From: moss@cs.cmu.edu (Eliot Moss)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: William vs Bertram; authenticity
Date: 10 Jan 93 19:11:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: CRAFTY.MOSS.93Jan10141135
Reply-To: moss@cs.cmu.edu
Organization: Dept of Comp and Info Sci, Univ of Mass (Amherst)

The back and forth discussion concerning romance, fantasy, and authenticity I
find a somewhat interesting. To the extent that authenticity increases
enjoyment, I generally find it to be a good thing. For example, there have
recently been some court ceremonies in the East (Thora Sharptooth's Laurel at
Pennsic War Court, and Bertram's taking of an apprentice at Aethelmarc Twelfth
Night yesterday) that I found enhanced the romance for me. On the other hand,
I also enjoyed Ruslan's wrestling the inflated plastic alligator and the
cavalier jumping out of the big wrapped box, "schtick" that occurred as part
of the very same courts, and far from authentic. I certainly do like the
beautiful scrolls we produce for awards in the East, but am not personally
knowledgeable enough to know how authentic they tend to be in artwork or
wording (neglecting that most are in English). Thus, even though I have been a
member for over 10 years, I cannot always judge authenticity, and certainly do
not reject things on its basis. Concerning schtick, for example, my feeling is
that a certain dose of it helps make court more fun, especially a longish
court where frequently many of the awards are going for people one does not
know personally. However, too much schtick I find detracts from my enjoyment,
especially if it has in jokes which reduce its humor to the populace at large
(this seems to happen more at baronial courts in some baronies).

One area that I like to use as an example concerning authenticity is music.
Perhaps by analogy to dance (recalling the reference to Strip the Willow,
which I am not sure I've ever seen or danced :-), there is much non-period
music that the more casual SCAdian might feel enhances the romance for them,
but which is not period at all. On the other hand, much period music is not
that accessible to many who attend our events -- its conventions and style are
too removed from modern times for many to enjoy it other than in small doses
(Gregorian chant, madrigals, etc.).

If I have any conclusion or point, I think it is that it is good that we have
a mix of authentic and non-authentic things, each contributing in its own way
to enjoyment of the Society -- some by pure fun, some through romance, some
through accurate re-creation -- not that these are by any means exclusive. In
this way we offer something for everyone. As I have spent more time in the
Society not only has the "level of authenticity", at least of certain
activities, tended to increase, but my enjoyment of more authentic things has
as well. On the other hand this does NOT mean that my enjoyment of many less
authentic things has necessarily decreased. Hence, I suggest it is a good
thing if we all try to enjoy a wide range of authenticity, rather than simply
"tolerating" a lower level of authenticity because we need/want to draw new
members, encourage "newbies", etc.

Yours in service ---
--

J. Eliot B. Moss, Associate Professor	Visiting Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science		School of Computer Science
Lederle Graduate Research Center	Carnegie Mellon University
University of Massachusetts		5000 Forbes Avenue
Amherst, MA  01003			Pittsburgh, PA  15213-3891
(413) 545-4206, 545-1249 (fax)		(412) 268-6767, 681-5739 (fax)
Moss@cs.umass.edu			Moss@cs.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca