I came to this board from another board where I had just been engaged in a rancorous debate over what constituted proper documentation for historic items. Because I asserted that one painting of Jesus and Saints wasn't a good scholarly reason to recreate am item, I was put to the torch. The thread quickly deteriorated from any sort of scholarly defense of a position to throwing rocks at me because I dared to question the status quo. I stopped posting after this incedent because I knew explaining iconography to the group was like trying to explain rocket science to children - a futile waste of my time.When Jenn proposed this board, I swore the very first thing I was going to do was submit a long explaination of what proper documentation was, coupled with comments about scholarly debate having nothing to do with personal issues - "just the facts ma'am".
It's taken me a while to collect my thoughts and get them in writing, and my dissertation is to date unwritten.
Continuing to read the posts that appear here, I don't know if a thread on documentation is even necessary.... and that's a wonderful thing. 
Instead of Bob saying, "The women in the company need pins, so we just ran over to Joanne's and bought some", he goes to the MOL book and figures how to do it the medieval way.
Instead of AM saying "He's making me look bad", she says "I do it wrong, yeah for Bob who's doing it right!"
After an esoteric discussion of medieval horse breeds based on available archaeological and corrollary information, Jeff suggests Geoffrey's horse is bigger than the medieval norm. Geoffrey doesn't say "Hey sucka, you dissin' my horse?", he says, "yeah, I guess so, but he's what I have and I have to live with it".
Nikki posts a list of really cool reference books, not a single one of which was written by someone named "Mistress Obutu Kobasashi ne O'dumhille, OL, OPC, CSD, etc, etc, etc,".
Mike says "My portrayal believes in faries", AM says "is that historically correct" they discuss possibilities based on facts, and neither one gets bent out of shape.
Ironsides / Caliburnus says some brash things and we laugh like he wants us to, instead of running after him with flaming spears...although I think he wanted *that* too. 
So I guess what I'm thinking is that I don't need to advise anyone here about how to decide what's historically correct, or how to go about finding the material, or defending and interpreting the material.
Maybe someday I'll put my thoughts about what constitutes proper historical support for recreated items down in print, but the need doesn't seem as compelling as it once did. For now, I think I'll sit back and enjoy the discussions and debates, contributing and learning from my collegues. I'd also like to offer a huge "THANK YOU" to Jenn for all of her hard work in putting up this board and getting all these cool people together. It's a pleasure talking and discussing with each and every one of you.
Gwen, who is *ever* so much nicer when she's not constantly on the defensive...
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
posted 05-23-2000 12:57 PM
posted 05-25-2000 09:11 AM
