[MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two

[Carolle Cox]

Biggest problem, as I see it:  asking a person to judge something they can
honestly say they know little to nothing about.  Not really fair to either
party, but there it is.  

I'm not sure I'd agree that everyone needs to compete or display, but done
properly, those are the two best ways I know to get help from those 'ahead
of you', short, of course, of importuning a Laurel...

Gerita


Carolle Cox
Japanese Chin Rescue and Care Volunteer
www.japanesechinrescue.org
Pituitary Disease Support
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PituitaryDiseaseSupport
 
People are like stained glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun
is out, but when darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is
a light from within. -- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
 
This is a private email.  It is not to be shared or forwarded without
express written consent from Carolle Cox


-----Original Message-----
From: Oddny [mailto:ladyoddny at charter.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 6:02 PM
To: 'Carolle Cox'; atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: RE: [MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two


"Personally, I've heard comments from judges who are faced with entry topics
they know literally nothing about - they're not happy."

And imagine if you're entering a craft that very few people know ANYTHING
about, much less the level you're now trying to show. (And heaven forbid if
you present documentation that shows that there's more to the art than
originally thought, but that's a whole other rant...)

I've had comments that literally said, "This looks really nice, but I know
nothing about it, and honestly, I have no idea if this is complex, simple, a
true showing of your skills and knowledge, or just something you threw
together. But it looks really cool! Thanks for sharing!" (No lie... I think
I have this one in my filing cabinet)

One of the many reasons I rarely compete anymore... when you're one of the
very few who knows how difficult your entry is, it makes it next to
impossible for people to judge it fairly, which only makes for frustration
on your part. Better just to display and get commentary that way, than to
throw it on a hapless judge that would like very much to do a good job, but
just doesn't really have a clue about your art. :P 

All that being said, I think that everyone should either compete or
display... as long as you're sharing your work and your documentation,
you're educating us all, and that's what it's all about... not the scores at
the end of the day. :) 

Oddny

-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Carolle Cox
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:31 PM
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two


This issue comes up repeatedly in more Kingdoms than one. 

Entrants work hard on a piece (or body of work, heaven forefend), giving it
their very best application of skill and research.  Naturally, they expect
their entry to do at least fairly well.  Or, at the very least, not gather
any gratuitously nasty comments. Many people finally give up and quit
entering because it's not worth the pain of the nasty remarks, or almost
worse yet, no remarks at all from judges.  Right or wrong, people's hearts
get tied up in these projects, and then they get hurt. 

Judges, on the other hand, are volunteers like the folks at Troll or on the
field of battle.  Frequently, they're asked to judge in areas they are not
conversant with, and/or read long sets of documentation on forty different
items in less time than it takes to really read one.  Sometimes, they're
pressed into service literally at the event, and their heads just aren't
quite in it. Personally, I've heard comments from judges who are faced with
entry topics they know literally nothing about - they're not happy.  Most of
them would Like to do a good job of evaluating the entries and leave helpful
critiques.  There just isn't a reasonable way to accomplish it.  In a
perfect world, our work would be judged by someone who has studied the art
forms themselves, and can score the work accurately and then offer positive
and helpful commentary on our efforts. In real life, this is so impossible
as to be almost funny. Think about the number of judges that would be
required, and the depth of experience they'd need to have...

I'm on no one's 'side' here; just trying to achieve a balanced view of the
situation in the artisan world.  If we want to, we can take a clear picture
and use it to improve the system.  If we don't, these posts can degenerate
into some pretty unacceptable comments and name-calling.  I'd rather see the
former than the latter.

In service to the Dream, 
Gerita della Mara



-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.13/1075 - Release Date: 10/17/2007
9:38 AM

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.13/1074 - Release Date: 10/16/2007
2:14 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.13/1074 - Release Date: 10/16/2007
2:14 PM