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Sep. 12th, 2010 12:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
femkes_folliesEvery time I have one idea, more seem to pop out. asagormsdottir brought up something about dressing royalty, and generally enquired about the feelings I'd had regarding contributing to a reign.
This may just be my perception, I'm not sure, but I'm going to ladle a few things out her for contemplation.
From where I've been sitting, the general requests for contributions to Royalty and their reigns has made a shift. It once was a matter of whatever you wanted to donate was happily accepted. Of late, offers of making "item X" for the Royal couple seem to be as likely to generate a response of "Great, we need 18. For Pennsic." Or even a specific item, done a specific way, etc. - and again, 18 just alike, please.
Now, I stay out of a lot of it, because I prefer to put my time into a project where I can continue to use and learn the stuff I'm interested. Which is entirely my choice. But that brings me do another bit of ponderment.
Most reigns, of late, have had a specific period to them. Therefore, Royalty has requested things in keeping with that period (specifying fabrics, colors, motifs, etc). Well and good. Increasing authenticity is to be applauded.
It does, however, have an interesting effect. There's been the odd complaint lately that this or that couple isn't getting much support. Maybe it's the couple. But maybe it's not.
Think on this: Multiple reigns in one period (or very, very similar periods) and place that emphasize doing things as close to period practice as they reasonably can does a number of things. It leaves anybody who doesn't do that period two choices: learn something new or don't contribute to this reign. After all, desires have been specified. (Before you tell me that anything would be happily accepted, I'd mention the famous line overheard: "What am I supposed to do with this shit?") Most of us have periods we're interested in. And periods we're not. It's the nature of people. That leaves you with a lot of people sort of floating off to do their own thing - since what they do isn't in demand by the Crown.
The other side of the coin is that folks who ARE interested in that period/those arts get all kinds of opportunity to do their thang and be part of the pageantry - right up until they get too burnt out to bother.
Some of it may be the large size of this Kingdom, and the general feeling that there are so many people here that somebody else will do it. Perhaps there is also a certain pressure felt by Royalty to present as polished and consistent an image as possible - giving each other set of Royalty the same gift basket, having a set number of "x" items to give out on such and such an occasion, always to be seen in a certain style of costume.
It's got a bit of a Corporate Feel to it: Sort of akin to the Mazda Gator Bowl.
Welcome, friends, to the Hanseatic League 2010 Summer Crown... or some such.
Less concern with the material image and more concern with connecting with the people is one of the attractions of smaller government - if you will. Much the way that a homemade card from your kids is much nicer than your husband stopping off at work and buying one that night, and signing their names.
Yes, it's easy to sit and armchair quarterback. But it does seem that a little time spent looking inward and a little less staring outward and wondering what others think... might be a good thing?
asagormsdottir brought up something about dressing royalty, and generally enquired about the feelings I'd had regarding contributing to a reign.This may just be my perception, I'm not sure, but I'm going to ladle a few things out her for contemplation.
From where I've been sitting, the general requests for contributions to Royalty and their reigns has made a shift. It once was a matter of whatever you wanted to donate was happily accepted. Of late, offers of making "item X" for the Royal couple seem to be as likely to generate a response of "Great, we need 18. For Pennsic." Or even a specific item, done a specific way, etc. - and again, 18 just alike, please.
Now, I stay out of a lot of it, because I prefer to put my time into a project where I can continue to use and learn the stuff I'm interested. Which is entirely my choice. But that brings me do another bit of ponderment.
Most reigns, of late, have had a specific period to them. Therefore, Royalty has requested things in keeping with that period (specifying fabrics, colors, motifs, etc). Well and good. Increasing authenticity is to be applauded.
It does, however, have an interesting effect. There's been the odd complaint lately that this or that couple isn't getting much support. Maybe it's the couple. But maybe it's not.
Think on this: Multiple reigns in one period (or very, very similar periods) and place that emphasize doing things as close to period practice as they reasonably can does a number of things. It leaves anybody who doesn't do that period two choices: learn something new or don't contribute to this reign. After all, desires have been specified. (Before you tell me that anything would be happily accepted, I'd mention the famous line overheard: "What am I supposed to do with this shit?") Most of us have periods we're interested in. And periods we're not. It's the nature of people. That leaves you with a lot of people sort of floating off to do their own thing - since what they do isn't in demand by the Crown.
The other side of the coin is that folks who ARE interested in that period/those arts get all kinds of opportunity to do their thang and be part of the pageantry - right up until they get too burnt out to bother.
Some of it may be the large size of this Kingdom, and the general feeling that there are so many people here that somebody else will do it. Perhaps there is also a certain pressure felt by Royalty to present as polished and consistent an image as possible - giving each other set of Royalty the same gift basket, having a set number of "x" items to give out on such and such an occasion, always to be seen in a certain style of costume.
It's got a bit of a Corporate Feel to it: Sort of akin to the Mazda Gator Bowl.
Welcome, friends, to the Hanseatic League 2010 Summer Crown... or some such.
Less concern with the material image and more concern with connecting with the people is one of the attractions of smaller government - if you will. Much the way that a homemade card from your kids is much nicer than your husband stopping off at work and buying one that night, and signing their names.
Yes, it's easy to sit and armchair quarterback. But it does seem that a little time spent looking inward and a little less staring outward and wondering what others think... might be a good thing?