[Sca-cooks] OT Authenticity Police: since we're castigating extremists anyway...

[Tara]

> Most people in the SCA would like to look as good as they possibly can.  In some
> cases, folks just don't have the skills needed to do so.  Here, one who has the
> skill could offer to help by making a couple of simple things that are period.
> Or the person may have the skill but not the knowledge...a simple offer of
> books, patterns, assistance is all that is needed here.  However, some folks
> really don't care whether what they're wearing is period.  In that case, nothing
> really can be done.

It's hard to gauge how many people really care sometimes.  I was sitting
on the steps outside Cooper's Store this Pennsic watching people go by.
By far the majority ranged from fantasy garb to very poorly made
not-very-period stuff.  Some big weekend fighting events are similar.
On the other hand, I can go to a schola or other high-brow event and see
almost nobody in fantasy clothing and only a handful in so-so stuff.
So, I go back and forth on my estimation of what percentage of the SCA
is really interested in wearing reasonably period stuff.  And I'm not
talking about all hand-sewn, linen-wool-or-silk, well researched colors
and weaves, period hand-made shoes, jewelry, headcoverings.  I mean
basically the right shapes of clothing, reasonably modest cuts, woven
(not machine knit) non-neon, un-printed, not painfully obviously
synthetic fabric, mundane shoes, boots or sandles that don't call
attention to themselves instead of
air-pump-high-top-neon-green-sneakers.  Sitting there on the steps at
Pennsic made me feel like the Incredible Hulk, like the next Ogami
bodice that I saw was going to make me turn into this roaring monster
;)  *BUT* I didn't say a word to anybody, I just sat there and kept a
straight face.

But, I do give leeway to people who are devoting great effort to some
area but may not do a great job in every art.  I know people who dress
immaculately but could care less about period food or music or learning
about the general history of the time and place for which they're
dressing.  On the other hand, I know people who devote incredible
amounts of time to reasearching food or music or other areas, but their
clothing suffers.  It's pretty hard to research and do *everything,* so
if someone wants to devote their efforts to a different area, that's
fine with me.  But, then, such people usually at least make a reasonable
effort - they dress in simple t-tunics or modern-pattern cotehardie-type
dresses, as opposed to leather bodices, machine lace chemises and
mid-calf length skirts.

-Magdalena