Persona-Build-art - 2/24/99
"Building A Persona" by Pamela Hewitt, the Harper.
NOTE: See also the files: persona-art, persona-msg, personas-msg, names-msg, mottoes1-msg, Barbrn-Persona-art, Persona-f-Beg-art, Som-Per-Ideas-art, Vikng-Persona-wsh.
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NOTICE -
This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium.
These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author or translator.
While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.
Thank you,
Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous
stefan at florilegium.org
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First published March 1998 in the Shire of Tempio's Newsletter, "The Dream
Spinner".
Building A Persona
by Pamela Hewitt, the Harper
Building a persona can be difficult, especially when the focus of so
many events is upon what is happening on the list field. We may get so
involved with putting up our tents and surviving in the great outdoors
that we forget about our personas. I know I forget. Most of us don't
have time to do a great deal of research, so sketching out a plan to
develop your persona is a good idea. The first step is to select a
period of history that you already know something about or that you want
to know more about. Coming up with garb and a name are relatively easy,
but what then.
1) Using A Historical Person As A Focal Point: SCA guidelines indicate
that you cannot choose a historical character as your persona, but this
does not preclude your using a specific historical character as a focus
for your persona. You may have been a member of a historical
person's household. Young people were frequently sent to the houses of
noble relatives to complete their education. You might have been a
secretary or a lady-in-waiting, who provided service to the household
and received room, board, a clothing allowance and a modest gift each
year. You may wish to refer to your historical person as your
"Patron," this implies mutually rendered service or monetary support
without the subservient implications of Master or Mistress.
2) Display Your Training: Generally, a young man would have studied the
arts of war and hunting, while a young woman would have studied the
management of a large house hold. But that doesn't mean that your
persona has to be limited to gender specific tasks. You might have been
trained by A Master of Horse, Lord crusty Warrior or your Mistress
Fussalot may have taught you a great deal about herbs and brewing. You
might want to share some portion of your training with others. Remember
to avoid patronization. "My mistress was ever so much into brewing, have
you done a bit of that yourself?" You don't want to run your 3 hour
lecture on a topic, if the person you are talking to happens to have a
master's thesis in the subject. Further, don't be an Arts and Science
bore, be guided by your audiences questions and do give them an
opportunity to enter the conversation. You might learn something from
them.
3) Use Household Gossip: As a member of a historic person's household
you may have an insider's view. For example you might have found Richard
the III a sympathetic and compassionate person to members of his
household and dismiss his historical bad press as slanders. The
Countess of Shrewsbury may have been Queen Elizabeth I's
lady-in-waiting, but did she really say all those dreadful things about
her to Mary Queen of Scots. What is your persona's opinion?
4) Use Historical Gossip: Your knowledge of historical events needs
only to be very general. If you have been living out in the country ,
you won't know the latest news or court gossip. Unless you are a master
spy and a member of a spy ring, it is unlikely that you will know the
intimate details of what is going on at every court in Europe.
However, You might have a correspondent at the French or Spanish Court
who keeps you up to date on the latest news there. 5) Know Your
Geography: Locate your Historical person's holdings on a map. (The
Counties of Britain: A Tudor Atlas by John Speed, can provide period
maps.) You may want to impress people by rattling off these estates.
Studying photographs of the buildings which will allow you to brag about
the architectural wonders of these holdings. You can exclaim on the
size of a great hall or the beauty of a garden. These buildings may
have been the scene of an historic event such as a royal visit. There
may be first hand accounts in your historic person's correspondence.
Does your patron's castle command a militarily strategic position?
For example, Edinburgh Castle is built upon a huge rock mass that
commands the country side. Its use goes back as far as the Picts and
the Romans. Many castles are locate along the Rhine river. Their
primary purpose was to extort tolls from boat traffic on the river. Some
early Manor houses had military defenses such as moats as well as secret
escape routes. As a soldier you may have an interest in such things.
6) Your Personal Experiences: While a historic person can help you
focus in upon your persona's period, you can transform your personal
experiences into your persona's history with a little imagination and
ingenuity. You can also use family stories about you or your brothers
and sister's doings to create persona stories. Little boys fell out
of trees and teased their sisters as much yesterday as today. Family
pets such as puppies chewed up shoes, shredded papers and rolled in
dead things back then too. Your childhood friends can be transformed
into your persona's friends. Childhood escapades can be transformed
into persona stories.
7) Getting Into Persona: For most people, just putting on their garb
gets them into their persona. It is hard not to swagger when you strap
on a sword and dagger. But many people approach their persona as a
dramatic role and may give it dimension: A) By Using Language: Many
choose to use Shakespearian English and expressions or even Chaucerian
English to built their character. Other's may effect a French accent or
use Latin quotations. B)Using Body Language: Method actors frequently
use tricks such as jutting out a jaw to establish an character's
belligerence or raising their chin and tensing their neck muscles to
emphasis their character's anxiety. Your persona may choose to use
similar body language to communicate. How would King Henry VIII's
Assistant Captain of the Guard carry himself? Would he copy King
Henry's straddled legs hands on hips stance? Would he mumble his
commands? Would he look around to see if people were looking at him to
see how handsome he was ? Your persona can be as close to yourself or
as far away from yourself as you choose. C) By Using "A Bit OF
Business:" Have some idea of something amusing to do to draw
attention to your persona. Be prepared with appropriate and witty
comments. For example: At Lyoness a Lord posing as a physician was
carrying around a glass jar displaying "leeches" (segments of gummy
worms). These he dispensed with appropriate comments to inquiring
ladies and lords. William the Bear, disguised as a barbarian leading a
puppy said: "I found him on the road. I'm taking him home for dinner,
I'm woking the dog, etc." Having a conversation with the baboon skull
on someone staff can be fun, if a little disconcerting. It is these
sort of encounters that makes an event memorable and fun.
8) Choosing Your Garb: A glance in an art history book may very quickly
give you documentation for your garb. These may be more readily
available to you than books on the history of costuming which were
also compiled by researchers examining art works.. If you do not wish
to wear court dress, look for what people wore as ''country
clothes." Elizabethan Costuming For the Years 1550-1580 by Janet
Winter and Carolyn Savoy has a lot of practical ideas for creating
country clothing that is comfortable. Price wise this book is a lot
cheaper than most patterns and provides a whole wardrobe for both lord
and lady. You will find your reception at events improves with the
authenticity and quality of your garb. Always wash your garb in cold
water and Woolite. Treat it with respect. Your garb is one of the most
easily recognized portions of your persona.
9) Introducing Your Persona: When you have sketched out your persona,
be sure to start introducing him/her at events. Don't feel awkward
introducing yourself to people you already know, they will enjoy the
joke as much as you do. If you are trying to develop a new persona and
have a new name, always pass yourself off as your former persona's
cousin, brother, etc. "Oh, him! He's my idiot cousin from..." When
introducing your persona relate something amusing or an interesting
fact about yourself. Names such as Stephen, the Juggler are self
explanatory. Ethal, the Unready naturally brings to mind the
question:"Unready for what." Perhaps have a short story to support
your boast or explain your talent. Be brief. Be funny, if that's your
style. Having finished your piece ask your listener to introduce
himself. Allowing others to exercise their personas will make you a
popular person.
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Copyright 1998 by Pamela Hewitt, the Harper, Pamela Keightley Hughes, 3305 Pecan Drive, Temple, TX 76502-2341. e-mail: shughes at vvm.com (2 "v"s not a "w")
Permission granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided
author is credited and receives a copy.
If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in
the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also
appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being
reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.
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