Seeking topics for SCA 201

[jducoeur]

As part of Carolingia's upcoming Novice Schola, I'm planning on teaching a new class called "SCA 201". We've had "SCA 101" for a while -- that's an introduction to the Society, aimed primarily at the true novice, giving useful information for getting up and running. This is a little different. The target audience here is people who have been around for a year or three and have their feet under them. It is intended to get into a bit more detail about life in the SCA, and how to survive and thrive within it.

To that end, I'm seeking ideas for topics. Any and all ideas will be considered, but I'm especially looking for ideas from the people who *have* been in for 1-5 years. What questions have you had in the back of your mind for a while? What would have been useful for you to know about, that you learned only through painful experience? This class has a very broad remit -- the primary constraint is that it about SCA culture, *not* about history. Don't be shy about tossing ideas into the pot, and don't be afraid of "me, too" in this case -- if a bunch of people think a topic would be useful, that will bump it up the priority list. (Just bear in mind that I only have an hour, so I can't cover everything.)

Comments

[paquerette.livejournal.com]

This may not be as applicable in your area, but I'd want to see some stuff about households. I'm actually trying to come up with a class or two for AEthelmearc AEcademy in October and I pondered doing something about surviving in the SCA without joining a household (as I have for 5 years) or perhaps something more general about SCA politics, but I doubt I can pull it off without pissing off half of the kingdom. It's pretty widespread around here that you MUST join a household to "get anywhere" and a lot of newcomers get sucked into some pretty crappy households and fed a lot of bunk about the SCA.

I'm also thinking, a little something about the nature of fealty and chivalry (lowercase 'c'). Some stuff I've been pondering that was brought up at Pennsic. What is appropriate behaviour? Is it dishonourable for baronial officers and champions to go mercenary for the War, for example? What is the role of a landed baron/ess supposed to be? Maybe it would be interesting to talk about interkingdom anthropology about stuff like this. I have a vague idea about some things that are different in some places, but I'm always learning new things even after 5 years with a fair amount of travelling.

This is a neat idea. I'll be interested to see what you come up with. :)

[jducoeur]

This may not be as applicable in your area, but I'd want to see some stuff about households.

Actually, it's a very worthwhile idea to spend a few minutes on. Households aren't quite the hot-potato here that they are in some places, but they're a significant part of How Things Work, and the 201 class is probably a good place to talk about what they really mean.

I'm also thinking, a little something about the nature of fealty and chivalry (lowercase 'c').

Hmm. On the one hand, it's a very good topic. (Two very good topics, really.) OTOH, I think that both are probably too large to be in scope for this class. I mean, we traditionally have a "fealty thingy" once every year or three, which is an evening class/seminar/discussion just on the topic of fealty in the SCA. It's a pretty complex subject. That said, at least touching on the high points might be quite apt here. Thanks!

[tpau]

hav ewe had a fewlty thingy rescently?

[jducoeur]

No -- it occurred to me while I was replying to dreda, below, that it's been at least a few years. Probably worth doing again...

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

I want to know how to *start* a household, actually. Most of the ones around here are defunct, as far as I can tell.

[jducoeur]

I'll mention it in the class, but for your reference and in case you don't get to it: really, Ya Just Do It. Households are, at their heart, basically unregulated -- if a bunch of people say, "We're a household", then they are. There is so much variety in the concept that there aren't many expectations or requirements about how you organize it.

Within Carolingia there's the concept of the "chartered household", which is a slightly bigger deal (mostly in that it gets a Council seat), but it's basically just a higher layer. To get chartered, the household has to demonstrate that it's reasonably stable and worthwhile; at that point, they present a charter to the Baron, who signs it.

(I should note that this is mostly talking about the practical side. The *politics* of households, and how to avoid making them nasty, can be an extremely complex subject indeed. That's another good topic for a separate session, if there is interest.)

None of the households currently being called in Council are defunct, but none are really roaring along. Windsmeet and Chat Gris have effectively reduced in size due to members gafiating, Silverwing's center of gravity has shifted to Bridge, and Lochleven (which is actually huge and very healthy) has always been a rather inter-Baronial entity. There is certainly lots of room for more-active households if folks wanted them...