# So I've been asked to join the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) Any Suggestions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139 "2005-01-28T17:28:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/21 "2005-01-30T06:14:57Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > If you want to know more about Elizabethan, Italian Renaissance, or High Middle Ages (14-15th century; funny hats), let me know. I’ve got a ton of links in my favorites folder I can pass along. I might be able to send along some links on food in period, too, if you like. So, what might a person need to do in order for you to pass along your links? 😃 I’m working on both 14th century garb and Italian Ren. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/22 "2005-01-30T06:39:24Z")
I’m not into Medieval or Renaissance stuff…my era is the 1920’s! I know…this is barely a century back…but for me that is old enough! I also like the 1900’s Edwardian period…does the SCA have a chapter for this? Or am I hopelessly modern for them? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/23 "2005-01-30T07:12:37Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Is SCA only for Medieval/Viking stuff? Nope. It covers pre-17th century Europe, and some cover Asia, Northern (Moorish) Africa, and Persia during the same period. In that time period, you’ve got all the years from 600 AD to 1600 AD. That includes [Byzantine](http://www.costumes.org/history/roman/1882ancientromechrist.jpg), [kimonos up the wing-wang](http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/japanese/briefhistory.html), [sixteenth-century Irish](http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish/wear.html), houpellandes [large](http://www.maisonstclaire.org/resources/skin_out/menswear/menswear_houpellandes_full.html) and [small](http://www.maisonstclaire.org/resources/skin_out/menswear/menswear_houpellandes_small.html), codpieces [large](http://thorkell.halberd.org/lorenzo/documents/sture/es4.jpg) and small\*, [gypsies](http://www.eagnet.com/edipage/areaserv/camdentor/gypsyclass.htm), [crazy German costume](http://frazzledfrau.glittersweet.com/1530.htm), [Polish garb](http://www.icbleu.org/artur/images/Zhupan037j.jpg), [Persian garb](http://www.geocities.com/louise_de_la_mare/16thcentpersianwomen.htm), and any number of [silly hats](http://www.virtue.to/articles/Index.html). I could go on and on about the diverse clothing in period. \*I couldn’t find a picture of a small codpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/24 "2005-01-30T08:11:38Z")
Sorry for the double post. **Faerie Beth** , it would take very little for me to empty my favorites folder. Very little at all. [Elizabethan Costuming Page](http://www.costume.dm.net) – Mecca for late-period. A lot of what’s in my favorite’s folder is here. The mass of portrait galleries are incredibly lovely. I’ve spent hours looking at all the portraits and taking notes. [A Festive Attyre](http://homepage.mac.com/festive_attyre/) – Italian Ren that’s drool-worthy. The webmistress’ [links page](http://homepage.mac.com/festive_attyre/links.html) covers a lot of what’s in my folder – I strongly suggest [Maestra Guiliana Salviati](http://www.sword.net/jessica/firenze/index.htm), [Genevieve’s Page](http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jthies/genvieve.html), [Realm of Venus](http://realmofvenus.renaissancewoman.net/), [Oonagh’s Own](http://oonagh.actewagl.net.au/), [Marie Chantal Cadieux](http://pages.infinit.net/cadieux3/) . . . practically anything on the links page. Marie Chantal Cadieux’s Catherine Pisan dress is especially nice. The web design on Realm of Venus and Oonagh’s Own is a little mind-boggling, though. The image galleries on Festive Attyre are excellent for research, as well. The [Great Pattern Review](http://www.gbacg.org/Patterns/index.html) is wonderful. I look at it a lot, if only to sigh at the photographs. For mailing lists, [sca\_garb](http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SCA-Garb/) on Yahoo!groups is excellent. [sca\_garb](http://www.livejournal.com/community/sca_garb/) on LiveJournal is pretty good, too, but not as active as the Yahoo!group. [MedCos](http://slumberland.org/moodle/login/index.php) is nice, but you need to register to look at the forums. The late, lamented Am I Period or Not site was affiliated with it. It’s a place to go and have your garb rated/critiqued. I thought I had more, but I’m betting they’re on the computer at home. I’m sure you’ve seen many of these before. Sorry if there’s nothing new for you, **Faerie Beth**! **ralph124c** , if you’re anywhere near San Francisco, you may want to check out [The Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild](http://www.gbacg.org/). They do a lot of activities set in recent history. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/25 "2005-01-30T17:52:25Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I’m not into Medieval or Renaissance stuff…my era is the 1920’s! I know…this is barely a century back…but for me that is old enough! > I also like the 1900’s Edwardian period…does the SCA have a chapter for this? > Or am I hopelessly modern for them? :smack: Too hopelessly modern for the SCA, sorry. But there are loads of other organizations that do do what you’re looking for. Many are listed on the [Peers.org links page](http://www.peers.org/links.html). They are more dance-oriented that the ay Area’s Costumer’s guild, but there’s a lot of overlap in the groups. There also the [Bay Area English Regency Society](http://www.baers.org/) scoll down for links to groups in other areas. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/26 "2005-01-30T18:11:56Z")
> [@Sengkelat](#): > > My minimal experience with the SCA has been entirely negative. The folks in my area seemed to mostly be arrogant jerks. They generally insisted that they knew everything, even when they didn’t know what they were talking about. I never had the urge to hang out with them, so perhaps I just didn’t meet the decent ones. Really bummed me out, too, because when I first heard of the organization it sounded like the coolest thing ever. Bummer dude. I’m sorry to hear that. [I know exactly the type of knows-everything person that you met and even described them in this old thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=297671). Whether there is a greater percentage of people like this in the SCA than at your office (for example) is an interesting debate. I hope you’ll give the SCA a try again. In my experience SCA groups do tend to have a generational gap of about 3 years, so if it’s been at least that long maybe you can check it out again. \ those are some great links, Miss Purl McKnittington. But for the rest of you, be vaguely aware that there is a part of the SCA that believes it should be European history only. Showing up as a Scotsman carrying a katana will get you mocked in some places, just as a belly-dance costume in spandex and plastic sequins will in other places. Local SCA groups also have fashions and fads; some years it’s all Vikings and other years it’s all about Normans. If the local group’s website has a picture page and everybody is wearing high Elizabethans or formal kimonos that might be a useful data point. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/27 "2005-01-30T20:31:37Z")
I’ve been involved with the SCA here in the Midrealm (about 5 states in the Midwest) for over 17 years now. I joined when I was in college, and had always dreamed about historic reenactment - I was a very creative kid. 😉 I’m kind of winding down from my involvement here because I’ve had a lot going on with my “real” life and haven’t wanted to put the time/energy into it. There’ve been a lot of good suggestions & links in this thread so far, and it can be a lot of fun. I do, however, second (or third) the suggestions to watch the political landscape before you get too involved. Each group has its own political makeup and style. I know some people in Arizona groups, though, and I can probably get you some additional contact names, if you’re interested. Feel free to email me through my registered address. What ever you do…HAVE FUN! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/28 "2005-01-30T22:14:53Z")
I was thinking of joining the SCA so I could be a hippie in the 60’s. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/29 "2005-01-31T09:31:53Z")
I read the thread title and for one brief, shining moment imagined that SCA stood for Society for Cruelty to Animals. Alas, my hopes were dashed. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/30 "2005-02-10T17:52:56Z")
I hope this thread isn’t too old for bumping, I can’t believe I missed it the first time around! > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Is SCA only for Medieval/Viking stuff? I have a Scythian persona, so that’s a big no! I know it’s been mentioned that the usual dates are 600-1750 AD but there are a lot of people who have created personas based on earlier eras. The mindset here (An Tir) is usually “if it’s documentable, go for it!” I will be attending my first [Estrella War](http://www.estrellawar.org/) next week and I’m VERY excited. I’ve been in the SCA for ten years but just never had the moola to pay for this trip. Everyone keeps telling me how great the Merchants Row is so I know where I’ll be while my hubby is fighting war scenarios. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/31 "2005-02-28T00:09:07Z")
**Phlosphr** : According to this post from a couple of years ago, you and “Mrs. Phlosphr” were involved in SCA for several years when you lived in Phoenix before. Don’t you remember? You ordered your costumes from _Randall_. You were offering advice _to_ someone who was then inquiring about membership and requirements. [In your own words](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=2702942#post2702942) In my humble opinion, it is not really our humble opinion that you want. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/32 "2005-02-28T20:53:13Z")
Zoe- it appears to me that he was claiming to be part of the “Faire” scene, not SCA. The two worlds have a lot of cross-over, but they are not the same at all. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/33 "2005-02-28T21:53:13Z")
In fact, while there is some SCA/Faire crossover, in many areas the groups are very nasty and derisive about each other. And some people in the SCA don’t talk about thier modern activities, like going to gaming or startrek conventions. Did you have a good time at Estrella, **Gulo gulo**? ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/34 "2005-03-01T00:14:36Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#): > > Did you have a good time at Estrella, **Gulo gulo**? I did! While the weather didn’t cooperate, the people and merchants made up for it. For anyone here who lives in the East Kingdom: Your King and Queen are amazingly wonderful and fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/35 "2005-03-03T11:58:24Z")
I’ve been in the SCA for almost 25 years. My experience has all been in the Southeast (and at the Pennsic War, annual 10,000+ event in Pennsylvania). You can spend as little or as much time and money on this hobby as you want. The SCA is different from most groups in the area of historical reenactment – mostly, because it isn’t reenactment so much as a large continuous costume party. More serious groups tend to concentrate on a specific time and place to examine (for example, the American Civil War reenactors), and have very strict standards for authenticity. The SCA, on the other hand, takes more of a “big tent” approach (with actual big tents), and allows people to try out anything from over a thousand years of history, with very lenient standards for authentic appearance. The SCA is fun – just don’t expect it to be a serious research group. There are members who are very devoted in researching and recreating various arts, crafts, music, etc., and also many members who just throw a t-tunic on over their jeans. Me, I just like hittin’ guys on the head. And the ladies. Oh, yes. For clothing, I’d like to recommend some good friends: [www.castlegardencreations.com](http://www.castlegardencreations.com). Excellent work. Anyway, have fun. ---
**Author:** ![poeticyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@poeticyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poeticyde)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139/36 "2005-03-03T14:30:47Z")
Hey Baldwin! Greetings from the Shire of Tir Briste, just a bit south of ya! 😃 We should have a mini-Dopefest or something at an event… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-asked-to-join-the-sca-society-for-creative-anachronism-any-suggestions/287139.md?page=1)