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.>"

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
• Certain sumptuary customs, for instance those governing the wearing of circlets.
• The use of the term The Eric and associated Ericisms.