Re: scope of the SCA

["H L. Falls" <hlf@holmes.acc.virginia.edu>]

Poster: "H L. Falls" <hlf@holmes.acc.virginia.edu>

 
Quoth Kat:

> Well, if everyone else is going to continue, I may as well.
 
   Yeah, I might as well chime in, too...  :-)

> One of the things that isn't mentioned much anymore (Actually, it was pretty
> well moot before I entered the SCA 9 years ago) are the ties between the SCA
> and modern fantasy fiction.  
> 
> At one time, the SCA had a lot of overlap with such-like.  Look at the
> current occupations of a lot of the founders - writing fantasy fiction.  I
> was told by a REAL long-timer in the Barony of NorthWoods that when the
> group there started out, there was well-nigh a one-to-one correspondence
> with the Tolkien fan club.  That's why every now and again, someone raises
> the spectre of the elven persona.  (Can't do it anymore, though.  Or is
> that, can't register it with the college of heralds?  I know Tibor will be
> able to help me here. :) Definitely a social taboo against it, in any case.)
 
   Well, this is sort of a case of Your Milage May Vary...  Even as far
back as AS 9 (when I first started playing) Elven personae were somewhat
frowned upon, the logic being that (as per Tolkien, who, if I understand
correctly, based his fantasy somewhat on Anglo and Norse folklore) Elves 
are rarely seen magical beings of great power.  Claiming to be an Elf was 
seen as claiming respect without earning it, somewhat like claiming to be 
a Duke without ever authorizing to fight.  The few exceptions were those
like "Morgan Elandris can't be half-elven???  Okay, *YOU* tell her!"  :-)

> Somewhere along the line, we decided to make a break with fantasy, I think
> largely in the interest of gaining respect as an organization.  IMHO, it's
> helped do that and it's been a good thing.

   In part, I agree, to gain respect as an organization.  In part, also,
I think, because the SCA has no mechanisms to simulate the fantasy aspect
(as in the example above, how do you *convincingly* portray an Elf if
there's no way to simulate magic?).  Another incident that pushed for 
the break with fantasy involved a "real-life druid" who tried to make 
himself a power.  (And, at least according to the version of the tale 
that I heard, after they tossed him out on his ear the kingdom enjoyed 
the best weather and lack of injuries ever for the next year! :-)  Also,
I (and I suspect a fair number of others) quit making up bad fantasy 
plots as we learned that actual history could be interesting without.
I suspect other factors were involved, as well...

> But if we are going to read the documents the founders and previous
> generations wrote, and try to figure out what was intended, we may want to
> remember what's between the lines.
 
   Bear in mind also that (at least as I've heard the tale) the original
incorporation of the SCA was an attempt by a small political faction to
gain (or retain) control of the Society.  Nasty politics is *not* a new
phenomenon...

> In service,
> Kat
> 
> With apologies for taking up so much of everyone's time....

   I, at least, don't think you need to apologize!  But if you do, then
I should as well -- apologies, good gentles!  :-)

--Landi Haraldsson
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