Let's Talk About Historical Accuracy and RP
General Discussion
Yesterday, I sent this note out in sl through one of my groups, one where I am in charge and can decree such things. Now, I would like to open the floor for discussion. Here is my comment from yesterday--
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In RP, many of us play invented characters. Others play historical figures. Either way, it is essential that we know the details of our characters' personalities and histories, be they complete fantasy or historical fact. At The Royal Retreat, most of us are portraying historical figures. The facts of their lives are easy to verify. Please let's try to be sure we KNOW our characters and portray them as they really would have behaved. Fictional characters should of course beconsistent, not changing back stories or personalities without proper motivation.
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I am relatively new to RP but not at all new to drama and creating characters. As a working playwright, director, actress, and author, I have spent literally years of my life learning to build and sustain believable characters. As a theatrical director, I always looked for motivation before allowing an actor to significantly alter an already established portrayal of character. As a novelist, I question myself constantly about what drives my characters, never allowing them to change willy-nilly, just because I (the author) had a crap day and am not up to my usual best. Laziness is never an excuse for crap character development.
I started RP in SL because a friend invited me to try it out. From her and others, I have learned to appreciate the value in RP of character authenticity and historical accuracy. I kept doing RP because I found a way to use it in researching and developing characters for my writing. (Three years from now, I will be writing a play based on several historical figures being portrayed by many fine RP-ers at The Royal Retreat and Rocca Sorrentina.) Because I will be writing about real people, it is important to me that I get the historical facts right, at least in so far as that is possible. This is not to say I do not make mistakes in the midst of RP when there is no time to look up a detail. It is to say that I try very hard to stay within the realm of historical believability.
I have given this a great deal of thought and wonder how others of you approach historical RP. Is it all fun and games or does the accuracy matter to you? I see that many people have certainly put a lot of thought into accuracy of builds and dress design, hats and hair. But what about character development? If playing a historical figure, do you try to keep it accurate? Why or why not? If you do, how do you assure your portrayal is as accurate as possible?
updated by @stephanie-mesler: 06 Oct 2016 06:31:57AM
