Today's SCAdian discussion topic

[lumineaux]

During last night's insomnia, I had an idea for an article/handout/web resource/class/something on the topic of "simple things you can do to look, think and act more medievally."  The thought is that this would be a collaborative effort from many disciplines. 

What advice, insights, suggestions, etc. would you offer?

My thoughts, based on my own personal idiosyncracies:

(1)  Do the research/get help with the research and pick a period name - yes, I can probably document your D&D character's name for you with a combination of immense resources and the ability to push the rules to their limits, but you really will feel more medieval as Jane Talbot or Danyel le Breton

(2)  Buy a good CD/MP3 of period music for the time and place appropriate to your persona and listen to it often, particularly on the way to events

(3)  Try medieval foods even if they sound strange or you don't like them in modern dishes.  Unless you're allergic, one taste won't hurt.

(4)  Although I am guilty of ignoring this suggestion fairly often, get a hat, veil or headgear appropriate to your persona.  Based on artwork, medieval people almost never went bare-headed and it really does add that extra bit of "not modern" to your event experience.

(5)  Heraldry makes everything more medieval.  Wear clothes in your heraldic colors, make or buy a banner or pennon, put your badge on your stuff.

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Hate on the peasants? :-)

"Stop thinking about work".

[ursula]

You might want to set some sort of time/money parameter, to cut down on arguments about what constitutes simple. "Twenty minutes or twenty dollars", maybe?

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

Eventually I will likely do that. Right now this is brainstorming.

And then, like my "making documentation not scary" project, it will sit and marinate for 6 months before I do anything with it.

[ursula]

Ah, I wasn't sure whether you were brainstorming ideas for being more period or ideas for framing the project, if that makes sense.

Cover your hair, put your drink in a cup, silence your phone, and avoid potatoes/tomatoes/chocolate are standard suggestions here. (Obviously, there are exceptions to all of these rules, but I think they're all decent places to start.)

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

I love this idea. My personal take on it, is the persona letters I write and encourage others to do. Understanding who you are. Name your invisible friends :-)

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Greet people with "good day" or "god give ye good den" or something other than HI!
(That's the one I'm working on.)

[subdivisions.livejournal.com]

I'm very visual and also very interested in garb, and these two things can make or break the dream for me when I am looking at someone else:

1) As you said, hats and other headgear (e.g., coifs) that match the individual's persona and other garb

2) Cut of garments, including the wearing of appropriate undergarments to create the correct "line". This is a big one for me, actually way more so than the "shiny" fabrics - it is possible to make even some very modern fabrics look quite medieval if they are just cut and draped correctly and worn over the correct undergarments. Two examples: upper-class female Elizabethan typically requires corseting and farthingales to make it look right. If you aren't wearing a farthingale under your big skirted, bodiced/doubleted dress, you probably don't look period. Similarly, another thing that bugs me pretty regularly is the application of "modern" length to male Elizabethan fencing doublets - Elizabethan clothes were typically cut at the natural waist, which is much higher than we think our clothing should sit in the modern age. So many fencing doublets are cut way too long and thus don't look quite right.

[janeelliot.livejournal.com]

I cut my fencing doublets long to make sure my squishy bits have armor over them. I'd rather do that than line the upper part of my pants.

[alysten.livejournal.com]

I modify most garments that go out as armor. The biggest concession I make to modern men is where do you wear your belt. It doesn't matter the the line on a quartered cote should be at the natural waist if some person with a belt is going to wear the belt lower. Especially when the belt is white. It makes everything look off, even when the lines are correct.

[artisticphoenix.livejournal.com]

I'm currently working on always having a medieval cup/goblet with me. Yes on the hats too. I'm trying period music while I "art". Practice acts of charity and kindness. Familiarity with humors, know a few words in latin or your personna's language.

Interesting idea and exercise.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

There's a parallel discussion on G+ on this same topic too.

[dame-margarete.livejournal.com]

Use lacing that is appropriate for your time and place - cross lacing (as used on most shoes today) is not period in very many places. Ladder lacing or other forms are much more commonly seen and will help garb fit better.
Use belts that are appropriate for your time and place. The typical "SCA belt" was not widely seen in period, but it is appropriate for some times and places.
Look for period closures for garb.
As you said, do your research - it really doesn't make to find something that you can easily make more period about your garb.

Check out sites like Raymond's Quiet Press and Billy and Charlie's for broaches, cloak clasps and more.

[alysten.livejournal.com]

If you are going to sew a garment for your self, use natural fibers. Spend the dollar or 3 more per yard to get better quality material. It doesn't save you any money if you spend $2 a yard on crappy fabric for a garment you will only get a couple of wears out of.

If something sounds funny on a medieval menu, ask the cook for a "regular name" and description of a dish.