by Laurel A Rockefeller

Created on: August 16, 2008

When people think of the Society for Creative Anachronism, they are probably thinking of a bunch of stick jocks in armor trying to kill each other-or at least making a good show of it. Fighting, it would seem, is the heart of the SCA. And if you look at the invitation for that first tournament back in 1966 in Berkeley that started the West kingdom and consider how we choose our sovereigns, I suppose that impression makes sense.

But the SCA is so much more than that. It's grown beyond that. Yes, there are groups of SCAdians that just love to go at it and wack each other with big sticks. And yes, there are also lots of people who like to do that other sport we've unfortunately become known for: drinking and carousing at late hours (I camped with some of those at War of the Roses, much to my chagrin, this spring), who will sing songs you wish you never knew existed and REALLY HOPE your children never find out about!

But to think that THAT is the end all and be all of the SCA is to completely not know and understand the SCA, to miss the mind, heart, and soul of the SCA, the better part that has kept me involved for the last eighteen years of my life.

For despite the partying and the fighting (we have heavy fighting, fencing, archery, thrown weapons, plus fighting on horseback [equestrian]), dare I say most of the SCA really IS about research and intellectual pursuit-not just research about how armored combat and the military aspects of history was conducted either-but about the everyday arts and sciences that everyday people did.

What are the Arts and Sciences of the SCA (hereafter referred to as A&S)? The list actually could fill an entire 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper and then probably not be 100% complete. The reason: we study basically everything that people did in our 1000 year period from 600-1600. Which is why, after over 40 years, the SCA continues to expand in depth as an organization as more and more members find new topics to explore.

Traditionally, we've studied fiber arts (spinning, weaving, costuming, embroidery-anything that involves fabric or fiber), cooking, dancing, music and the performing arts, metal smithing, jewelry, and armor making, to name a few. These are arts and sciences that members of the SCA are likely to find in all kingdoms (our regional groups) and find teachers for readily.

The animal arts, by contrast, are newer and less popular, harder to find teachers for than the aforementioned arts. Though the mounted knight was clearly vital to

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