[Sca-cooks] SCA article in Chicago Tribune

[Martin G. Diehl]

Johnna Holloway wrote:
> 
> There was an article on the SCA in today's Sunday 
> 12/12/04 Chicago Tribune. Section 13 page 3.
> 
> QUALITIES OF LIFE SCENE is the heading. It features
> the Shire of Vanished Wood near Chicago.
> 
> Middle Age Crazy

[snip]

> By Patrick Kampert Tribune staff reporter
> Published December 12, 2004
> 
> Thwack!

[snip]

> Johnnae llyn Lewis

After reviewing the article, I see that it is not written 
in a negative way to make the SCA look bad, goofy, ... 

The tone is somewhat positive, with these statements, 

	"hobby is really all about the friendships" 

	"develop a love of history ... but it's the 
	friendships that keep them coming back" 

	"convivial bunch and personified the richness 
	of the re-enactors community" 

It even closed by giving contact information "For more 
info on the Shire of Vanished Wood, call ..." and gave 
the name and telephone number of the Event Steward.  

According to the web site for The Shire of Vanished Wood, 
the event in the article, "The Feast of All Souls; 
Carnival in Italy" took place on November 13, 2004.  

However, I was somewhat surprised by the large number of 
somewhat misleading statements in the article.  

I'm trying to list all of the points in the article that 
seemed inaccurate to me. Please let me know if you don't 
agree with these comments.  

"20-pound helmets" -- FALSE 

"most of the weapons use bendable rattan instead of more 
solid woods" -- FALSE; should have been "all of the 
weapons" since (IIRC) heavy list uses *only* rattan 

"weapons ... are covered with duct tape" -- FALSE; 
should have been, "weapons ... are wrapped in fiber tape 
and covered with duct tape" and mentioned safety 

"Daniel ... Yehoshua ben Israel, looked every bit the 
musketeer" -- true/false? (musketeers - 1700's, Cavalier) 

" ... brought their own authentic wooden tableware" 
true/false? (I have never heard anyone in the SCA make a 
claim (or provide documentation) that we consider wooden 
plates as authentic)

no mention of (volunteer) service 

no mention of research

no mention of documentation 

no mention of teaching

no mention of resources for newcomers (Chatelaine) 

no mention of creating a persona backed by research

no mention of the global membership; 18 kingdoms, ... 

no specific mention of attendees being expected to dress 
in period garb

no mention of the training needed (IIRC, 6 months) to 
become authorized as heavy weapons or light weapons 
fighters 

no mention of: safety, armor inspection, weapons 
inspection, Marshalls, Chirurgeons 

no mention of combat for "Honor and Glory" nor that the 
outcome of a combat is determined by accepting a 'good hit'

As I said above, please let me know if you don't agree with 
these comments.  

I don't know how many of you have attended Lord Alexander's 
Pennsic class on "Media Contacts with the SCA".  

One of the things he emphasizes is that we should _always_ 
have a 'press kit' (actually several copies) ready to give 
out at each event.  That way we can provide members of the 
press with accurate information.  

We know a press kit will not guarantee that every newspaper 
article written will be 100% accurate -- but it should halt 
or at least act as a speed bump to some of the wild guesses 
and misstatements.  

I am, 
Lord Vincenzo Martino Mazza, 
In Service to the Dream

-- 
Martin G. Diehl

http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=MGD

Reality: That which remains after you stop thinking about it.
  inspired by P. K. Dick