InterKingdom Anthropology

InterKingdom Anthropology (IKA) is a term au courant on the usenet group rec.org.sca (sometimes called the Rialto) as well as other electronic forums. It refers somewhat lightheartedly to the study of regional and kingdom differences in the SCA. Often it is used in the form of a disclaimer as in

"This may be an exercise in InterKingdom Anthropology, but locally ..."

The other usage is the flip side of the first, and IKA is invoked when someone has referred to local custom as universal truth, as in

"I'm afraid that this is IKA, since <your example> does not apply <in some other locality.>"

Many traditions, known in one place to be The One True Way, are actually IKA.

Examples of IKA

• Whether or not one should "bow to furniture," that is to say whether the custom is to reverence unoccupied thrones.
• Frequency of "naked" Grants of Arms.
• Placement of Court Baronies within the Order of Precedence and, indeed, the awarding of such Baronies with or without a Grant of Arms.
• Certain sumptuary customs, for instance those governing the wearing of circlets.
• The use of the term The Eric and associated Ericisms.
• The use of the term "Master at Arms" rather than "Master of Arms", and also whether the Master of Arms is referred to as "Master" or "Sir".
• The use of a particular cheer or acclamation.
• The use of coloured belts (other than a white belt) to denote one's status as a Squire, Apprentice or Protege.