Working Title: Chivalry is Dead (?)
Actions and set-up: The six women in the group will dress up as medieval knights, stationing themselves in pertinent locations in the area around Columbine hall. In our medieval garb (consisting of basic tunic with personalized emblems and swords), we will assist ONLY MEN in such ways as escorting them across the street and/or to class, opening doors for them, and assisting them in carrying their possessions. The two men in the group will dress and act as minstrels (garb consisting of tights and billowing white shirts, in addition to possible musical prop/instrument), performing documentation of and for the project by singing of the women’s chivalrous deeds and actually recording it. To maximize action yet retain a balanced team effort, the main group will split into two sub-groups each consisting of three female knights and one minstrel.
Meaning: This is an artistic performance of role-reversal, reflecting the current trends of society today, and perhaps satirically pointing out the lack of classic chivalry as well. It hints at the stereotypical gender roles programmed into most every person in society, and how they are slowly breaking down. This performance brings to mind a question: is it good that chivalry is dead and gender roles are changing/reversing? Is there something of value in the romantic notions that these actions are a part of? What are we commenting on/documenting/experimenting with/etc if anything?
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My apologies for not making it academic. The question of meaning is an important one that I don’t think we quite answered in our brief discussion today in class. What is it that we are trying to say? Are we trying to say anything? Trying to provoke discussion/reactions? What kind of discussion/reactions <– figuring these out will help refine our idea/project and the kinds of actions we are performing.
Please blog about this over the next week (additions, refinements, changes if I got something wrong), and post your name (including username so we know who you are) + email contact in case we need to send anything, etc. Project sounds fun! Let’s get to it!
-proverbs3v18
Carissa Szarkowski
cszarkow@uccs.edu
Performance Art Lab 
Carissa- Thanks for creating the initaial post. My login wouldn’t allow me.
Eva Alabaugh- ealabaug@uccs.edu
While I love our idea I was wondering if it may be too similar to the minister idea. The concept is different but the design seems real similar. Are we too similar or we okay? Thoughts?
I think we’re good. They married people and offered them communion. I think we’re different and more diverse, and we’re knights–it can’t get any cooler!!! That and we bring in a new idea of men vs. woman in the epic battle of chivalrousness. I’m not worried.
Jenna Nielsen
jbbsbbaby@hotmail.com
Hey guys,
I’ve got all the pictures of the coat-of-arms for each of the knights of the round table (I even have Galahad’s Jenna!, not that you need it.)
However, there are so many pages, I’m thinking it’ll be easier to just bring it in on Monday.
Or, PICK a knight you like and I’ll email you their symbol and a little info on them!!
Lancelot
Kay
Gawaine
Gaheris
Bors
Bedivere
Geraine
Gareth
Galahad
Lamorak
Percivale
Tristan
Most of the symbols are pretty simple, Tristan, Gawaine and Bedivere are a bit more complicated, requiring more than two colors. It depends on how much time you want to spend putting it together, or how authentic you want it to be.
Also, I have a little info on “how to become a knight”, which may be useful, so I’ll bring that in too.
Anything else you may want to know, email me and I’ll give you what I have. Be sure to give me your email address. Here’s mine.
mollydewolff@yahoo.com
Hey guys,
Everything looks good to me.
If anyone needs any help you can email me at dbrink@uccs.edu.
Take care,
Desirae
Lol Molly! Thanks! (If anyone is artistically challenged, I would be happy to sketch out a coat of arms for you. :D)
I got the fabric today. It was $3 a yard, and I got you (girls only) each a yard, so could you all bring me $3 on Monday? I will probably end up doing some stitching work on them, so you’ll get more for your money, I promise! (Boys, I don’t know what we’re doing for you, yet.)
Also, I plan on wearing blacks and grays and boots when we do this and really going ‘all out’ on the costumes. Are you guys for this, or am I going to be the only nerd?
Jenna
$3. coming your way Jenna. Anyone find swords or shall we make our own?
To do before class for costume:
Make sword. (Wrapping paper tube, duck tape; voila.)
Drawn insignia on tunic.
Optional: Make a shield with the same insignia as on your tunic. 2-3 ft. long I guess is the best size.
Costume Requirements:
Tie hair back and up.
Wear black/dark clothes.
Wear tunic with drawn insignia over clothing. Belt it around the waist.
Sword.
Boots and shield optional.
Come prepared to class! (British accents also optional.)
Performance Goals:
To perform the following tasks (for men only):
Open doors
Assist at crosswalks
Carry books/materials
Defend their honor with potential sowrd fights
As a single group we (women knights)will pick one random male to follow and assist as he travels through campus. When our “male in distress” gets to a final location (class, dorm room, bathroom or other private area) the Roundtable group of knights will pick another male to assist. As we follow the chosen male the women knights will be performaing the above tasks for the chosen male. While this occurs the two men in our group will be acting as minstrels and playing flutes for the chosen male.