SCA Arts and Sciences Competitions
Aug. 29th, 2013 05:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
storytimewithjoeAccording to the dictionary, “Criticism” may be defined as “the practice of analyzing, classifying, interpreting, or evaluating literary or other artistic works.”
Recently, there has been a lot of chat (yes…yet AGAIN!!!) about the perceived negatives of entering Caidan arts and sciences fair (although this applies to absolutely any SCA arts and sciences fair, regardless of venue, level, kingdom, or event). I have to admit, I’m really not particularly sympathetic to the complaints. I became involved in arts and sciences competitions in 1991 and I really haven’t stopped since. I’ve run them. I’ve organized them. I’ve judged them. I’ve been judged in them. I won a Caidan pentathlon. I won two Trimarian kingdom competitions. I have placed in many categories and received several equivalents to “best in show”. I’ve entered at war events. I’ve thrown systems out the window and started from scratch. I’ve served as arts and sciences officer at the shire and Baronial level, kingdom level, and interkingdom level. And I’ve judged more competitions in more venues and more kingdoms than I can even recount. I say this not as a “look at me!” moment, but simply to emphasize that I know of what I speak. And it is with that experience in mind that I want to stress something - if you are voluntarily offering yourself up to criticism – and offering your art up to be judged – you have absolutely NO business complaining when you receive just that. #CryMeARiver
Now, please note – I’m not talking about the frustration that comes from receiving a bad judging where the judges clearly screwed up. That’s another matter entirely. #TheseJudgesSuck. What I’m talking about is walking into an arts competition with the expectation of receiving a bunch of gold stars at the end, because honestly, if that is your expectation, you really are setting yourself up for failure. Why? Well, I’ll tell ya.
Arts and Sciences competitions in the SCA are set up with the trappings of competition – the premise being that he or she who does the best will “WIN”. But seriously – the trapping is just that – a trapping. (Put it into perspective – what are you actually winning? All-expense-paid-trip-to… where?) Winning isn’t important. Points aren’t important. The warm-fuzzy “Yeah me! I placed!” scrolls aren’t important. What IS important? The REAL value of a judged arts and sciences competition in the SCA is to have (ideally) qualified judges who set aside their time specifically to really critique your art and help you learn. #LearningFromHistory-FTW!
Let’s think about this for a moment. For an SCA artist who is wanting to improve, do you know how incredibly RARE and GOLDEN this opportunity is?????????????!!!!!!!!!! How many other times or places do you have the opportunity to put forward the fruits of your labor and have people really critique it? How many other times or places will you have people dedicate their time to really identify areas where you could stand to improve, and provide you with that feedback? Where else will you have this opportunity to learn? Here in Caid, we only do this once every two years (which I still believe is appalling and would fully support changing). I cannot emphasize this enough – if you are an SCA artist and truly interested in learning how to improve in whatever artform or artforms you are doing, ENTER A JUDGED ARTS AND SCIENCES FAIR! Some of the single most cathartic and useful tips that I have EVER received in terms of my arts have come directly from such judgings. I have learned about books that I didn’t know existed, or studies that have been conducted, or different techniques, or other theories on how to approach the construction, etc.
Here’s the ugly double-edged sword. In theory, an SCA participant can walk up at any point in time to a Laurel and say, “Hey, please look at my embroidered pot-holder and tell me what you think.” The fact is, more often than not, that particular laurel really is not a subject-matter expert at embroidered potholders. But even if he or she is, catching them off-guard doesn’t often behoove you, as that Master or Mistress will more often than not err to the side of polite, and simply encourage you and emphasize the positives – effectively giving you a gold star for effort. That may give you a temporary feel-good. But is it honestly helping you to learn? Then why doesn’t the Laurel tell you what you need to know? Lots of reasons. Artistic critical analysis takes time. Master or Mistress X is also enjoying his or her weekend time at an event and might very well have other things planned for the day besides spending time with your pot-holder. But time aside, more often than not when a Laurel says (no matter how politely) that your piece is really not very well executed because of reasons X, Y, and Z; the retelling of the story usually starts off with, “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! Sob, sob, sob… You’ll never guess what happened to me when I spoke to Mistress X at the last event!” I’ve heard it all before. #LaurelsAreSoMean
“But Master Guppy,” asks the timid artist with trepidation, “what about all those stories I’ve heard about an artist who busts his balls on an entry only to have it judged by judges who make rude comments and/or statements that are totally wrong?” Sadly, this does happen – probably not as often as the rumor-mill would have us believe - but it does occasionally happen. And yes, it sucks. In such cases, I would encourage the upset artist to seek out the judges later on to talk about it (after the immediate upset has passed). Maybe there was a misunderstanding? Or heck, maybe the judges didn’t understand what you were talking about? But hopefully with an exchange of information, somebody will learn something – whether it be you or the judge. But seriously, is any harm done – any REAL harm? Have you suddenly had your art ripped away? Has your talent and drive been taken from you? Should a judging really hold so much power over you that you no longer do this? I’m sorry, but that makes about as much sense to me as a fighter hanging up his armor because he received a bruise. If a fighter said, “I put on armor and walked out onto a battle field… but I didn’t expect to get hit or that it could hurt,” would that make much sense to you? Ya, me neither.
A&S competitions truly are not for everybody. The fact is, some people really ARE just that fragile and their artiste-mentalities are such that they cannot handle criticism of any kind – even if it is truly very helpful and constructive. And just as a frail person should not enter Crown Tourney as a fighter, perhaps a person with a naturally frail mentality should not enter a judged arts and sciences competition. But unless you are truly willing to admit that you are that mentally frail (and if you are, fine. Some people really are), I encourage any artist who really wants to take advantage of a learning opportunity to go ahead and enter.
If you miss this rare opportunity to learn and to grow as an artist interested in history, you have nobody to blame but yourself.
Recently, there has been a lot of chat (yes…yet AGAIN!!!) about the perceived negatives of entering Caidan arts and sciences fair (although this applies to absolutely any SCA arts and sciences fair, regardless of venue, level, kingdom, or event). I have to admit, I’m really not particularly sympathetic to the complaints. I became involved in arts and sciences competitions in 1991 and I really haven’t stopped since. I’ve run them. I’ve organized them. I’ve judged them. I’ve been judged in them. I won a Caidan pentathlon. I won two Trimarian kingdom competitions. I have placed in many categories and received several equivalents to “best in show”. I’ve entered at war events. I’ve thrown systems out the window and started from scratch. I’ve served as arts and sciences officer at the shire and Baronial level, kingdom level, and interkingdom level. And I’ve judged more competitions in more venues and more kingdoms than I can even recount. I say this not as a “look at me!” moment, but simply to emphasize that I know of what I speak. And it is with that experience in mind that I want to stress something - if you are voluntarily offering yourself up to criticism – and offering your art up to be judged – you have absolutely NO business complaining when you receive just that. #CryMeARiver
Now, please note – I’m not talking about the frustration that comes from receiving a bad judging where the judges clearly screwed up. That’s another matter entirely. #TheseJudgesSuck. What I’m talking about is walking into an arts competition with the expectation of receiving a bunch of gold stars at the end, because honestly, if that is your expectation, you really are setting yourself up for failure. Why? Well, I’ll tell ya.
Arts and Sciences competitions in the SCA are set up with the trappings of competition – the premise being that he or she who does the best will “WIN”. But seriously – the trapping is just that – a trapping. (Put it into perspective – what are you actually winning? All-expense-paid-trip-to… where?) Winning isn’t important. Points aren’t important. The warm-fuzzy “Yeah me! I placed!” scrolls aren’t important. What IS important? The REAL value of a judged arts and sciences competition in the SCA is to have (ideally) qualified judges who set aside their time specifically to really critique your art and help you learn. #LearningFromHistory-FTW!
Let’s think about this for a moment. For an SCA artist who is wanting to improve, do you know how incredibly RARE and GOLDEN this opportunity is?????????????!!!!!!!!!! How many other times or places do you have the opportunity to put forward the fruits of your labor and have people really critique it? How many other times or places will you have people dedicate their time to really identify areas where you could stand to improve, and provide you with that feedback? Where else will you have this opportunity to learn? Here in Caid, we only do this once every two years (which I still believe is appalling and would fully support changing). I cannot emphasize this enough – if you are an SCA artist and truly interested in learning how to improve in whatever artform or artforms you are doing, ENTER A JUDGED ARTS AND SCIENCES FAIR! Some of the single most cathartic and useful tips that I have EVER received in terms of my arts have come directly from such judgings. I have learned about books that I didn’t know existed, or studies that have been conducted, or different techniques, or other theories on how to approach the construction, etc.
Here’s the ugly double-edged sword. In theory, an SCA participant can walk up at any point in time to a Laurel and say, “Hey, please look at my embroidered pot-holder and tell me what you think.” The fact is, more often than not, that particular laurel really is not a subject-matter expert at embroidered potholders. But even if he or she is, catching them off-guard doesn’t often behoove you, as that Master or Mistress will more often than not err to the side of polite, and simply encourage you and emphasize the positives – effectively giving you a gold star for effort. That may give you a temporary feel-good. But is it honestly helping you to learn? Then why doesn’t the Laurel tell you what you need to know? Lots of reasons. Artistic critical analysis takes time. Master or Mistress X is also enjoying his or her weekend time at an event and might very well have other things planned for the day besides spending time with your pot-holder. But time aside, more often than not when a Laurel says (no matter how politely) that your piece is really not very well executed because of reasons X, Y, and Z; the retelling of the story usually starts off with, “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! Sob, sob, sob… You’ll never guess what happened to me when I spoke to Mistress X at the last event!” I’ve heard it all before. #LaurelsAreSoMean
“But Master Guppy,” asks the timid artist with trepidation, “what about all those stories I’ve heard about an artist who busts his balls on an entry only to have it judged by judges who make rude comments and/or statements that are totally wrong?” Sadly, this does happen – probably not as often as the rumor-mill would have us believe - but it does occasionally happen. And yes, it sucks. In such cases, I would encourage the upset artist to seek out the judges later on to talk about it (after the immediate upset has passed). Maybe there was a misunderstanding? Or heck, maybe the judges didn’t understand what you were talking about? But hopefully with an exchange of information, somebody will learn something – whether it be you or the judge. But seriously, is any harm done – any REAL harm? Have you suddenly had your art ripped away? Has your talent and drive been taken from you? Should a judging really hold so much power over you that you no longer do this? I’m sorry, but that makes about as much sense to me as a fighter hanging up his armor because he received a bruise. If a fighter said, “I put on armor and walked out onto a battle field… but I didn’t expect to get hit or that it could hurt,” would that make much sense to you? Ya, me neither.
A&S competitions truly are not for everybody. The fact is, some people really ARE just that fragile and their artiste-mentalities are such that they cannot handle criticism of any kind – even if it is truly very helpful and constructive. And just as a frail person should not enter Crown Tourney as a fighter, perhaps a person with a naturally frail mentality should not enter a judged arts and sciences competition. But unless you are truly willing to admit that you are that mentally frail (and if you are, fine. Some people really are), I encourage any artist who really wants to take advantage of a learning opportunity to go ahead and enter.
If you miss this rare opportunity to learn and to grow as an artist interested in history, you have nobody to blame but yourself.
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no subject
Date: 2013-08-30 03:40 am (UTC)The test may also help a person conclude they wish not to do this or that art-form - which is a valid test result that many people honestly don't realize. "I suck at cooking." Ok, I can either learn how or accept my cuisine incompetence and move on to something else and bribe good cooks to feed me. Does it mean I'm a horrible person? Only if my validity as a human is based on my cooking skill. And if that is the case, I'm doomed. But I can learn how to cook, if not with spectacular flair then at least with competence - if I keep working at it, and learn from better cooks than I am. Because trying to be 'best of field' at my level of cooking would be pathetic and I wouldn't learn anything.