CSA symposium - the short version

[anotheranon]

I thought of writing up a lengthy blow-by-blow account of the week (weekend? nah, Weds-Sun is more than that) but as I don't have the time and I doubt anyone would read it all, I'll summarize:

City: Philadelphia is a fun town! Not to drive in (the grid layout of one-way streets is frustrating, if predictable), but a great deal of it is walkable and there are beautiful old buildings to see on these walks, so it's well worth going on foot. In addition to the architecture and museums, there's also a thriving little "alterna-town" in/around South Street, as well as some very good clubs and restaurants. I was good and stayed away from Fabric Row, but at only 3 hours away, I KNOW I'll be back!

Site: The symposium and our hotel were right on Logan Square near several museums and the Moore College of Art. I have to say that this is possibly the most organized costume event/thing I've ever been to, even though events were spread out between several museums and the hotel, "wranglers", buses, and other plans were tightly in place to make sure everything went smoothly. The hotel was the Four Seasons, one of those places that is so posh that I'm usually scared to touch things, but I quickly got over it ;)

Crowd: A much more academic attendance than Costume Cons - to be expected. At first I felt very outclassed, as everyone I talked to seemed to have an advanced degree, was working on one, was publishing something, etc. Turns out I needn't have been stressed - the CSA really is welcoming to all costume enthusiasts, regardless of profession or ability. The officers were especially eager to talk to first-time attendees and make them feel comfortable :)It was easy to fall into conversations at breakfast, waiting in line, in a museum, just anywhere! doG, the many, many brilliant and creative people there - I was too spoiled!

Content: There were many talks, papers, presentations, and slide shows, but I took very few notes, mostly for the sheer soak-it-upedness required to keep up! I was pleased to see 2 grad students from my alma mater presenting (though I never did see my former professor) and also to see presentations on subcultural style (goth and hip-hop, respectively). Even the topics I had little interest in held my attention, just because I'm always interested to learn any little new thing to file away in my head for future reference - you never know when you might need to know about Roman scarves or Tiki decorating (really!)

The museum tours were good (the new Constitution Center was the only flat spot - too crowded and too empty!) but the Philadelphia Museum of Art was easily the most impressive. I didn't take many pictures (I hate to spend my vacations looking down a lens), but did get some good shots of their arms/armor collection and of the "Deconstructing Queen Elizabeth" demonstration - used up my card, my power, and was deleting fuzzy pictures during the demo to squeeze every last pic out of that camera! I'll post an announcement once I've got these posted somewhere.

Highlights: Deconstructing Queen Elizabeth and discussion afterwards with the Hampton Court group, (one of their number has a personal site here) and the keynote speech from Elizabeth Barber, and the never-ending conversation that went on through the weekend.

Impressions: As ever I got my brain stuffed of ideas, musings and inspirations too numerous to describe here or anywhere! The 3 things that are sticking out right now:

• Reconstruction, replication, recreation - the differences between these and how they can all help answer questions/solve problems (Elizabeth Barber)
  
• How can I get at it? And if not directly, how else can I get at it? (ditto)
  
• Where is the job? Make opportunities, be flexible, take risks, tailor interest/job to your personality (student seminar)
  
• No one thinks they're doing enough/well at the really cool/interesting/serious stuff, even when they are (heard from many over the course of the week)
  

Revelations: both personal and professional; the latter causing me to rethink my position that I'd never, ever work with clothes, fashion, or costume again, because they're just too fun to ruin by making a living with it :P It turns out that there is an increasing demand for computer science abilities by conservators and museum collections - 3X5 cards just aren't cutting it anymore. I am tempted by the idea that yeah, maybe one day I can play with clothes and make some kind of living at it(!) I networked a little and will be contacting people as soon as I know what demands on my time the class will make.

Goth clubs: good. Latin American food restaurants: very good. Passional: spectacular, especially the corsets. All of this with good friends: priceless :)

It's difficult for me to describe the exhiliration I get from events like this - the sheer "mind meld" of others with similar interests and the flood of ideas just drives me to do more, learn more, go more places - I'm going to need to live a very long time and maintain good health to get everything done that I feel like I can and should do to live my version of the "full life" that I dream of. Every time I leave one of these events I'm always determined to be more organized and more innovative so I can "get there" - wherever "there" ends up being :P And I know it may sound strange to get this riled up about costume history, but I think it's just part of a greater drive to just know stuff.

I am further convinced that I should burn my tv (would have done long ago, but the cable co. supplies my internet access) and use my "summer energy" to go to events like the CSA symposium, and use the winter down time to make things with friends, camped out around historic movies and a pot of coffee. What do ya'll think - all back to mine mid-winter for creative contact high + cookies?

Comments

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Sounds as if you had a marvelous time ... a true soul feast. :-)

It turns out that there is an increasing demand for computer science abilities by conservators and museum collections - 3X5 cards just aren't cutting it anymore.

This is why, in college, I learned to catalogue and classify all kinds of things ... not just books and movies ***grin*** The demand for abilities/knowledge like yours is definitely out there, and I think you'd do very well at it ... you've got the right kind of mind. :-)

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Hee - I totally understand about the contact high. I always come back from similar events with my juices flowing, and all inspired.

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

I am further convinced that I should burn my tv (would have done long ago, but the cable co. supplies my internet access) and use my "summer energy" to go to events like the CSA symposium, and use the winter down time to make things with friends, camped out around historic movies and a pot of coffee. What do ya'll think - all back to mine mid-winter for creative contact high + cookies?

Aside from Lexx, which I taped, and other shows which are now available on DVD, I haven't watched television since 1996. My memory (long and short) has returned, I get a lot more done (Ph.D. comes to mind), and I don't have all that negative mental feedback that comes from watching commercials and other things that make me feel fat and ugly and poor. I'd recommend it. :)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'm making a deliberate effort to watch less. Lately I watch an hour or so at dinner and sometimes an additional hour or so if I'm lifting dumbells. Otherwise it stays off. And it is starting to make a difference :)

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

That's two hours a day -- 14 hours a week -- 728 hours a year. 728/24 = 30.33 days a year sitting and watching a glowing mechanical box.

That's a MONTH! Imagine what you could do with a month of free time!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

More like around 9 hours a week (I don't lift every day!), but point taken, most definitely! That's why I always try to be doing something when I watch instead of just sitting there.

[hadesgirl.livejournal.com]

Oh heck, does this mean you won't be watching Queer As Folk or Battlestar Galactica with us anymore? Just kidding - I know you can't resist seeing Brian again.... *eg* I know what you mean about the mindless aspect of television, though.

While I do get roped into watching things occasionally, I'd much prefer good conversation, writing, or listening to music. I don't watch TV on a regular basis other than those two, but I do admit a certain penchant for checking out the Weather channel, and I dabble occasionally in Most Extreme Elimination, which for some reason, I find utterly hilarious. Oh... and don't forget football. Um... if you can call what the Browns do on the field football. :::sigh:::

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

LOL! I do enjoy the soap opera of QaF, but I can live without BG. The weather channel is good, but I just don't have the attention span to sit and wait for the weather. I'd rather just connect to the internet and get the immediate radar view.

I think I'm allergic to commercials. I get the same feeling from then as you do when you face conflict. An ick in the bottom of one's stomach. I really hate how they make me feel fat, ugly, or poor. I can live without that in my life. :)

[hadesgirl.livejournal.com]

Well, the local weather repeats every 8 minutes so that's pretty good. And it's a godsend in a severe weather situation, when you have to shut the computer down if the lightning is too bad. But I do see your point about TV in general.