SCA photos
One of my uber-authentic history buff friends posted a link to a photo album. I gather that one of the big SCA events (possibly coronation?) happened at the old Higgins Armory yesterday. And I'm flipping through the photos, and while a lot of them are great, a lot of them aren't.
First off, the photographer seems to sitting on the floor. So way too many of the photos are up people's noses. And show off double chins. And are just at an unflattering angle.
And then there's the number of people who, when given the chance for "professional" photos with a backdrop and decent lighting, still kept their glasses on. And all the other SCA things that I always think spoil photos, the necklaces and site tokens and belt hangings that are purely part of SCA custom and have nothing to do with actual history.
And then there's the blue eyeshadow. And modern haircuts, often with bangs. Not covered up by any sort of period hairdressing. (A polyester snood and a circlet are not my idea of a period headdress.) The woman in the viking dress posing like a supermodel, one hand on her hip, the other thrust out at a sharp angle. Wearing a Fitbit band on her wrist. The modern earrings. On men. The wildly colored nail polish. Beautiful full Tudor down to the headdress and jewels, ruined by eyeglasses and neon pink nail polish. And comments praising nail polish for adding a pop of color. *le sigh*
There ARE good photos in the bunch. Women wearing some hella nice period hats and veils. Men and women in fully-period and just lovely garb. But if this was a coronation, and these were supposed to be people's "best" garb, even in a site like the Higgins, I would have had a great deal of trouble pretending that I was at a historical event and sliding into the fantasy that they're trying to create. There were more than enough anachronisms to kick me out of my historical headspace.
I keep wanting to join the SCA, but keep bumping up against the fact that it's not the right place for me.
First off, the photographer seems to sitting on the floor. So way too many of the photos are up people's noses. And show off double chins. And are just at an unflattering angle.
And then there's the number of people who, when given the chance for "professional" photos with a backdrop and decent lighting, still kept their glasses on. And all the other SCA things that I always think spoil photos, the necklaces and site tokens and belt hangings that are purely part of SCA custom and have nothing to do with actual history.
And then there's the blue eyeshadow. And modern haircuts, often with bangs. Not covered up by any sort of period hairdressing. (A polyester snood and a circlet are not my idea of a period headdress.) The woman in the viking dress posing like a supermodel, one hand on her hip, the other thrust out at a sharp angle. Wearing a Fitbit band on her wrist. The modern earrings. On men. The wildly colored nail polish. Beautiful full Tudor down to the headdress and jewels, ruined by eyeglasses and neon pink nail polish. And comments praising nail polish for adding a pop of color. *le sigh*
There ARE good photos in the bunch. Women wearing some hella nice period hats and veils. Men and women in fully-period and just lovely garb. But if this was a coronation, and these were supposed to be people's "best" garb, even in a site like the Higgins, I would have had a great deal of trouble pretending that I was at a historical event and sliding into the fantasy that they're trying to create. There were more than enough anachronisms to kick me out of my historical headspace.
I keep wanting to join the SCA, but keep bumping up against the fact that it's not the right place for me.