[MR] Persona Development

Thu May 1 08:08:57 PDT 2008

Don't get me wrong, I understand the points about needing some commonality, such as language and the like, but like Siegfried said, at least a generality would be nice..... Would be kind of silly if most people know me as "BlackJack" a 15th century sailing master, and then I showed up in traditional samurai garb, or a great kilt, wouldn't it?

I've heard of the "Enchanted Ground" at Pennsic, where someone is supposed to be in persona? ((Never been to Pennsic, so no personal experience))

However, some of the most memorable moments I have had at feasts were due to folks being in persona... Like the 9th century viking who had never seen corn on the cob before.... You can only imagine some of the things he did with this cob of corn... **laughs**

Just me thoughts...
Cap'n "Black" Jack Flint
       Lord and Master of "The Raptor"
            Brute for Hire

----- Original Message ----
From: Steven Chang <moondragn at gmail.com>
To: Gina Shelley <paintedwheel at hotmail.com>
Cc: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2008 11:02:38 AM
Subject: Re: [MR] Persona Development

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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