I have for a long time toyed with various methods of representing the
relative positions of the various groups in the greater fencing community.
Trying to divide things with hard and fast boundaries (or definitions) is
nigh impossible because of the mix and number of overlapping positions; not
to mention that historically no one ever put down their foil on new years
eve and picked up their epee on new years day.
The model that I am currently happiest with is the set-position-model
(viewable at
http://www.skynet.ie/~nvl/lsa/images...tion-model.jpg)
which describes Historical fencing (big `H' for Smallsword and before rather
than historical which can refer to anything pre-electrification) Classical
fencing and Sports fencing as consecutive overlapping periods. What is
important is not only what set/s you would place yourself in but also the
position relative to the boundaries. Classical fencer non Historical but
tending towards the earlier part of the era would be placed just to the
right of the HF boundary.
Take a look, let me know where you would place yourself, it might be easier
than defining ourselves.
(It's all a bit like Douglas Adams' discussion on how do you define life.
When you take something out of the fridge that's been in there far too long
you know whether it's alive or not; but try defining what is alive and you
have a whole different mess on your hands)
Regards,
Neville Gawley,
Limerick School of Arms
www.limerickarms.com
_____
From:
classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
flanconade@aol.com
Sent: 18 July 2005 06:43
To:
cfml@kmoser.com;
classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CFML] Re: A number of thoughts, was: Just a thought
In einer eMail vom 7/18/2005 7:26:42 AM W. Europe Daylight Time schreibt
cfml@kmoser.com:
The poll asks you to "select the option that *most closely*
matches the type of fencer you consider yourself to be" so you would select
"mostly classical."
Kim--
Maybe it's just me, I dunno, but polls kinda/sorta assume definitions are
out there floating in the heads of "the people" or some thumbs-up,
thumbs-down
mass? The word itself contradicts that idea in the definitions in my OED
and
Webster's. "Classical" fencing commentary and practice is all over the map
in terms of periods and weapons--from rapier to the standard 19th century
trio. The word first crops up in the 16th century, all right, but with
regard
to Greek and Latin literature that sets a kind of universal standard of
quality. "Classical" also by definition can include, does, ideas that have
endured
over time, but by definition is not "historical," which is to say confined
to
any specific or "contingent" (to use the fancy word) thing like an
event--it
is above history, kind of. I know this gets all hoity-toity, but it's
actually a neat question: is it what we determine it is by vote? I dunno,
but
maybe it's be worth exploring a definition from scratch here?
Bill Leckie
_soestfechten@aol.com/flanconade@aol.com_
(mailto:soestfechten@aol.com/flanconade@aol.com)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier
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http://www.woodenswords.com
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