[MR] Persona Development.... (Was something else *grin*)

[Gina Shelley]

Well, I can certainly see this. This is a valid point. 
 
I will say, though, that the other historical groups do play persona, and that they aren't criticized for it. Heck, the Civil War guys do a better job of it than we do, too. 
 
>From my own experience, the fact that we did play persona forced me to really learn even minute details about the culture I've chosen to portray. I mean, it's one thing to know history and dates and stuff, but it's quite another to demonstrate subtle cultural habits, minute things I maybe wouldn't have thought to learn about if I didn't have to actually play the personae. For instance, once Ivar put his sword down and Evita Maria accidently stepped over it. 
 
She ruined his sword for a coupld months. It was ritually contaminated, and he had to carry it around wrapped up in a cloth, thus setting the stage for much humor and schtick later down the road. I mean, I could sit there and explain all that to you, or I could show you and it would be a heck of a lot more fun. And you'd remember the yelling and accusations among all of us a lot longer than some boring speech. Truth be told, if not for role playing, cultural taboos and superstition of our culture would not be something you'd ever learn about. It was a fun way to show off our research. 
 
We had a templar harrassing us once. In the SCA, he was a sheriff. I wouldn't have found out all about templars, if not for him. He was an excellent role-player, thus inspiring me to not only ask him all about his persona, but to then go home and read all about templars in an attempt to find a fun Achilles Heel with which to get one-up on him. :-D
 
I really do think that in this drive to up our "scholastic" and "academic" cred, we've gotten pretty dry. People's persona play has been what has inspired me to learn more about other cultures in period more than anything else. It whetted my curiosity, made me thirsty to learn more about these people populating my world. 
 
Dulcy
 
> > I'll add in my own thoughts as well.> > The longer that I've been in the SCA, the more I start to think that the> 'Persona' concept starts to fall out of favor. Not only for the> reasons that Shea has indicated in her own remarks about people wanting> to explore a greater range of history.> > But in general that it starts to end up feeling much more 'Role Playing> Game' than 'Medieval/Renn Research Society'.
_________________________________________________________________
Make i'm yours.  Create a custom banner to support your cause.
http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Contribute/Default.aspx?source=TXT_TAGHM_MSN_Make_IM_Yours