ANST - A&S - does utility count?

[Mike C. Baker]

Don Christian Doré has made an observation which
describes a state of affairs that is indeed lamentable:
the Arts have, for the most part, almost completely
obscured the Sciences in every "open" competition.
Most obvious exceptions: brewing, vintning, cooking.

With those firmly in mind, the OTHER exceptions that
come to mind are efforts such as Master Leon's bows,
HL Lodovico (formerly several other names) and his
hand-made tools, and perhaps HL Muireann's
surveying equipment.  Functional items made with
above-average attention to aesthetic, "artsy" if plain,
finishing / embellishment.

Any one of several individuals whose normal / most
common entries take the form of written documentation,
or written works created in a period style (with written
documentation) seem to receive far less positive attention.
This often appears the case even if that is not actually so,
particularly because such short shrift is permitted for
work of any substantive length.

Yes, yes, I _know_ that there is not enough time or
human resource available for judging longer creations
within the context of the average weekend event.  I am
also fully aware that there are increasing rumbles from
some sectors of the populace at large that their efforts
are being downchecked / losing points from their
total scores for reasons that do not directly relate
to the documentation & item actually presented.

(In at least one recent incident, the method of presentation
for a work of creative nature was judged instead of the
work itself.  Increasing reports are also coming in of
the display background or other peripheral factors
being taken as part of the judging instead of the
actual works being offered for consideration -- usually
to the detriment of the score, commentary, and true
worth of the item[s] in question.)

Cleverness, utility of function, and any number of
non-artistic -- "scientific" -- factors are being
overlooked, discounted, or just plain ignored.
BUT: it has always tended to be that way, under
the existing / traditional Ansteorran system.
Were it not so, we too would have long since
had a mechanism in place to fully appreciate
such things as common brick-making.

(See also: Master Robin of Gilwell tells the tale
of a king's challenge, a knight's response, and
the resultant "perfect" brick...which, given the
words of Don Doré, may need more often
re-telling, and to a more particularly chosen
audience.)

Mike C. Baker
SCA: Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri al-Amra
"Other": Kihe Blackeagle (the Dreamsinger Bard)
My opinions are my own -- who else would want them?
e-mail: kihe at ticnet.com OR kihe at rocketmail.com


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