Message-Id: <199810071534.LAA09364@xkey.com>
Subject: Re: What filk *isn't* (was minstrel: Re: To All Filkers )
To: dagoura@MIT.EDU (Vanessa Layne)
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 11:34:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Greg Lindahl" <lindahl@pbm.com>
Cc: minstrel@pbm.com
In-Reply-To: <199810071517.LAA23951@cathedral-seven.mit.edu> from "Vanessa Layne" at Oct 7, 98 11:17:20 am
Content-Type: text
Content-Length: 1235      

> Ahem.  I object to the definition of "filk" as "new words to existing
> tune".  It is a definition that is obviously at odds with the popular,
> vernacular, actual *usage* of the word "filk".

That's an interesting cultural difference between the overall usage of
filk and the SCA usage of filk. I've never seen a song in the SCA
called filk which was to an original tune. And yes, I know Leslie
gives concerts at Pennsic, I've just never been to one. Perhaps I'm
just not observant enough; I certainly don't pay much attention to
filk at events.

> (This is part of why I object to people using the term "authentic" to
> mean "period".  Look: filk is authentic -- the authentic voice of the
> SCA, not the authentic voice of our period.)

Filk is also period to the 20th century, so "period" has the same flaw
that "authentic" does.

> Part of why I really don't like hearing filk at events is that the
> majority of it *is* from the outside-looking-in perspective.  That
> makes it interesting and revelent to us as people, but it's *really*
> at odds with the atmosphere. 

Heh. I never thought about it that way.

-- Gregory Blount, Isenfir, Atlantia, where about as many
events have off-site post-revels as are camping events.