ANST - Re: Ansteorran Academy of the Courtier

[Gail P. Taylor]

I am glad that Pug posted this clarification.  I read the first post, substituted
"feathers and doublets and big clunky boots" for the references to wode and
Vikings and newbies...and groaned.  Let me assure you that the way it sounded is
not the feelings of myself, the event organizers or anyone else whom I know who
attended this event.

Let me emphasize once more that event was extremely fun.  I believe that the
atmosphere was also quite friendly.  We actually DID have a bunch of first time
newcomers...many of those who work at the horse farm or board horses there, as
well as the owners of the farm, attended dressed up in various conglomerations of
garb and seemed to have a blast.  They took the classes, interacted with us, and
spoke excitedly about having future events at their beautiful site; I don't
believe that this would have been the case if the atmosphere had not been friendly
and upbeat.

I would like to assure everyone that most of those at the event that the
organizers and those of us who taught classes actually wished that more people had
been able to attend, no matter their age in the SCA, no matter their choice of
times/places, no matter their usual choice of SCA activities, and no matter what
they chose to wear.  I saw no snobbishness or ill will between people.

Ly. Isobel Grace Hadleigh
Cadet to Don Kazimir
Bjornsborg, Ansteorra

Pug Bainter wrote:

> [ This has been cross-posted to the RapierNet list, and I do not know if ]
> [ it will be approved for posting since I am not a member of the list.   ]
>
> Laird Erc fitzMungo and others have made comments on the RapierNet
> mailing list regarding this event. I think I need to make some polite
> observations and possible corrections. I am sure that the way some
> things were stated was not the way they were meant to be taken. Laird
> Erc's post was forwarded on to another list, where others have been
> offended by the message as it was stated, and hopefully not how it
> was meant. Unfortunately Laird Erc was not even a member of one of
> these lists and unable to defend himself appropriately from his possibly
> misunderstood posting.
>
> This event was an Academy to learn the finer parts of life - including
> those appropriate to a lady or gentleman - for the later period
> individual. It was not about excluding those people who are different
> from us in tastes for what they choose to do. Unfortunately I was not
> able to attend the event due to external forces, but the classes certainly
> did appear appealing to someone who knows little of the time period.
>
> One of the things that I think was misstated was that the companionship
> was superb because people were "correctly" dressed in late period clothing
> and none of those nasty early period, Viking or Celtic person's were
> present. I understand where one may choose to not hang around with people
> who paint themself blue, those of us from the earlier times of English
> history (late 11th century) can be quite put off by those individuals who
> are quite snobbish enough to lump us all together and look down upon us
> with disdain.
>
> As well, the assumption that the event was made better because no
> newcomers to our Society was present at the event was not meant as it
> was stated. Although I understand that those people that are just
> learning and are sometimes inconvenient to some when they are trying
> to do something quickly, these people are our future and need to be
> encouraged to learn all they can whenever they can. This is the only way
> that they will be integrated into our Society and not looked down upon
> as "newbies". Being a relative newcomer to the Society, at least in the
> groups that I am associated with, I am still learning many things about
> our Society and the time period that we are all trying to recreate.
>
> The reason I feel that these things were misstated is that I can not see
> anyone within our fair Society discouraging those people who are trying
> to expand their horizons by taking classes, especially in something that
> they wish to encourage others to partake in. These classes were not only
> for those people who are of a late period nature, but also for those
> people who wished to expand their horizons.
>
> As well, there are many events, such as Bryn Gwlad's Celtic games, that
> are of a early period nature that many people, particularly in the
> Rapier community, because of their persona development are not able to
> easily adapt to the atmosphere that is trying to be achieved. I do not
> feel that events such as this would be exceptional just because people
> did not dress in late period clothing. I feel they are exceptional
> because most people attempt to be part of the atmosphere and join in on
> the activities that are provided. In all things should we attempt to do
> our best to be part of the atmosphere that the event is trying to
> achieve while still enjoying ourselves.
>
> What I assume the good Laird Erc meant to say was something along the
> lines of:
>
>   This event was wonderful. Not only did most people make an attempt
>   to blend into the atmosphere of the event, but they were also very
>   attentive to learning the finer arts of the time period presented.
>   There was little overt discussion of things outside of the event, and
>   few people who felt awkward or out of place at the event. The classes,
>   demonstrations, and comradary made for a very enjoyable event. I hope
>   that more events will be able to achieve the atmosphere that this
>   event did, no matter where or when they are located.
>
> I hope that this is not putting too many words in to the good Laird
> Erc's mouth and that they are not inappropriate.
>
> Btw, it was HE Clarissa and Lady Tabitha who cooked the feast.
>
> In Service,
> HL Phelim Gervase
>
> --
> Phelim "Pug" Gervase  | "I want to be called. COTTONTIPS. There is something
> Barony of Bryn Gwlad  |  graceful about that lady. A young woman bursting with
> House Flaming Dog     |  vigor. She blinked at the sudden light. She writes
> pug at pug.net           |  beautiful poems. When ever shall we meet again?"
>   Note: The views do not reflect the SCA nor the Kingdom of Ansteorra.
> ============================================================================
> Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.



============================================================================
Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.