Arwen Name Badge miniature

This name badge was made for a friend who called herself "Arwen" in the pseudo-medieval "Society for Creative Anachronism" as well as in the Darkover fan community. The "S.C.A" has dominated fantasy fan life for more than 40 years. Even before the Internet, fantasy and science fiction fans had a closely shared culture which was amazingly coherent from one end of the USA to the other. It was a mix of adapted Medieval culture, Tolkien, "Star Wars," and various television programs. It was so consistent that a fan from California could easily finish a sentence started by a fan from Boston. The "Arwen" in this picture is not the character Arwen from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," but a very idealized picture of the SCA persona that the client adopted.

I would guess that very few of the originals of these nametag badges have survived, due to the irregularity of the fannish lifestyle. You are seeing something way back in history, at least my history. It brings back many memories for me, of acting out a fantasy persona in the halls of some suburban motel, pretending I had psychic powers, and creating fantasy identities for other players just like me.

"Arwen" name badge miniature is 2 1/4" x 3 1/2," watercolor and acrylic on Fabriano paper, fall 1980.