Too Traditional?

[ThistleDown]

Henry, just for the sake of conversation, could you give an example of traditional Highland attire (as opposed to historical Highland attire) that crosses the line from acceptable to caricature?

Rathdown, could Sir Harry have overstepped traditionally acceptable into caricature in the following? Or not. If so, how?

[CMcG]

...
As far as the Lion Dance is concerned, it sounds to me as if the choreographer wanted a different interpretation of this dance than you were providing-- I doubt it had anything to do with your not being Chinese. Put another way, it was not so much a matter of clashing cultures as it was a difference in artistic vision.

The person who took issue to my adherence to tradition was actually just a coordinator at the event. My kung fu club was invited to perform a lion dance and they sent me to do the job. At the dress rehearsal this coordinator told me the dance was boring and asked me to do more fancy moves. I countered that this style was more traditional, she said I wasn't traditional (i.e. so why would I be doing a traditional lion dance?), and I ended the discussion by saying as a representative of my kung fu club, it wasn't up to me to change their routine; the "choreographer" (that word isn't entirely accurate when describing folk dance) was my teacher at the kung club.

Allow me to explain. There are two main types of lion dance around here: traditional Cantonese style, which is a para-liturgical exorcism/blessing ritual; and the international style, which combines the more acrobatic movements of northern lion dancing with the costuming of the Cantonese style. Many clubs do a combination of both by adding a few showy jumps into a traditional lion dance.

I'd be happy to discuss lion dance some more, but perhaps PM would be more appropriate.

Bringing this back to kilts, if this coordinator's comment had nothing to do with me being a foreigner and more to do with entertainment value, why would she tell me that I -- as a person -- am not traditional enough to do the traditional dance? I can only imagine that perhaps she thinks I'm too young to be traditional? Is there such a thing as too young to wear the kilt in the most traditional way?

I think I understand the concept of too traditional, at least in areas where there is not a tradition...

This is definitely part of what I've been thinking. Particularly where there is no deep rooted tradition of kilt-wearing, too traditional might unfortunately come off as being a costume.

Could part of it also be relative to the individual, rather than the society? That is to say, if one usually makes no effort to coordinate their colours or patterns; wears a lot of tweed, tartan, Argyle, and tattersal; always wears a necktie;and has a den full of taxidermy animals, etc., then even the most traditional, non matchy-matchy, daywear outfit (complete with eyes-in full-mask sporran) probably wouldn't look like too much.