|
|
medieval skills. Skills include arts such as calligraphy, jewelry making,
woodworking, and costuming; craft arts such as armoring & blacksmithing;
performing arts such as medieval dancing and singing; and martial arts such as
hand-to-hand fighting and archery. Most groups host a weekly business meeting
andvarious “guild meetings” to practice these arts.
Since I joined, the organization has expanded tremendously and is now a
full fledged counter society: with its own government (a monarchy- with rulers
chosen by combat), its own economy (some members make a full-time living selling
their arts), and its own social system (a system of titles, clans, knights, and
nobles). Every member of the SCA develops an alternate persona: a medieval
character they become during events.
The combined effects are stunning. At times, I felt I’d been transported
back in time. My first SCA battle produced all the nerves, all the excitement,
all the intensity of entering a “real” battle: pounding heart and manic energy
and fear
of being “killed”.
For some, the SCA is an exercise in living history. Many members are
meticulous researchers- accomplished experts in a chosen discipline of history.
Others join the group for its unique social characteristics-- its embracement of
eccentricity.... its community and camaraderie. But for me, the SCA was an act
of jubuliant defiance: an enthusiastic refusal to surrender to tedium.
I did not, and do not, want to abandon the creative flow of childhood. I am
convinced that play.... fantasy and creativity for its own sake... is a deep and
profound human need; one we, as adults, must nurture and maintain. Play is not
an escape.... it is a celebration. Play is the essence of creativity.
We, as adults-- for the sake of our happiness and our souls, should
re-discover it.
thudded: v. hit, pounded
in unison: adv. at the same time together, in harmony
braced: v. held
giddy: adj. nervous
tendrils: n. lines, tentacles
wiry: adj. thin with muscles
clad in: v. wearing
scale: n. scale armor
strode: v. walked (confidently)
cackling: v./adj. laughing (loud
goose bumps: n. bumps on skin (caused by fear or excitement)
butt: n. bottom
rattan: n. a plant similar to bamboo
advanced: v. moved forward
adrenaline: n. a hormone, a bod chemical (released by fear or
excitement)
awe: n. amazement
anachronism: n. something out of place in time/history (doesn’t belong to
that time period)
oddballs: n. strange people
medieval: adj. middle ages peri
strap on: v. put on, wear
outlandish: adj. dramatic, fun & creative
hyper-intelligent: adj. very sma
geeks: idiom. smart uncool peo
hammish: adj. too dramatic
buffs: n. people who like something, fans
misfits: n. people who don’t fit i with normal society
to succumb: v. to be beaten by, surrender to
drudgery: n. boring work
affair: n. experience, event
revolves around: v. focuses on
centerpiece: n. most important part
implies: v. says indirectly, suggests
patchwork: n. a loose collection
guild: n. a trade group, a union
full-fledged: n. complete, total
counter-society: n. alternative society, alternative culture
monarchy: n. a government ruled by a king or queen
clans: n. large extended families, tribes
persona: n. personality, character
stunning: adj. amazing
nerves: n. nervous feeling
intensity: n. power
manic: adj. super-energetic
meticulous: adj. very careful
accomplished: adj. successful
embracement: n. acceptance
eccentricity: n. weirdness (harmless strangeness)
camaraderie: n. friendship, feelings of friendship
jubuliant: adj. very happy
defiance: n. rebellion, disobedience
tedium: n. boredom
abandon: v. leave, neglect
for its own sake: idiom. for enjoyment only
profound: adj. very important, very meaningful
nurture: v. take care of, help grow
essence: n. central part, most important part |
|
发表于 2016-7-13 22:54:30