Thesis
Society for Creative Anachronism: the creation of identity through symbolic interaction and dress
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
12/2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102705
Abstract
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international organization dedicated to teaching pre -17th century European history through re-enactment. The organization began in 1966 and experienced a surge in popularity that spread it across the United States and then beyond. Members of the SCA create personas of people that they would have been in their chosen time period and dress in costumes known as "garb". The process by which they create their personas involves the interaction between identity, symbolic interaction, and dress. The purpose of this study is to analyze the creation of identity through dress via socialization. The SCA currently has nearly 29,000 members world-wide. The sample for this study was restricted to those SCA members with Viking personas. An online survey using Qualtrics was developed using a mixed methods approach that covered both qualitative and quantitative data. The survey was then distributed through SCA social media sites and Kingdom Chatelaines. A total of 124 responses were collected with 118 remaining eligible. The quantitative responses were analyzed using 2015 IBM SPSS Statistics to discover descriptive statistics. The qualitative responses were coded using NVIVO 11 Pro software to determine emerging patterns and frequencies. The basic process by which SCA members learned to create personas was examined. New members underwent a period of direct and indirect socialization that influenced their developing personas through symbolic interaction. This identity was built though interactions with other members and their ability to display their persona visually through garb. The process the members undergo can be visually tracked through the quality and accuracy of the respondents' garb. Those with low levels of interaction normally rely on loaner garb before they build up the knowledge and skills necessary to create their own garb. Members who have undergone a sufficient amount of socialization donate to the loaner garb chest. This socialization process is a continuous process that members undergo as long as they are exposed to other members. Thus, identity continues to be refined and enhanced through use of garb.
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Details
- Title
- Society for Creative Anachronism
- Creators
- Kalina Marie Ebling
- Contributors
- Carol J. Salusso (Chair)Ting Chi (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Department ofMichael G Hanly (Committee Member) - Washington State University, English, Department of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Number of pages
- 100
- Identifiers
- 99900524879101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis