SC - Re: Judging-OT

[Gedney, Jeff]

Hi folks!!
(note my new Email address! -- my company is in the throes of merger
mania)

A point on this topic.

I have found that great artists do not necessarily make great judges,
and, conversely, great judges do not have to be great artists.
Let me broaden that statement:

To acquire the Highest Level awards in the SCA in Arts and Sciences, one
usually is forced to focus ones research and knowledge mightily. This
can also, as we have read, tend to narrow the Artist's viewpoint, until
they see nearly everything from the perspective of their specialty. (as
example, I offer the story, already given, of the Woodworking laurel who
judged a Soteltie as if it were made of wood.)  This is not to say that
this is always the case, but I have found it to be a general rule that
those who have devoted themselves to a certain way of doing things to
the "Peerage" level of expertise, tend not to be able to put that aside
and judge a piece strictly on the merits of the piece being judged, and
the work of the recreator. A Laurel who spins her own flax into linen
for garb, may unconsciously apply the judgment criteria of linen
textiles to wool, which may not be appropriate.

I am not saying that this is the case with all High Level Judges, but I
have seen this happen often enough that I think that this may be fairly
common.  

I also do not believe that an expert who does master level work has to
be the judge, always, either.
Even though I could not even dream of recreating some of the works I
have judged, I feel that I was qualified to pass judgment on them,
because I know enough about the field to recognize a masterwork, and
know how to analyze documentation. Because I have not devoted my self to
any field of endeavor, but have researched into and tried many different
things, I also have been able to see and recognize real skill in a
variety of fields. 

It is not required, in "Mundania", that only Picassos can judge
Picassos. (Or that only Rodins judge Picassos - which is more of what we
wind up doing! ) In fact, the egos involved would make such a
proposition disastrous!!
Why are WE doing such a thing? We do not have to use Laurels in each
field to judge that field.

Often all it takes is a firm grasp of the category, some practical
experience in that category, a grasp of the fundamentals of
documentation, and good sense. If you have someone like that in your
area, then you have the makings of a good judge.

Brandu



> -----Original Message-----
> From:	mermayde at juno.com [SMTP:mermayde at juno.com]
> Sent:	Friday, June 19, 1998 9:55 AM
> To:	sca-cooks at Ansteorra.ORG
> Subject:	SC - Re: Judging-OT
> 
> 
> >would the folks on this list be interested in forming a committee to 
> >come
> >up with a general set of criteria for judging culinary entries?
> >
> >elaina
> 
> Yes.  I think that would be very helpful for us, as well as for those
> in
> areas where they don't have as much expertise to draw from.  
> Mistress Christianna
> 
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