[MR] SCA Demos

[Terry L. Neill]

>I think it would be fun to work with other history groups
>(especially those who are not doing medieval or Renaissance history) and 
>have history festival, where all fo the different groups can put on demos 
>of comabt, A&S, 'living history', and so on.


When we do demos that say "This is the SCA.  We're fun.  We're educational.  
Join us and have a blast." All well and good.  Any part of what makes us the 
SCA is not only appropriate, but welcome.

But when we do demos that say "We're living history.  See our reenactment.  
Learn about history." Then I think we need to make sure those demos ARE 
historically accurate.

SCA recruitment demos with the occational Xena-wannabe don't bug me.

But an SCA demo that purports to be Living History, with historical 
innacuracies would not only bug me, but would add very greatly to the 
reputation we already have in reenactment circles of not being historically 
accurate.  Not to mention doing a disservice to the public, and the 
organization hosting the event.

Speaking as someone who was elevated to the Order of the Laurel in part for 
my portrayal of Viking Living History and reenactment, and as the person who 
organized the Viking reenactment demonstrations at the Smithsonian last 
summer--I don't think we NEED to be 100% historically accurate when we demo 
with the purpose of promoting the SCA.  The SCA is not a reenactment group; 
although it is a group within which one can reenact. And the 
non-historically accurate facets of what happens in the SCA are fun, and 
part of our culture.

But when we do those demos where we tout the part of our culture that IS 
historical accuracy, we need to emphasise to participants that historical 
accuracy is needed at that particular demo.

Regards!

Mesterinde Anarra Karlsdottir

Dona Nobis Pachem


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