# Re "Dune" is the book's Baron Harkonnen as grotesque as the movie version? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377 "2012-11-18T05:18:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/41 "2012-11-20T18:15:57Z")
What I don’t get is that those hats are obviously just for decoration and doesn’t serve a functional purpose. Why even have hats in the military besides helmets? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/42 "2012-11-20T18:41:10Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > What I don’t get is that those hats are obviously just for decoration and doesn’t serve a functional purpose. Why even have hats in the military besides helmets? Impractical headgear is a longstanding tradition in the military. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/43 "2012-11-20T19:33:47Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Google image search “medieval hat” and “Renaissance hat” for yourself. The differences are a matter of degree rather than type. [example 1](http://www.costumesofnashua.com/CNWebSite105/Active905/Pages/Hat/AnimalMedieval/HatmedievalJester.htm) - Deluxe Velvet Swashbuckler Hat with Ostrich Plume, or Deluxe Musketeer Cavalier Nylon Velvet Hat [example 2](http://www.fantasyfestival.com/index.php/hats/medieval/hat-princess-cone-purple-adult-one-size.html) - Hat Princess Cone [example 3](http://momentslater.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html) - medieval woman in strange hat (must scroll down) [example 4](http://vintageprintable.com/wordpress/vintage-printable-portraits-2/portrait-face-medieval-man-in-black-hat/) - what the hell is that thing on his head? A hat? A hat with a built in scarf? A parachute? [example 5](http://www.mediamatic.net/31907/en/medieval-hat) - words fail me > [@YogSosoth](#): > > What I don’t get is that those hats are obviously just for decoration and doesn’t serve a functional purpose. Why even have hats in the military besides helmets? Because the military has Dress Uniforms, that are used for ceremonial purposes, like escorting Emperors around and guarding Princesses. The intent is not just to be security, but to look fancy and ceremonial and fit the decor. Emperors and Princesses tend to want draperies and fancy colors and banners and flags everywhere, and they want their security staff in bright livery. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/44 "2012-11-20T20:10:14Z")
Actually, I have a theory about those conical “princess hats”. I don’t think they were impractical at all. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/45 "2012-11-20T20:11:55Z")
In the Dune universe, the bigger your outfit the more deadly stuff you can hide in it. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/46 "2012-11-20T20:47:41Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > In the Dune universe, the bigger your outfit the more deadly stuff you can hide in it. Unless you’re Feyd-Rautha, and just go for the old poison needle in the chainmail jockstrap gambit. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/47 "2012-11-20T21:04:11Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Actually, I have a theory about those conical “princess hats”. I don’t think they were impractical at all. . . . ? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/48 "2012-11-20T21:33:54Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Impractical headgear is a longstanding tradition in the military. This being the Dope, of course we have a few choice threads on the subject: > **[The silliest military hat.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342555)** > > Nothing says “I’m a complete and total badass,” like a ridiculous hat. The fact that the hat stays on its owners head and hasn’t been knocked off or snatched for a game of keepaway is an ongoing testament to the owner’s ability to kick five hundred... > **[Where Did You Get That Hat?: Alarming SF/Fantasy Headgear](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342890)** > > Inspired by {OK, blatantly plagiarised from} Podkayne’s IMHO thread onMilitary Millinery, allow me to present the Science Fiction and Fantasy Headgear Thread. Given the preponderance of startling headgear in the genre {a natty tile is the sine qua... ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377/49 "2012-11-20T23:06:06Z")
Are Sardaukar hats demonstrably more silly than these hats? > **[Bearskin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearskin)** > > A bearskin is a tall fur cap, usually worn as part of a ceremonial military uniform. Traditionally, the bearskin was the headgear of grenadiers, and remains in use by grenadier and guards regiments in various armies. > Bearskins should not be confused with other types of fur military headdresses, notably the smaller busby. > The cloth caps worn by the original grenadiers in European armies during the seventeenth century were frequently trimmed with fur. The earliest record of a bearskin cap bein... or these? [http://www.themoscowtimes.com/photos/index/2002\_06/2002\_06\_03/india\_3.jpg](http://www.themoscowtimes.com/photos/index/2002_06/2002_06_03/india_3.jpg) I got the second link from the old thread, and even sven deserves credit for this gem of a line: “These pictures are from the tensest border crossing in the world, where India and Pakistan show their mutual disrespect by facing off in short pants and hats with fans on them.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-dune-is-the-books-baron-harkonnen-as-grotesque-as-the-movie-version/641377.md?page=2)