A personal epiphany regarding Ducal Prize
Sep. 1st, 2009 09:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
callistotoniThe SCA/WK is a big tent. There room under this tent for folks who, like me and a lot of my friends, want to explore the "living history" aspects of the middle ages and renaissance. Ducal Prize and it's activites are -- I think I can safely say this -- not this crowd's cup of tea.
There is also room for folks who want to have fun in less historically-based ways. People who enjoy filk. People who just like to wear the pretty dress or T-tunic or whatever and have a good time with their friends. People who are more focused on the SCA and it's organizaton/culture than history (hard to articulate this idea -- sorry!)
Both ways of enjoying and participating in the SCA are legitimate. So, while Salons and the PPF are my cup of tea, Ducal Prize is the cup of tea for the folks that fall into the second group. Therefore, since I expect a certain amount of understanding and respect from the second group while I pursue those events that I like, I need to extend that same respect and understanding to the people that enjoy events like Ducal Prize.
Something to consider...
There is also room for folks who want to have fun in less historically-based ways. People who enjoy filk. People who just like to wear the pretty dress or T-tunic or whatever and have a good time with their friends. People who are more focused on the SCA and it's organizaton/culture than history (hard to articulate this idea -- sorry!)
Both ways of enjoying and participating in the SCA are legitimate. So, while Salons and the PPF are my cup of tea, Ducal Prize is the cup of tea for the folks that fall into the second group. Therefore, since I expect a certain amount of understanding and respect from the second group while I pursue those events that I like, I need to extend that same respect and understanding to the people that enjoy events like Ducal Prize.
Something to consider...
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:25 am (UTC)However, I do think that just as we PPFers wouldn't require the Ducal-going-types to attend our arts fetes and salons if they're not interested in them, we shouldn't have to be summoned to Ducal if we would normally avoid it. Respect & understanding are wonderful, but they need to go both ways! There's room for all of us in this game, but not so much if we try to pull/push people into spaces where they're not comfortable...
And now I should probably go back to studying. :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 06:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:29 am (UTC)I feel that the SCA is totally big enough for both ideals. People just have to be polite to each other. We're (in theory) a group based on Chivalry and Virtues. But I've seen MANY people who like to talk a big game not actually able to swing the bat.
There are those who are exemplary (you come to mind, as well as Etaine & Janos) in trying to uphold the Virtues and History. And that totally rocks!
I think the reason that I've always enjoyed Ducal Prize is because it's supposed to be silly. It basically makes fun of its self, which I love. I especially love it because it's only once a year. :-)
To be perfectly honest, most of the time "bardic" makes me cringe and run away. That includes wonderful period music as well as filk. Probably stems from being tortured with "bardics" in my early SCA years... I know that many people enjoy them, and that's wonderful. Just not my cup of tea. ;-) However, I really enjoy the silliness of the Ducal Filk competition. Hearing your friends come up with interesting, sometimes thought provoking, sometimes scandalous lyrics is great fun. Of course, as soon as that part of the "bardic" is over, I run for the hills!
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 08:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 12:51 pm (UTC)It's that 'captive audience' feeling I get in "bardics" that I don't enjoy...
Oh! BTW, I have your Lurky. I'll bring him to Crown for you!
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 06:09 pm (UTC)I like Oerthan Bardics, but I tend to avoid Central Kingdom Bardics
Date: 2009-09-03 02:00 pm (UTC)Re: I like Oerthan Bardics, but I tend to avoid Central Kingdom Bardics
Date: 2009-09-03 07:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 06:14 pm (UTC)It's funny, I always felt way more like I was holding a captive audience as a court bard than I did singing at a bardic...I think it is because as a court bard, your presentation is part of the show, and some people might just be there for the awards, or whatever. Bardics , I figure the majority of people there want to be, or can wander off.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 06:00 am (UTC)Do you like your tea green or black?
Date: 2009-09-02 05:54 am (UTC)I've successfully managed to avoid DP since moving out here. It's not what I come to the SCA for. What I come to the SCA for is not what a lot of other people come to it for. It is what it is.
Very true!
Date: 2009-09-02 01:43 pm (UTC)While I'm glad every feast does not have to be the PPF, I'm sorry I missed it and look forward to the next one.
I'm glad that Crown isn't run as a series of Shasta Melees but I still like watching them.
I like the fact that there is a chance for fighters to go out and fight hard and win without taking on a year long commitment to represent some place, without being expected to run the tournement the next year (or even to return for it), and without feeling like they are taking away glory from some local guy/gal (and the consort) to whom it would mean more.
I like that my personal pavillion continues to improve one piece at a time, but I'm glad that there is a place for pop-ups and air-mattresses too. The driving barn I used to show in had been playing the material culture game for a long time. When we accessorized a vehicle it was "tricked out" - Stick basket with antique sticks, antique jointed spare whip on a reproduction whip board, antique dash board clock (always set to the correct time), ...and the list goes on. We always made important distinctions to newbies to the driving game. 1) This collection represented (at the time) 20 years worth of collecting. It has only gotten more extensive over the past 15 years. 2) All of our accessories can be beaten in a turnout class with a simple turnout (meadowbrook and single horse) that does everything right.
Ah and for romance and whimsy, I most say that for me neither Ducal nor PPF fulfills this need. None the less, both give me a framework and skills to persue my personal ideals in other venues.
Re: Very true!
Date: 2009-09-02 02:48 pm (UTC)Re: Very true!
Date: 2009-09-02 03:07 pm (UTC)Re: Very true!
Date: 2009-09-02 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 01:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 02:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 06:45 pm (UTC)It is a fundraiser, and it's not proud, but it can be fun, if you want it to be. Anything to make a buck for land in our time.
Hopefully in the not too distant future we will have a piece of land to develop into an event site that will be appropriate for both the most perfectly researched high theory event, and the A.S.(early) events that aren't as historical as others.
There should be room for everything.
Have a great weekend everyone, no matter where you find yourself.
I'll be at Ducal, and I'm cooking the next PPF.
Cheers,
Flidais