Premium Advice for Newcomers
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:19 pm
It was brought to my attention recently that Jas. Townsend has debuted a new spin-off of their catalog site, called living history persona dot com. While Townsend is, of course, focused on 'the flint-lock era' of American history, after scrolling through their first article, I was not surprised to see that the advice given there is absolutely applicable to what the MERF has always been about since the earliest days of Andy: the applying of 'reenacting' methods to Tolkien's cultures (originally focused on the Dunedain rangers of Arnor/Gondor, but having since expanded in scope to include other groups - hobbits, northmen, dwarves, &c).
I know we have some new arrivals waiting in the wings (don't be afraid to introduce yourselves!), and I thought it would be worthwhile to draw attention to Townsend's new page and the advice it gives. Their how-to-get-started stages are laid out as follows:
1: Take the Leap (to decide to pursue this hobby/sport/lifestyle)
If you’ve stumbled onto the MERF, the MERS Newsletter, or one of the facebook groups, you’re halfway there already!
2: Connect (with other folks who do this)
That’s what the MERF is for! And our maps-in-progress will help, too!
3: Choose Your Character (persona)
Note that this step comes relatively early in the progression. This is for a reason! I’ve observed that it’s very common in the reenacting community for a first-timer go straight from ‘Taking the Leap’ to ‘Taking out a loan’ to pay for all the STUFF that they think is needed and have bought. Oftentimes, once they settle in and decide on a persona, it turns out that much of that STUFF was superfluous. By picking a persona first, it helps one slow down and be more discerning in what kind of STUFF(‘kit’) one needs (whether that kit be bought or made is a whole ‘nother issue. Suffice to say that learning to craft your own kit well, using period-correct materials/methods, will boost your authenticity immeasurably).
When deciding on a character/persona to pursue, it is important that it be based on a type/class of person during a specific time (late Third Age for most of us) and place (a region of Middle-earth!). It is also highly recommended to start with something simple, common, and generic. It may not be flashy and elite, but it’s authentic. The nice thing about doing Tolkien is that we also have choice of races (Men, Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Orcs (I suppose), &c., and areas to draw from.
4. Research. (why are you running away? Come back!)
“Research and discovery are two of the things that make living history so rewarding and fun! For the avid reenactor or interpreter…research is a never-ending process. It’s what makes reenacting such an exciting journey.One reason research is so important, especially for the beginner, is that it allows one to proceed with confidence. The more research that’s gathered to support one’s persona or historical interpretation, the more confidence one portrays.â€
Researching Tolkien’s world is easier than one would think, especially since the MERWiki features the ‘Middle-earth Cultural Resource Database’ for anyone to use. This is where we have winnowed out the juicy details that make Middle-earth feel so alive. We’ve even curated the items by category, race, region, &c!
At this point, it’s worth underlining the different kinds of sources that one’s research is based on:
Primary sources are ‘first-hand’ accounts—so, those that are presented (via Tolkien’s framing device) as coming from the five volumes of the Red Book of Westmarch.
Secondary sources are those that come from other scholars who have researched, analyzed, and commented on the primary sources—things like Hammond and Scull’s Reader’s Companion, or Robert Foster’s The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.
There is a fiddly in-between category unique (I believe) to Tolkien, which let’s call primary-secondary sources. These are things like John Rateliff's History of The Hobbit and the History of Middle-Earth series, which collect JRR’s Red Book draft writings but have been edited by his son Christopher Tolkien. In some cases they may conflict with the published works; other times they may include details that didn’t make it into the published texts but do not conflict.
Tertiary sources are those which are based upon the research of primary and secondary sources; things like the MERole-playing game or LOTROnline fall into this category. These can be very useful in ‘fleshing out’ or ‘filling in the blank spots on the map’, but it should be remembered that they are largely extrapolations.
5: Build Your Outer Person (gearing up)
Now we come to the point where one should start looking towards the ‘kit’ that will be acquired to actualize the researched persona.
“Our advice to you again is to resist the urge to purchase everything you think you need. Ask your group or mentor if they may have any spare clothing or equipment you can use as you launch your historical interpretation. Once you explore the possibilities further, you may discover that there’s a different persona, activity, or even group that interests you more or is more compatible with your lifestyle.â€
6. Do it!
Once you’ve acquired (bought or crafted) your basic kit, now’s the time to start getting out there—in the fields, in the forests; do some woods-walking (or wandering!) in your kit, attend a regional moot, and never “be intimidated by the experience or knowledge of others. View them instead as resources.†Ask lots of questions!
7. Build your ‘inner person’
“Building your persona goes beyond outward appearances. As you advance in your character development and dive deeper into your research, pay attention to how the person you portray lived and what he or she did. Start asking regarding why they did what they did. Learning the mindset of an historical person is the most challenging aspect of research.â€
This is the point at which you could start focusing on the nitty-gritty details or skills of your chosen vocation—studying woodslore/bushcraft to build your knowledge and confidence and better embody a Dunedain ranger persona, for example. As I portray both a riverside Bucklander Hobbit and Beorning Man, one persona-applicable skill I’ve focused on developing has been period-appropriate boatbuilding.
8. Perfect & Polish
The great thing about this hobby/sport/lifestyle is that each and every one of us is always in a state of constant development—no matter your experience, there is always room for improvement that we may better portray a Middle-earth persona!
Townsend's page also includes a selection of some basic 'starter' personas for men and women; a M-e verion I think would be fantastic to pair with the Cultural Database and possibly somehow incorporate into the MERWiki revamp! (although I guess that's what the Complete Kits section is for)
I know we have some new arrivals waiting in the wings (don't be afraid to introduce yourselves!), and I thought it would be worthwhile to draw attention to Townsend's new page and the advice it gives. Their how-to-get-started stages are laid out as follows:
1: Take the Leap (to decide to pursue this hobby/sport/lifestyle)
If you’ve stumbled onto the MERF, the MERS Newsletter, or one of the facebook groups, you’re halfway there already!
2: Connect (with other folks who do this)
That’s what the MERF is for! And our maps-in-progress will help, too!
3: Choose Your Character (persona)
Note that this step comes relatively early in the progression. This is for a reason! I’ve observed that it’s very common in the reenacting community for a first-timer go straight from ‘Taking the Leap’ to ‘Taking out a loan’ to pay for all the STUFF that they think is needed and have bought. Oftentimes, once they settle in and decide on a persona, it turns out that much of that STUFF was superfluous. By picking a persona first, it helps one slow down and be more discerning in what kind of STUFF(‘kit’) one needs (whether that kit be bought or made is a whole ‘nother issue. Suffice to say that learning to craft your own kit well, using period-correct materials/methods, will boost your authenticity immeasurably).
When deciding on a character/persona to pursue, it is important that it be based on a type/class of person during a specific time (late Third Age for most of us) and place (a region of Middle-earth!). It is also highly recommended to start with something simple, common, and generic. It may not be flashy and elite, but it’s authentic. The nice thing about doing Tolkien is that we also have choice of races (Men, Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Orcs (I suppose), &c., and areas to draw from.
4. Research. (why are you running away? Come back!)
“Research and discovery are two of the things that make living history so rewarding and fun! For the avid reenactor or interpreter…research is a never-ending process. It’s what makes reenacting such an exciting journey.One reason research is so important, especially for the beginner, is that it allows one to proceed with confidence. The more research that’s gathered to support one’s persona or historical interpretation, the more confidence one portrays.â€
Researching Tolkien’s world is easier than one would think, especially since the MERWiki features the ‘Middle-earth Cultural Resource Database’ for anyone to use. This is where we have winnowed out the juicy details that make Middle-earth feel so alive. We’ve even curated the items by category, race, region, &c!
At this point, it’s worth underlining the different kinds of sources that one’s research is based on:
Primary sources are ‘first-hand’ accounts—so, those that are presented (via Tolkien’s framing device) as coming from the five volumes of the Red Book of Westmarch.
Secondary sources are those that come from other scholars who have researched, analyzed, and commented on the primary sources—things like Hammond and Scull’s Reader’s Companion, or Robert Foster’s The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.
There is a fiddly in-between category unique (I believe) to Tolkien, which let’s call primary-secondary sources. These are things like John Rateliff's History of The Hobbit and the History of Middle-Earth series, which collect JRR’s Red Book draft writings but have been edited by his son Christopher Tolkien. In some cases they may conflict with the published works; other times they may include details that didn’t make it into the published texts but do not conflict.
Tertiary sources are those which are based upon the research of primary and secondary sources; things like the MERole-playing game or LOTROnline fall into this category. These can be very useful in ‘fleshing out’ or ‘filling in the blank spots on the map’, but it should be remembered that they are largely extrapolations.
5: Build Your Outer Person (gearing up)
Now we come to the point where one should start looking towards the ‘kit’ that will be acquired to actualize the researched persona.
“Our advice to you again is to resist the urge to purchase everything you think you need. Ask your group or mentor if they may have any spare clothing or equipment you can use as you launch your historical interpretation. Once you explore the possibilities further, you may discover that there’s a different persona, activity, or even group that interests you more or is more compatible with your lifestyle.â€
6. Do it!
Once you’ve acquired (bought or crafted) your basic kit, now’s the time to start getting out there—in the fields, in the forests; do some woods-walking (or wandering!) in your kit, attend a regional moot, and never “be intimidated by the experience or knowledge of others. View them instead as resources.†Ask lots of questions!
7. Build your ‘inner person’
“Building your persona goes beyond outward appearances. As you advance in your character development and dive deeper into your research, pay attention to how the person you portray lived and what he or she did. Start asking regarding why they did what they did. Learning the mindset of an historical person is the most challenging aspect of research.â€
This is the point at which you could start focusing on the nitty-gritty details or skills of your chosen vocation—studying woodslore/bushcraft to build your knowledge and confidence and better embody a Dunedain ranger persona, for example. As I portray both a riverside Bucklander Hobbit and Beorning Man, one persona-applicable skill I’ve focused on developing has been period-appropriate boatbuilding.
8. Perfect & Polish
The great thing about this hobby/sport/lifestyle is that each and every one of us is always in a state of constant development—no matter your experience, there is always room for improvement that we may better portray a Middle-earth persona!
Townsend's page also includes a selection of some basic 'starter' personas for men and women; a M-e verion I think would be fantastic to pair with the Cultural Database and possibly somehow incorporate into the MERWiki revamp! (although I guess that's what the Complete Kits section is for)