That Research Open House Thing

[hrj]

So this week I had my first complete no-show research open house. I was pretty much expecting it, given that it was the week after 12th night and the weather has been so nasty. And, after all, part of the design of the concept is that if nobody shows up, then I just get my own projects done all evening. The only difference is that I've gotten the week's housecleaning done by Tuesday, and I have to have actually gotten dressed after the post-gym shower rather than going stright to PJs and a fuzzy robe. For next month I think it's time to implement an advance "homework assignment" and do another round of rabble rousing on the e-mail lists.

But I'm starting to think that thread_walker may have been right in thinking that I'd get better response to individual focused and concentrated weekend research "events". And after chatting with her today, I've gotten re-energized on an idea I got a couple years ago: I'd like to do an all-day workshop on "let's review the source material on Viking costume from the ground up". From a selfish perspective, I'd like to go through the process for my own sake so that I can come to my own conclusions and interpretations rather than relying on the prevailing "common knowledge". (And as a motivation for actually getting around to reading up on all the source material.) But I also think it would be a useful exercise for anyone who is interested in the historic basis of Viking-era costuming to retrace the process of moving from the artifacts-on-the-ground, through the conjectures and interpretations, to the necessary compromises and filling-in-the-blanks necessary for producing an actual suit of clothes. (Realistically, this would probably involve more than one all-day workshop!) And, yes, this would satisfy the "all about me" requirement.

Comments

Oooh!

[etaine-pommier.livejournal.com]

I'd go to that. Viking isn't my period, oh no, but interpretation is dear my heart :-)

Re: Oooh!

[hrj.livejournal.com]

Ditto -- that is, it's not that I'm interested in developing a Viking persona or anything, but I'd love to work through the process of working out an interpretation of the evidence in that field.

[cellio]

That sounds like fun. I didn't know you were interested in Viking clothing.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in everything to some degree. Keep in mind that I'm very much a "one of those, and one of those, and one of those over there" costumer, especially when there are bits of surviving garments to be interpreted. Viking-era costuming is fascinating because it combines a relative wealth of archaeological evidence (relative, not absolute) with the need for a vast amount of interpretation and extrapolation, sprinkled on top with issues of modern social trends and fashions in those interpretations. And because it's become one of the "hot fashions" in the SCA (at least in those areas I move in), it's even more imperative to me that I develop my own understanding and interpretations if I dip my toes in that water.

Even if I weren't specifically interested in historic research, I'd find the SCA a deeply fascinating place for studing research methodology and the social dynamics of information transmission.