The old skool thread

Takeda Shingen · 01-01-13, 10:42 AM

This is a SubSim old skool thread. Yes, I find the, urbanized misspelling of school to be humorous. In any case, the General Forum (the precursor to today's General Topics) was a place where you could learn a tremendous amount of things regarding a huge amount of topics. I loved it. And so, here is my attempt to revive that tradition. I'll be posting information and links on a variety of subjects that interest me. Feel free to discuss them, and add your own.

Two rules:

1. No politics. We didn't talk politics in the old days.

2. No 'news' current events. General interest events are fine. For example, my first topic will be about mummering and the Mummers Parade, which is topical due to the date, but not 'newsworthy' in nature.

Sailor Steve · 01-01-13, 10:49 AM

From the title I thought it was going to be about "What we learned in school".

What about politics from the 5th century? That's not really politics, it's history. I know, I know, that answers my own question.

No, I don't really have an idea yet. This sounds pretty cool. Looking forward to your first subject.

Takeda Shingen · 01-01-13, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

What about politics from the 5th century? That's not really politics, it's history. I know, I know, that answers my own question.

I would love to talk some late Roman politics and practice with you, Steve. Do it!

Sailor Steve · 01-01-13, 11:06 AM

Well, the Mummer's thing is pretty cool. I had heard the word, but never bothered to look it up. Thanks for that.

Jimbuna · 01-01-13, 11:44 AM

So who's going to pick up the part of the topic that covers cross dressing?

Any takers?

I saw you...don't go looking at me like that

I had major problems fitting into the wifes dress last night

Red October1984 · 01-01-13, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

So who's going to pick up the part of the topic that covers cross dressing?

Any takers?

I saw you...don't go looking at me like that

I had major problems fitting into the wifes dress last night

Get away from me!

*Pulls a Tazer and slowly backs up*

Takeda Shingen · 01-01-13, 10:57 AM

I can't stand the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. Every New Years, the people of southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware are subject to 9 hours of coverage of sexually ambiguous cross dressing and public drunkeness. In my disdain for the event, I began to research the origins of real mummery and found, of all things, cross dressing. Why?

It was simple really. Mummery was originally an English tradition of court entertainment on feast days. The actors would dress in gaudy outfits and reenact historical or mythological events in Anglo-Saxon or Gaelic culture. For example, there was almost always a St. George that would serve as both central actor and narrator. This usually meant that there was a dragon too. No word on who played the dragon.

The thing about the rules of the stage in those days were exactly as the rules of operatic performance. Women were not permitted to be actors or singers. As such, men would have to take the part of women, although mercifully castration was not necessary as it was in opera. As such, there was nothing sexual about this cross dressing, as it was in the name of drama.

Fast forward to the New World, where the mummer tradition had taken more of a lay person role. Part of a 12 Days of Christmas celebration would be a mummer party usually hosted on the 12th night (on or about 17 January by the Julian Calendar). People would dress in gaudy outfits and meet at the house of a friend, who would attempt to guess the identity of each of the guests of the party. As such, deception was highly valued, and dressing as the oposite gender was an effective method of hiding one's identity. Women were now involved, and they would frequently dress as men. Once again, nothing sexual.

It appeared that my intended argument had fallen flat. Cross dressing was indeed a part of the mummer legacy, and there was indeed nothing sexual or impure about it. Granted, I still can't stand the Mummer's Parade, and think it is a silly tradition, but it is more faithful to it's roots than I gave it credit for.

For more reading.

The official Mummers Parade website: http://www.phillymummers.com/

An overview of the history of mummering: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Play

01-01-13, 10:42 AM	#1
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	The old skool thread This is a SubSim old skool thread. Yes, I find the, urbanized misspelling of school to be humorous. In any case, the General Forum (the precursor to today's General Topics) was a place where you could learn a tremendous amount of things regarding a huge amount of topics. I loved it. And so, here is my attempt to revive that tradition. I'll be posting information and links on a variety of subjects that interest me. Feel free to discuss them, and add your own. Two rules: 1. No politics. We didn't talk politics in the old days. 2. No 'news' current events. General interest events are fine. For example, my first topic will be about mummering and the Mummers Parade, which is topical due to the date, but not 'newsworthy' in nature.

01-01-13, 10:49 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	From the title I thought it was going to be about "What we learned in school". What about politics from the 5th century? That's not really politics, it's history. I know, I know, that answers my own question. No, I don't really have an idea yet. This sounds pretty cool. Looking forward to your first subject. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-01-13, 11:06 AM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Well, the Mummer's thing is pretty cool. I had heard the word, but never bothered to look it up. Thanks for that. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-01-13, 11:44 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	So who's going to pick up the part of the topic that covers cross dressing? Any takers? I saw you...don't go looking at me like that I had major problems fitting into the wifes dress last night __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-01-13, 10:57 AM	#7
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	I can't stand the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. Every New Years, the people of southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware are subject to 9 hours of coverage of sexually ambiguous cross dressing and public drunkeness. In my disdain for the event, I began to research the origins of real mummery and found, of all things, cross dressing. Why? It was simple really. Mummery was originally an English tradition of court entertainment on feast days. The actors would dress in gaudy outfits and reenact historical or mythological events in Anglo-Saxon or Gaelic culture. For example, there was almost always a St. George that would serve as both central actor and narrator. This usually meant that there was a dragon too. No word on who played the dragon. The thing about the rules of the stage in those days were exactly as the rules of operatic performance. Women were not permitted to be actors or singers. As such, men would have to take the part of women, although mercifully castration was not necessary as it was in opera. As such, there was nothing sexual about this cross dressing, as it was in the name of drama. Fast forward to the New World, where the mummer tradition had taken more of a lay person role. Part of a 12 Days of Christmas celebration would be a mummer party usually hosted on the 12th night (on or about 17 January by the Julian Calendar). People would dress in gaudy outfits and meet at the house of a friend, who would attempt to guess the identity of each of the guests of the party. As such, deception was highly valued, and dressing as the oposite gender was an effective method of hiding one's identity. Women were now involved, and they would frequently dress as men. Once again, nothing sexual. It appeared that my intended argument had fallen flat. Cross dressing was indeed a part of the mummer legacy, and there was indeed nothing sexual or impure about it. Granted, I still can't stand the Mummer's Parade, and think it is a silly tradition, but it is more faithful to it's roots than I gave it credit for. For more reading. The official Mummers Parade website: http://www.phillymummers.com/ An overview of the history of mummering: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Play