Great Kilts?? at the Renn Faire

[Shay]

Nevertheless, I'm aware that there are many members of this site who attend these events but rest assured I'm not making a generalization or stating that anyone here exudes the less-than-favorable characteristics mentioned at the beginning of this post: Just re-read the first three words and understand that I'm speaking from my own personal experience. You may see things differently, and that's fine with me.

Fine and dandy, I guess, most people do vote with their feet. I like going to them for the fun times I have with my daughter and because like it or not, that's our cultural heritage as Europeans, if they get it mixed up, it's a shame, but not a crime to celebrate our history in such a cool way.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I think it's possible to attend these events and have fun provided you don't take them seriously. Offer a knowing wink, let your guard down, and enjoy the bufoonery for what it is.

[Piper]

I've attended the PA Renfaire in the past, and enjoyed it immensly. I hope to get a chance to go again this year (oldest local grandson and I chickened out today due to weather). I'm a history buff, a reenactor and a rendezvouser (a very free-form type of living history). I've always considered the Faire to be "street theatre". It is based on history, but it is far more entertainment that education. The participants (actors) I've spoken to have seemed to be very dedicated to their craft. They're working just as hard at what they do as the most dedicated reenactors, they're just approaching things from a different angle. Rather than making things as absolutely historically accurate as possible, they're making them as entertaining as possible. For my education and research I look to books, museums and the occasional presentation by the History Channel or PBS. For entertainment I look to Hollywood and events like the RenFaires.

[yoippari]

Along the same lines is anyone here (or has anyone) going to the shresbury renn faire in kings valley? I know there are several (well, at least a few)oregon members but I'm not sure how long they have been here.

If you have gone to it what kilts are generally worn? The period (at least this year) is elizabethan england 1558-1603. That puts kilts in their infancy. I take it that belted plaid is the most appropriate?

Also how many people attend faires in day to day dress? Jeans and a t-shirt. If so then are you sure that a couple of those tailored kilts were not costumes, but garments?

[MacSimoin]

davedove: Seems I've inadvertently taken on the role of threadjacker...this was not my attention, so I apologize.

...I like going to them for the fun times I have with my daughter and because like it or not, that's our cultural heritage as Europeans, if they get it mixed up, it's a shame, but not a crime to celebrate our history in such a cool way.

Shay: I'm glad that you can entertain your child by taking her to events like this. However, though this isn't a personal affront, I don’t like it and it is a shame and a crime when people swallow the kind of garbage displayed on the site you referenced. Personally, I feel many events portrayed and re-enacted at 'faires' don't accurately mirror my own heritage (for various reasons) so I choose not to 'celebrate history' by not attending them. I'll learn more from a book than I ever will at a faire, and that to me, is far more important and useful than anything 'ren faire' performers re-enact.

On the other hand, I feel Revolutionary and Civil War re-enactors (and other similar troupes) are far more credible (my opinion) and I have much more respect and admiration for what they do. I don't buy the 'selective history' depicted in many ren faire re-enactments and although artistic license can be a good thing, applying it the re-enactment of a factual event is dangerous and foolhardy (think Oliver Stone or Michael Moore). In short, I prefer history straight up like good 18-year-old single malt…but don’t take any of this personally; I’m not trying to ruffle any feathers here.

I think it's possible to attend these events and have fun provided you don't take them seriously. Offer a knowing wink, let your guard down, and enjoy the bufoonery for what it is.

Blu (Ontario): That’s half my point: I don’t take them seriously but a fair amount of performers at ren faires take themselves way too seriously and genuinely expect you to respect and admire what they do…I know some feel this way, having been close friends with many ren faire performers in years past. I’ll pass on the buffoonery, thank you.

...I've always considered the Faire to be "street theatre". It is based on history, but it is far more entertainment that education. The participants (actors) I've spoken to seemed to be very dedicated to their craft... For my education and research I look to books, museums and the occasional presentation by the History Channel or PBS. For entertainment I look to Hollywood…

Piper: I agree that they’re dedicated to their craft and genuinely strive to entertain---I have old friends who still perform at these events and I know they give it their all. It’s the people who ‘believe their own press’ that I have concern with…I’m with you on your closing statement but I’ll leave off ‘ren faires’: I’d rather get away on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic, visit Ireland for a weekend or stroll the woods of Maine. To me, all are more inspiring and worthwhile.

I went to the PA Ren Faire yesterday and it was kind of funny what some of the men were wearing for kilts...Some of their tailored kilts were also pretty cheap looking, including one guys that hit him about mid-thigh...I also listened to the Tartan Terrors, A Canadian group, perform. They were pretty good and fairly humorous.

davedove: Back to you and your original post…I’ve seen the same thing many times, even at Irish and/or other 'Celtic' events. I usually just laugh to myself and look the other way. As far as the guy with the ‘mid-thigh’ kilt, well, I’d probably do the same thing (let’s face it, it’s a skirt if it’s that short). Thanks for the tip on the Tartan Terrors…they seem a riot and worth seeing.

[davedove]

On the other hand, there are also those who go these events who seem to get their entertainment by pointing out the mistakes of the performers. I have a friend who was a member of a Landsknecht reenactment group (German mercenaries of the late 15th and all through the 16th centuries). They happened to have a role in the Maryland Renn Festival in the role as king's guardsmen. A lady approached him and began to give him the "history police" routine:

Her: "You're a member of a German unit, but you're wearing an Italian doublet. Why is that?"
Him (in a reasonable German accent): "I got it from an Italian when I was in Rome. He didn't need it anymore."

The lady quickly shut up as she realized his character had been involved in the sack of Rome and had taken the doublet from an Italian he had killed.


Another incident, this time at the PA Faire. The Queen was making her initial entrance into the shire. Of course, all the cast and much of the audience was bowing at her entrance. One young man was not and a young lady performer noticed.

Her: "Sir, you must bow. The Queen approaches."
Him: (obviously trying to be a smartass) "I don't recognize a Queen."
Her: "But sir, aren't you English?"
Him: "No, I'm from the United States."
Her: "Where sir? I know of no such place."
Him: "The United States. See." (pulling out a dollar bill).
Her: "Aye, sir. It's an English pound."
Him: (pointing at the bill) "No, it says right here United States of America."
Her: "I'm sorry sir. I cannot read."

I though her quick witted response was perfect.


I'll agree that the Renn Faires don't maintain any real historical accuracy. I consider them to be entertainment and enjoy them on that level.

[MacSimoin]

On the other hand, there are also those who go these events who seem to get their entertainment by pointing out the mistakes of the performers...

Her: "Sir, you must bow. The Queen approaches."
Him: (obviously trying to be a smartass) "I don't recognize a Queen."
Her: "But sir, aren't you English?"
Him: "No, I'm from the United States."
Her: "Where sir? I know of no such place."
Him: "The United States. See." (pulling out a dollar bill).
Her: "Aye, sir. It's an English pound."
Him: (pointing at the bill) "No, it says right here United States of America."
Her: "I'm sorry sir. I cannot read."

I've seen what you're referring to firsthand and I know this kind of behavior really gets to some of these performers; however, many do 'retaliate' by staying in character (as you pointed out in your examples) which seems to some as coming off pompous or snobbish, often affording them (the performer) more ridicule. Personally, I am completely against anyone disrupting a live re-enactment for personal reasons, to question the 'nuts and bolts' of it, to question the actions of the performers or to lob insults, but a performer or re-enactor doing the same unprovoked makes them no less a worm.

:rolleyes: "I don't recognize a Queen"...neither do I.

The "history police"? Haven't heard that one in years...;)

[Schultz]

I think it's possible to attend these events and have fun provided you don't take them seriously. Offer a knowing wink, let your guard down, and enjoy the bufoonery for what it is.

I wholeheartedly agree. I took my ex-girlfriend, who was finishing up her degree in medieval studies, to her first Ren Faire (the MD one) a few years ago and all she could do was criticize this and that, how anachronistic some things were. She totally missed the point. I had a blast as usual.

My fiancee used to work at the Ren Faire (again, MD) and now going there still elicits some criticism, but its of a different variety. She just laughs at all the people, her former friends, who are still stuck "living there", as it were. It makes for a much more enjoyable experience...even if she doesn't like the smoked turkey legs.