ANST - Documentation (less wordy)

[Michael Tucker]

Greetings, all:

This is the "less wordy" version of a message I just posted. For the painfully
long version, see "Re: ANST - Documentation (wordy)".

+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+--o--+

There's been MUCH discussion here these past two days, with many WONDERFUL
suggestions on how to do good documentation. But I think it boils down to this:

We might as well face it, documentation REALLY IS REQUIRED for a piece to be
fairly judged. So, let's not quibble about 5% or 10% or 20%. Just REQUIRE
documentation, and be done with it. Then, DON'T PUT A SCORE on the
documentation! Simply allow it to do it's job, to 1) demonstrate that you did
your homework, that this is an example of the times and places we study; and 2)
help the judge determine what standard to judge your piece against.

That way, judges don't fall into either of these traps:
a) Sheesh, that's ugly! Who would ever wear that? It can't be period; it looks
like something out of Flash Gordon! (Byzantine court gown, very carefully
researched and made)
b) Wow, this is lovely! Let's make it the winner! (stained glass of a schooner,
a sailing ship several hundred years out of period)

If someone wants to enter a thesis, complete with a 3-ring binder and 47 8x10
glossy photographs (with circles and arrows on the back), LET THEM. Hey, at that
point maybe they should just enter the research as a work unto itself. But don't
arbitrarily hold everyone to that standard. Like I said, just sit back and let
the documentation do it's job. Then you can concentrate on judging THE WORK,
rather than obsessing about THE RESEARCH.

There should still be a venue for artisans to show off their stuff without fear
of being harshly judged. Actually, there are several:
1) Make stuff for your own use, or give it away as prizes at events (you'll make
some autocrat either really happy <if it's good stuff> or really uncomfortable
<if not> <evil grin>).
2) Set up a table and "show" your work at a populace meeting (painters and
sculptors do this all the time). If you want feedback, put out comment cards. If
you don't, don't.
3) Sell your stuff. Let the buyer judge.
4) "Show" your work at "display only" events, like Laurel's Prize Tourney or
Tourney de Lyonesse. Again, if you want comments, invite them. If not, don't.

Opinionatedly yours <grin>,
Baron Michael Silverhands
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