[MR] Persona Development

[Steven Chang]

Not all of us are Historians or have a degree in history. What little I know
of the middle ages I've read through the years from books and articles.  My
persona slowly built over the 20+ years I've been in the SCA.

That said, I still can't quite get a Scottish brogue going, probably because
I'm Chinese and every time I try, it comes out more Chinese than Scottish
LOL.



On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 10:51 AM, Gina Shelley <paintedwheel at hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
> Blackjack, you couldn't be more right.
>
> I started in this game almost 30 year ago. Back then, we had personas. We
> were those personas the entire time we were at an event. We had histories.
> We spoke forsoothly.
>
> Let me tell you all something. It was seriously, seriously fun. Our garb
> was not as authentic. Some of our guys wore carpets and street signs for
> armor. Modern stand up comedy and conga lines were not unheard of at feasts.
>
> I have not been transported to another time and place by the SCA in over a
> decade the way I had been back in those bad old days.
>
> Why? Because if you believe you are who you say you are with enough
> conviction, you don't even NEED garb to transport yourself and those around
> you.
>
> I'm guilty of not going that extra step with my persona, too. I'm not
> blaming anyone else without taking perhaps the lion's share of blame for
> myself. I'm more guilty because I know better. Some of you, this is how the
> SCA is. As far as you know, it's always been this way. Trust me here, and
> many of the old timers will back me up on this: it hasn't always been like
> this.
>
> I had all these grand plans for the last event I was out. I was going to be
> my persona, speak forsoothly, not be shaken out of persona no matter what.
> Didn't happen. It just didn't. It's so hard to do if no one else is. It's
> hard to REMEMBER to do it, if no one else is. I'm sure that's everyone
> problem, that nobody else is.
>
> It used to be I would stay in persona even when I was alone. Now, it's the
> only time I can manage it. It's like the boundary between who I'm trying to
> be and who I am has firmed up and I am having a hard time stepping over that
> fence.
>
> So do me a favor. I'm going to be at Erasmus. I'm a Rromany transient, a
> foreign pilgrim. You might like my music, you might want to help me out in
> my travels, or you might think I'm going to make off with your kids or curse
> you with the Evil Eye. Whatever. Please treat me exactly as your persona
> might have treated me. (If that means you must behave as though you think
> I'm beneath you, so be it. I won't take offense.) You don't have to be in
> persona all weekend. Just do me this one little favor and we'll see what
> happens.
>
> Just be forwarned, I am planning on returning the favor. ;-)
>
> Dulcy
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