Category Descriptions and Forms
This is a juried contest where artisans will be judged on individual excellence. All entrants that score forty and above out of 50 will receive a pilgrim’s token to signify their excellence. They will also receive feedback on next steps or other ways to improve.
This is also an audition to choose the Crown’s Arts and Sciences champion for the next year. This overall winner is chosen by the crown, in addition to five artists chosen to represent the kingdom at Gulf Wars. This is completely at the discretion of the crown.
Before you enter, please review the areas of entry and the policies on the front page of the website. This will provide you with information on unacceptable citation sources, AI Use, Diversity, Oral Tradition Documentation, Safe Handling for Food Entries, Accommodations, and Appeals. You may use any published format you are comfortable with: MLA, APA, Turabian, Chicago, etc. If the judge can find the source when they have a question, that is all that matters most. If you do not know how to do a citation check out WorldCat.org. Microsoft Word, as well as other word processing software packages, provides a form you fill out that will assist you in documenting your bibliography in any style. For instructions for Microsoft Word, see Microsoft Word Citation Support.
Kingdom A&S includes four areas of entry. Keep in mind you can only enter once in each category (including group projects) …
Static Entry
A static entry is a researched and recreated period item. This can be anything from armor, jewelry, fiber items, or any other period object that you can create and document. This requires written documentation averaging between 5-15 pages of written text. This does not include pictures, art references, a bibliography, a summary, or a title page. In this documentation, you will not receive a score on your writing itself. The object is the primary focus of these entries.
Your documentation should serve as a guide to walk your judge through your process, as supported by research. You will want to document who, what, why, when where, and how an art was done. You will also need to document any substitutions made (i.e. materials that are too expensive, unable to be sourced, or hazardous). Please see the judging form (below) and use that as a guide for structuring your documentation. It is HIGHLY recommended that you turn in your documentation two weeks before the event. As sites rarely have a quiet space to read and fewer resources to review, we want to ensure that your judges carefully read your hard work.
Static Entry Judging Form – 202202
Online Static Entry Judging Form – 202308
Performance Entry
A performance entry is just that, a performance. However, the aim is not to entertain as much as to produce a performance that would have been experienced in the period. The judges are looking for you to recreate your piece as close in style and content as possible. Performing a Viking saga in the style it was done, performing a chant as a monk would have in the 10th century, and performing a piece of a period play are all options for these entries. It is appropriate to dress up and include props as it would enhance the piece.
The requirements are the same for documentation as in the static pieces, and again the judging form should guide you in laying out your documentation. The average performance documentation is 3-10 pages not including citations, summary, title pages, images of the piece performed, etc.
You have three options for creating these entries, video, day of performance, or both. You will not be judged on production values, but if you submit a video performance, please ensure you can be seen and heard. A USB microphone attachment or a combination USB transmitter and a lapel mic for your phone is a good investment and can be found under $20. Please make sure any video is turned in at the same time as the other documentation dates for the same reasons as mentioned in the static entry paragraph above.
Performance Judging Form v2 – 202202
Online Performance Judging Form – 202308
Research Entry
A research entry is a paper on a period topic. Just like a paper from high school, it will have a thesis that your paper is trying to prove with your research. It can be a collection of opinions on the topic, or an analysis of data. Documentation from books, academic journals, academically produced media (such as university or museum recordings, podcasts, and videos), and research from credible oral traditions (for example Indigenous traditions provided by tribes), are all options for your research. Keep in mind that your judge is looking for predominantly academic sources (again review the judging sheet below). As per the unallowed citation policy, Wikipedia is a suitable place to start a bibliography but not an item to cite.
The average research paper is 10-20 pages not counting title, bibliography, pictures, images, etc. The length also depends on the topic. Some topics can be covered in 10 pages, and some have been in the 50 page range. The key is to make sure that your topic is narrow enough to be covered in a reasonably sized document. Humans made string from dawn of time to the end of the Renaissance may be too broad to adequately cover. Having an editor or two is allowed and expected in these entries. If you do not have one reach out to your local, or regional MOAS to help.
Research Judging Form – 202307
Online Research Judging Form – 202308
Experimental Archeology Entry
Supported Research was one of the least understood categories. The name has now been changed to Experimental Archeology to better reflect what this category contains. This is not just making a period researched item; that is static entry. It is not supporting a thesis; that is a research paper. The goal of supported research is to have a hypothesis. This should answer either a disputed question, or a question with an unknown answer.
Produce a hypothesis and prove it. Did Germans do knife pleats, cartridge pleats, or gathers in their skirts? We have pictures of how this should look. Make all three garments and see what looks “right”.
This is not the category for a static entry that is lower quality, or a research paper where the question is undisputed, or well-known (unless you completely disagree with the masses and supply proof of your new idea). Like the other entries, use the judging form to guide your work.
This category gets the most incorrect entries. If there is no hypothesis to prove, you will not be judged in this category. The Kingdom Minister will reach out to you to discuss the option to have your item moved to the research, performance, or static category as appropriate.
Experimental Archeology Judging Form – 202308