From: whheydt@pbhya.PacBell.COM (Wilson Heydt)
Subject: Re: Subcultures in the SCA
Reply-To: whheydt@PacBell.COM (Wilson Heydt)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:13:55 GMT

In article <2801@tymix.Tymnet.COM> jschmidt@oolong.Tymnet.COM (John Schmidt) writes:
>Hail, fellow Rialtans!  John Theophilous greets you!
>
>I was priviledged this weekend in being able to attend a feast given by
>the Order of St. George, a group of people who, within the bounds of the
     ^^^^^
     Company    (It's a nit; but it is--I think--an *important* nit.)

>SCA, are creating a 14th century tourneying society.  It was a wonderful
>feast, and gave rise to three questions in my mind:
>
>What other subculture groups are forming in the SCA?  Some less formal ones
>might be the bellydance subculture, the Horde (which I am unfamiliar with),
>the tournying subculture, gypsies, the Varangian Guard (of An Tir), or
>the various pirate groups.  The only way to recognize them is that they
>are here in the SCA, differently...
>
>Are the different styles of combat leading to different cultures?  Lights,
>swishypokes, rattan rats, war junkies, megadukes, etc?  Is this good, 
>bad, not noticable?

This is a 'big tent'/'small tent' issue.

>Are these subcultures replacing local area involvement?  That is, do the
>local (insert group here) band together with other (i g h), and not stay
>in the local barony/shire/principality/kingdom?  Admittedly, that's very
>easy in the Mists where there are lots of us, but I also see it in some
>fairly far off areas.
>
>Just a point, for discussion.  

I many respects, the Pas d'Arms earlier in the day reminded me of the
Society more as it was 20 years ago.  A little spiffier.  Better
armor, but the 'closeness' was similar.  An 'everybody knows
everybody' feeling.  This is both good and bad.  The Co. of St. Geo.
is trying to avoid the problems of be a tight-knit 'elite' group.
They have, so far, achieved a degree of homogeneity.  Growth is both
the bane and boon of what they're doing.  As they grow (I suppose I
could say 'if they grow', but I think they will), that very closeness
will diffuse.  They are also using some structure and language that
will have negative connotations with a few people--however period it
may is.

Perhaps what the Society could (should?) become is a common meeting
ground of specialized groups like the Co. of St. Geo. where the
specialized groups come to show what they are doing and the
unspecialized work at a shallower, but broader level.  In part, I
think this is happening at Pennsic.  The Medieval ambience may be
shallow--and contends heavily with the fantasy (witness the
Tuchuks)--but it is the largest gathering that makes any effort at all
to create such an ambience.  Aryk and his friends tight focus on the
late 16th century (for instance) is not likely ever to gather 8000
people to a single place--so he comes to Pennsic.  Were there a late
Roman group--they, too, would fit in at nearly the other end of the
spectrum and would be equally unlikely to field armies the size seen
there.  Yet both can meet and try to dispell the late 20th century.

In a way, we have created a small piece of Poul Anderson's "Auld
Phoenix" on our weekends.

	--Hal

        Hal Ravn, Province of the Mists, West Kingdom
        Wilson H. Heydt, Jr.,  Albany, CA 94706,  510/524-8321 (home)
-- 
Hal Heydt                    |    "Boycott Time-Warner"
Analyst, Pacific*Bell        |         --J. Danforth Quayle
510-823-5447                 |    "... kill all the lawyers."
whheydt@pbhya.PacBell.COM    |         --William Shakespeare
From: Andrew.Cookson@f4229.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Andrew Cookson)
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