I like to explore historical reenactment/recreation/re-creation/etc groups that aren't the SCA. I mean, nothing really exciting -- I just mean that I like to go to renaissance faires, mountain man rendesvouz (the ones that are open to the public), and things like The Gathering. I've also been to at least one event that was put on by Terra Norte (part of the Kingdom of Vega in the Empire of Chivalry and Steel). Of these, I had the best time with the ECS people -- due in part because we were with Better Half's very nifty cousin, but also because of the simple fact that their game was the most like our game. I've always come away feeling like the SCA is the right nerdy fun for me.
I like Ren Faires because you can just be a spectator. Sometimes it's fun to dress up and shop and watch people perform for a day rather than to be a real participant. I like watching the weirdos come out of the woodwork and get dressed up, and I like that while faires are supposed to be more time-focussed than the SCA, the focus is really just on getting silly and having fun, so no one will stop you from dressing like a faerie. I find it facinating that faire attendees can be broken down into types so consistently: pirate, generic bodice wench, the previous but sluttier, actually really well dressed, guy in a kilt, faerie/elf/other mytical spirit, guy kind of dressed like robin hood, T-shirt ninja, goth kids, "I Just Wanted to Be Naked", and the tourist. I like that people are more performative at faires, that it is a type of theater. But for me the SCA wins over faires because of all these same factors -- while I might like this for a day, it doesn't really satisfy me in the same way. I like that in the SCA there is no audience (in the words of the Prophet Cariadoc, May His Wisdom Grow Ever Greater). Even just in that we don't let you wander through if you're not in garb. You can't watch an event, you have to be a part of it. I also like that we have such a broad spectrum of places and times but that we discourage elves and such. Again, I like the silliness and freedom, but it would piss me off if that were the only way I could get my history fix. The one thing I wish the SCA would take from the faire model is the performance aspect. I like that we are all being a person rather than performing a character, but I think that some (many) aspects of the SCA could really benefit from an awareness of the fact that we really are all on stage all the time. When an activity has an audience (fighting, court) I think we would do well to be aware of that and play to it rather than against it.
Next we come to the mountain men. I like the whole frontier / mythic West thing, but... well, I won't say anything too disparaging because my exposure has been so limited. But I will always remember what Better Half said to me when we first encountered them: "These people are recreating a time when men were men and women didn't speak." I laughed and laughed and laughed. And I realized too that this is a major thing I like about the SCA -- whatever extended commentary I could make on gender in the SCA, we are remarkably egalitarian. I feel like we really offer activities that men and women can both participate in, and the "lady" activities aren't doomed to always be an afterthought.
And finally, ECS. I kind of like these guys, so much so that I considered playing with them as well as the SCA. I never really followed up on this plan, mostly because I was shy, but also because I realized that, while their culture is similar to ours, and the live steel!!! is pretty awesome, their A&S level was just not the same. I didn't feel like I would have the same opportunities with them to really explore stuff, and to have a support system in place. A lot of this is just that they are smaller than we are. But I also think that the SCA is able to attract and keep some incredibly high-level researchers and artisans, and I really like that.
I have never been to an event put on by a group more serious about authenticity. I think I would like to at least see one. But I've read a lot about some of the many very serious groups in England, and while that level of authenticity appeals to me, it also honestly scares me. I don't think I could ever be that good. I would really like to see a greater push toward authenticity in the SCA, but I actually am very pleased with the line we walk between authenticity and accessability.
So I guess the point of all of this is that I might get frustrated with the SCA but at the end of the day I've finally gained some perspective on why we do things the way we do them -- and our way works for me.
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