SCA vs historical re-enactors (long + somewhat O/T)

• SCA vs historical re-enactors (long + somewhat O/T)
  

  

  JSFrodo

  
  

  From an earlier reply by Steve B

  It's a little bit more complicated than that (having been in both organisations.) The Sealed Knot is a very fixed period historical re-enactment society based on the English Civil War, whereas the SCA covers a much wider timeframe and battles are only put on for the members rather than charging the general public. This is probably a bit simplistic; both groups have more to them than just hitting people for fun and/or profit...!!!

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  I'm not familiar with the Sealed Knot group, but as Steve points out, there are significant differences between historical "re-enactment" groups, which generally are fairly specific about the time period they cover, and re-enact specific events, and what the SCA does, which we generally refer to as "re-creation".

  We (the SCA) do not attempt to re-create specific events or actual people, instead we aim to re-create the ambience, culture, crafts and activities of people in pre-17th century Europe. And, also as Steve pointed out, while many "re-enactors" demonstrate what they do for an audience, whether paid or not, our events are generally more participatory in nature. At an actual event we ask that everyone at least make an attempt to dress in a pre-17th century fashion, as opposed to having folks in modern clothing wandering through. However, we also do "demos" open to the general public for both educational and recruiting purposes.

  Finally, while some of the re-enactment groups run somewhat like a business, the SCA is a registered non-profit organization, and the only fees we collect are to defray the expenses of putting on the event in the first place.

  I know several people, myself included, that take part in both types of activities.

  And just to keep this somewhat on topic [grin], the SCA seems (from my observations at least) to be a haven for longhairs. I've seen a much higher percentage of longhairs at SCA activities than in any other comparably-sized gathering I've been to since I got involved.

  Jim
  or as I'm known in the Society, Lord Mathias von Oldenburg

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  • Re: SCA vs historical re-enactors (long + somewhat O/T)
    

    

    nuttidave

    
    

    Interesting stuff, we have the Sealed Knot Society over here and they tend to re-enact at events across the summer months in grounds of castles etc. We also have groups that play wargames in the local woods dressed in a similar period costume to SKS, and you're right they often have long hair and beards, in fact they sometimes give me the odd glance if I am cycling through as if to say "yer, you too could be lying face down in a muddy puddle dressed in a smock with a tin foil sword".

    I must say I do rather like the dresses that the maidens wear though, somewhere to park my bike you see :-)

    ~ Dave

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