[MR] What the heck...Why be a judge?

[Jewel]

From: "Terri Morgan" 
Subject: [MR] What the heck... Why be a judge?

Why should we judge A&S?

No, I'm serious.

I have been told since I became a member of the Order of the Pearl that it is my responsibility as a Pearl (and now as a Laurel) to judge Arts and
Sciences when asked, especially if there are entries in my field of study.
And for the most part, I have done so.

I have only ever entered *one* competition, a small local one in Sacred
Stone (very, very long ago. Rocks were soft and mud was a new idea back then) and the judges comments and scores were so hilarious that I never did it again. Instead, I put items on display in the hopes of intriguing and teaching folks who'd look at them. That was fun. Doing things in the SCA is supposed to be fun, right?

So what, I ask, is fun about judging? It is un-rewarded, un-acknowledged,
and for the most part, the biggest source of guilt and negative association for the judges of all their SCA activities. Experts in any craft field can count on having to stop whatever they are doing at any given event and spend hours filling out forms and trying to find a way to leave meaningful commentary that will inspire and delight the competitor, because to do anything less is to be... evil. Mean. The Person Who Kept The Competitor From Ever Doing Their Craft Ever Again.

You can't just say, "oh, that is lovely!" You can never hint, much less
write, "Hun, I'm glad that you tried this out, but...."

And no matter what you do, folks will post on the Merry Rose, in their
online journals, on their local lists and talk to their friends about what a
poor, terrible job the judges are doing and how they have been harmed and un-inspired by those same judges.

So I've got to ask. Maybe someone out there can tell me... why do we keep coming back for the same horrid backlash and guilt? Why *should* we, the average Artsy-fartsy kind of person, commit ourselves to supporting a system that we have never enjoyed and that does not bring us pleasure?

I'm all for displays and Artisan's Row. So having said that, how long do you think it will be before I get blasted for saying so - for "not supporting
the Arts as a Peer should"?

I give it about 5 hours - since I posted this after midnight on a workday.


Hrothny

I have another perspective to add. I have only entered two competitions myself. One was with your girdle book, Hrothny, at a baronial level ;) It won, and there were some great ideas on improving both the embroidery and girdle book design. And another was a scribal competition. It didn't win (I think a lot of that had to do with it being a black scroll competition, and mine didn't have calligraphy on it yet), but there were some fabulous ideas on how to make the scroll more appealing to a modern eye as well as some comments on technique. 

I have not had a bad experience in a competition yet, BUT that's because I don't enter anything else I'm absolutely sure it is my very best work. For example, I had a scroll at Coronation that everyone commented was very nice. But it wasn't finished, and it isn't yet 'my best work'. It requires some extra work to make it that. So, I put it on display, so people could see it and see the process I'm using for it.

>From that perspective, the problem I would see if many people do as I do and enter only their 'very best', people are sensitive about this stuff! This is the very best they can do; they've tried everything they can to get it just right.

What I've seen that worked in comments about items that could use some work is suggestions on how to do so, like 'Try this stitch instead of that one' or 'Have you ever tried cochineal for that purple? It's not hard to use and creates a very pretty purple more vibrant than modern dyes'. And even adding your name and offering your assistance as an experienced crafstperson (this is one place where being experienced in the field really helps the judge) in their exploration of new things, perhaps with a handout or a note about a class you plan to teach.

I've never judged, but I'm no expert on any arts or sciences yet, so I don't think I should judge. But that's my two cents from the perspective of someone who gives competition pieces her all.


Vivats the Dream,
Julienne fille Gaspard, mka Jewel
Scribe of Atlantia

       
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