ARGH! (A plea toReenactors and history lovers)

[Bigkahuna]

There nearest to the SCA that I've seen here in Blighty is LARPing, which strikes me as quite good fun (though not nearly as appealing to the sort of Living History I usually do, or 'battle re-enactment' which I've done a bit of). I kind of approve of the creative playfulness of Ren Faires and I actually do some sci-fi cosplay at conventions with my mates for our own amusement.

I think that even the best researched historical re-enactment has to be understood as filling in a lot of blanks between the evidence and involving fewer diseases and more fillings than the reality, so in a way we're all on a sliding scale of make believe from a dry archaeological presentation to, well, something like this. Most re-enactors I've ever discussed it with are comfortable with exactly the level of compromise they make, no more, no less, so I've learned to judge not. Myself, I find talking to the public in English more edifying than late vulgar Latin and stuff the authenticity

However, I share your puzzlement at its connection to either Highland games or the time period cited. That's my main period of interest and I'd be uncomfortable with the thought that what I've seen is understaood by the public to be historical re-enactment.

That said, its not worth getting steamed over. I would write to the organisers pointing out some of the major anachronisms and suggest that they ask the group to quietly any drop the claims to be historical or educational at the event in the interests of protecting the public from confusion and preserving the integrity of the games. The same display with a different introduction could be quite entertaining!

If that doesn't work we can go down and cut their heads off!:buttkick:

[Santa Kona]

"They wrote me back and told me that "the curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, NC" had told them that Bruce's men had worn the great kilt. That was their "documentation."

This is why you always need to know who you are talking to.

[Detroitpete]

Way back when I was in school...
I learned how "historical presentism" could creep into even the seemingly most dispassionate and scientific anthropological study of past cultures.

Basically I see the whole thing of reinacting as adults playing make believe and I think that can be a wonderful thing all by itself. The conflict comes when the make believe world crashes into documented historical record.

I'm not a reinactor--but I tell ya'...every once in awhile, I think I'd LOVE to get suited up in armor and smack the gobstoppers out of another guy equally prepared. But then again, I may have "issues" ;-)

[Bigkahuna]

Way back when I was in school...
I learned how "historical presentism" could creep into even the seemingly most dispassionate and scientific anthropological study of past cultures.

Basically I see the whole thing of reinacting as adults playing make believe and I think that can be a wonderful thing all by itself. The conflict comes when the make believe world crashes into documented historical record.

I'm not a reinactor--but I tell ya'...every once in awhile, I think I'd LOVE to get suited up in armor and smack the gobstoppers out of another guy equally prepared. But then again, I may have "issues" ;-)

So might the "Other" guy!!!