SC - Re: bird or bay

[Philip & Susan Troy]

Michael F. Gunter wrote:
> 
> >
> > I fully agree provided the only cooking the individual has done is
> > feast. IF they participate in arts and sciences then an arts and science
> > award is appropriate.
> >
> > meadhbh
> 
> Forgive me, good Mistress, but I feel I must disagree. Yes, if someone just
> cooks good meals for large groups but the meals are brisket, corn, potatoes,
> and jello. Then a Pelican would be more acceptable than a Laurel.  But I have
> never felt that what I do is a service.  I feel that, even when I made
> "period-ish" food for a group that my cooking was still "art".

Certainly it is true that there is an art to even the most basic
cookery. Possibly the way to think about drawing the line between arts
and service achievement is to consider whether or not we have a)
expedited the achievement of the goals of the society, and b) practiced
an art in a manner that is in some way related to a medieval art or
craft, so that it had a positive impact on the people around us, and
even set an example to others to go and do likewise.

I can see circumstances where a fine meal of less than perfect period
authenticity could still provide good cheer for many gentles. We are
supposed to be in persona, and the problem I have always had with
inauthenticity in general is in trying to gauge the effect of some
unfamiliar intrusion on my persona. I think that if grilled steak and a
baked potato were put in front of me, I would have to show at least a
token unfamiliarity with that strange brown lump next to that barbaric
hunk of meat. For some that would simply mean leaving persona, which
more or less spoils the game for many. I think that I wouldn't have too
serious a problem with that myself, but there are many for whom it would
be a problem.
> 
> I have never entered an A&S with food because I have never felt the need to. My
> A&S entry is expirienced by 300 gentles and the commentary is usually direct.
> I am honored with awards for A&S for cookery, not service.

I certainly sympathize. I have entered one A&S competition, with entries
in cooking and brewing, and one other brewing competition. Veni, Vidi,
Vici (Close enough!). The fact is, though, that there's so much
competition and stress in my everyday life that I prefer to be more
relaxed on the weekends, and I really feel that I have nothing to prove
in competition that isn't already well demonstrated in feasts.
> 
> My work with food is an art and my feasts I hope to be exalted displays of art,
> if my art benefits and improves an event then so much the better.  If a weaver
> works for a year creating a huge tapestry of the kingdom's arms, should that
> weaver then recieve a service award?  I think that it is the intent and content
> of the gift to the SCA which should be judged.

Sure. If, instead of weaving that tapestry, the person had, say, created
a searchable database in Excel of every Society member's interests,
areas of special research, names, and persona, I would consider that a
service award. If, on the other hand, someone wrote out, on vellum or
parchment, illuminated and bound, in a period fashion, a sort of
Domesday book for the SCA, then I would most likely have to consider it
an arts achievement, or possibly both art and service.

Certainly the idea that feasts in general are more a service than an art
form is a problem because it seems to devalue any artistic achievement.
Serve two, and it's an art. Serve five hundred the same thing, and it's
a service. The fact is that it's hard to draw the line in many cases.
I'm not accusing anyone on this list of harboring such ideas, BTW, but
it is out there. Recently an attempt to form an East Kingdom Cook's
Guild failed miserably because the folks who were present at the meeting
could not reach an agreement as to whether the function of a cooks'
guild was to teach and promote the art of [bulk] feast cookery, or to
redact recipes. I see no reason for division on this point, as I feel
that a good SCA cook should really do both, if possible. Whether such a
guild could have unofficial Ecclesiastical and Saecular Arms, devoted to
the individual pursuits, might be an interesting topic for discussion.  
> 
> Please remember that these words are from someone who never aspires to the
> Laurelate 'cause I just ain't that good.  But my feasts are gifts to the Kingdom
> of the only art I know.

I'm with you there. One question, though, Good Sir. All right, two. Was
there never a time when you felt you would never be a knight, that you
just weren't good enough? Did that stop you from getting to be that
good? When I look back at the first feast I cooked, I am a little afraid
that someone else will remember it and publicize my menu. It was a
perfectly good feast, by the standards of the time and place, but we've
all come a long way since then. Why not aspire to be a truly great cook?
Whether or not you wanted to do the Laurel thing is kind of immaterial;
you are a peer who seems to be universally respected throughout your
kingdom, and to some extent, the Society as well. Perhaps you sell your
abilities, and your dreams, short by a bit, and may also some small part
of the reason for the view of feasts as service only.

Adamantius, whose wife was instructed by the King and Queen to choose
which Kingdom-level award I would be given, and chose the arts. 
______________________________________
Phil & Susan Troy
troy at asan.com
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