Court heralds
May. 9th, 2011 09:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Wow, I'm chatty today.
So, Court Heralds. I have been seeing a trend recently in my two favorite Kingdoms to continually use the same court heralds in a reign. (In fact, Calontir seems to have put into place an "official" court herald who does most courts.)
I think this is a mistake. First, and this is purely selfish, it makes it harder for me to court herald.
Second:
It makes it harder for anyone to court herald. Court heraldry is one of those things that I personally think is fun and can be the "entry drug" into other heraldry. It is fantastic being one of the people up on stage, watching people get awards. Its good to have a ringside seat. For some, it instills a love of protocal. For others, it is merely an interesting thing to learn.
Now, I am also a firm believer in guidance and education. While you can take Joe local herald who is interested in court heraldry and stick the on stage, its better to stick them on stage with help and friendly people guiding them.
So I think that having a designated court herald, especially without trying to boost heraldic education is a mistake. (Yes, I can expound further, but this is enough.)
Perhaps tonight I'll pull out my Gabriel's Court Heraldry Rules (which are more like guidelines), and post. Why yes, I made them up for a class I taught a few times.
So, Court Heralds. I have been seeing a trend recently in my two favorite Kingdoms to continually use the same court heralds in a reign. (In fact, Calontir seems to have put into place an "official" court herald who does most courts.)
I think this is a mistake. First, and this is purely selfish, it makes it harder for me to court herald.
Second:
It makes it harder for anyone to court herald. Court heraldry is one of those things that I personally think is fun and can be the "entry drug" into other heraldry. It is fantastic being one of the people up on stage, watching people get awards. Its good to have a ringside seat. For some, it instills a love of protocal. For others, it is merely an interesting thing to learn.
Now, I am also a firm believer in guidance and education. While you can take Joe local herald who is interested in court heraldry and stick the on stage, its better to stick them on stage with help and friendly people guiding them.
So I think that having a designated court herald, especially without trying to boost heraldic education is a mistake. (Yes, I can expound further, but this is enough.)
Perhaps tonight I'll pull out my Gabriel's Court Heraldry Rules (which are more like guidelines), and post. Why yes, I made them up for a class I taught a few times.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-09 03:21 pm (UTC)This has been status quo for a while. There were a few reigns where TRMs wanted local heralds more than personal heralds (I want to say Hirsch and Magda and I think Ostwald and Kaye). It made me happy, and I finally got a bit of time assisting, but I haven't had much of a chance to work on it, and it's extremely frustrating.
Oops. Didn't mean to write so much, but you're really hit on the bit of thing that I actively desire to work on.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-09 03:42 pm (UTC)One reason I became a PH was so that I could actually get experience/demonstrate competency as a voice herald. In the Outlands, the PH is guaranteed five minutes of court heraldry (and one whole line of hir own!) every six months at Coronation, and has an option for five minutes of field heraldry every six months at Crown Tourney. If you aren't a Known Court Herald or a Close Loud Friend Of The Crown or Coronet, it's damn hard to break into court heraldry - the baronials have a set singular court herald as well.
So, is this where I suggest that I'd like to see more from Laurel in encouraging the other forms of heraldry (besides onomastics and armorics (if that's even a word, please excuse, I have a Headache Of Unusual Size))? [grin]
no subject
Date: 2011-05-09 03:47 pm (UTC)A HUS? I hate those. Unless its a Calontir Hus. :)
Gabriel is right
Date: 2011-05-09 05:05 pm (UTC)It's stupid, and it is a bad idea. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the folks that are doing most of it, and I admire them, and they can tell you all the ways they are trying to keep that process from being bad.
It's still bad. Although it has some major conveniences for the Crowns, which is why I think it is still alive.
That is NOT NOT NOT the way I did things when I was a baronial herald. You probably know my reasons.