Authenticity & competitions

[Rutlands@aol.com]

Poster: Rutlands@aol.com

I think the bottom line is that authenticity can be fun, educational (for the
craftsman and others who perceive the work) and, when even remotely
accomplished, exhilarating.  If a good chunk of the joy of being scadian is
the opportunity to step out of this dismal mundane world into a fascinating
other era, then how much more joyous to do so not with pure fantasy but with
greater knowledge of how things really happened and were done in the other
era.

If competitions encourage this type of exploration, as Lady Annara pointed
out, that's great.  However, any event with competitions should also have an
open exhibit for those of us who don't need or want competition to encourage
our efforts and who like to exhibit and teach through exhibiting the projects
on which we have been toiling.  This is one way of making sure that everyone
with stuff to share will have a good opportunity to do so, and people who,
with or without justification, think they are so good that they will unfairly
sway or win competitions can still continue to edify and give pleasure to
others with their good stuff.

For those who want recognition for their efforts, competitions are not
necessarily the best way to go.  Usually they are name blind, as in no names
put by items, so only the judges know who is doing what and the rest of the
royalty, Laurels and Pearls who are seeing the strutted stuff have a lot more
trouble attaching names to accomplishments, which makes it real tough to
promote people when the orders discuss or poll people.  People running
competitions should always make sure that the name blind period is as short as
possible and that clearly written name cards, including name of home base
(barony, shire, etc.) are placed prominently by the items asap.  Names also
help people who want to commission work to know who has what skills.

Your servant,

Daniel of Rutland
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