirates at our events rather then an over-the-top Pirates are baaaad, and we will subject them to mock trials and cookie-fines if they are caught plundering our lands. The former seems bad for the same reason as the tri-corner hat ban, while the latter is just good theatre]

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

Just to play devil's advocate here for a moment.

The tricorne hat, as well as the general outfit that tends to go with it, isn't just a little out of period, it is a whole hell of a lot out of period. Late seventeenth century. The cavaliers, of which I proudly play one, are out of period as well, but only slightly. We are up to 1650ish, when Chuck II lost his head. We are, as they are, either quite pretty, or quite fun, so our presence is tolerated.

We are choosing to play a game that is pre-seventeenth century. The pirates that are being portrayed are late seventeenth, early eighteenth century. It is only the inclusionary nature of the SCA that has prevented us from telling them to leave.

Realistically, it will be ignored unless you're are within the royal presence. Then you take off the hat for however long they are around. It won't inspire change in persona, or garb, all it will do is cause a number of people to grumble for a bit until the crown passes from Avacal.

Just look at the 'marked knee' rule.

Cormac

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

Hmm damn the Devil's Advocate. :)

I guess being that I keep my head in the sand about much of the higher goings on, this seemed to be out of the blue. Which is what rubbed me wrong about this.

I did catch a friend from kingdom core online last night and the discussion that ensued proved this is far from a spontaneous or new thing.

*shrug* at this point what can be said? I suppose the mandates are there.

[snooness2]

I recall, once, long ago, (when a certian Mel Gibson movie was popular,) some royal banned non-period kilts. For, I suspect, a similar reason to the banning of the tri-coner hats.

This, and much else in SCA politics, I put under the header of:

"This too shall pass." headdesk.
:)

BTW I loved the new garb you had a Quad war. It suited you very well.

[snooness2]

In the mean time here is some music on the topic.
;)
http://camelot-treasures.com/music/efenwealt/Minstrel/celtic.htm