| Editorial
RF 004 A NOTE ON "PERIOD" Much lip service is given to the word "period" in Renaissance context. What does it really mean? Picture a Viking standing before at Faire. He is wearing what we would traditionally associate with a Viking outfit, wool pants. fur leggings wrapped with leather thongs and hide boots, a cotten shirt, perhaps a fur vest. His size and full red beard help the image, the horned helmet on his head, his waist bears a long wide belt knotted at the middle and dangling down in front. In his belt is tucked a Norman sword and he holds a great axe. Is he "period"? Well not bad really, a most imposing and impressive figure to be sure. But the horned Helmet is mostly Hollywoods's idea of a Viking, not history, the cotton? shirt easier to get than wool {and I HATE wool shirts}, the belt... well in the SCA this style of belt is the accepted norm, but historically it is a Norman sword belt and the Viking era was over before the Normans came along, so he couldn't have looted a Norman soldier to get that sword. Period means to be Historically correct If you are a Tudor era Knight, you would have at your disposal anything avaiable in your time period. If you want to portray a true persona and be credible you must pay attention to detail. Some item may even be period for your chosen time frame, but would YOU {your persona} have had it? Heaven knows there are enough Laurels and others out there that would be must happy to correct you. There are very few guilds and encampments that are truly 100% period. We are not willing to part with cell phones, coolers and coffee pots. But one can hide cover and disquise, and the general public has difficulty knowing what is or is not period in an encampment. After all isn't that why we are there? To educate? Though few Guilds expect you to be 100% period, most insist you make the attempt. Afterall why would you jion a historical re-enactment group if you didn't want to learn and try? Yes yes we KNOW the other reasons... Period correctness can be expensive, especially when your persona is of high station. So start out simple. Something affordable and then work your way up. It also take practise to be nobility. To be a King or Queen is very hard and demanding work, and you are expected to have the bearing and mannerism. {if you don't, see how fast your army turns on you} There is a lot of help out there to create period garb, furniture and other items that are inexpensive and very effective. Taking a little time to research your charater goes a long way to help being period. Oh and please, when picking a name pick something you can remember and actually pronounce! Baron Sir Zorgon
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