I guess I just don’t get it. Not the first time. What is the deal with dressing up like people from the 19th century and “roughing it” for 3 days on the weekends? I saw a picture of some re-enactors in our local paper and they were all wearing civil war clothes and you could tell they were sweated down (its hot here in March) besides in the background I could see their state-of-the-art winnebagoes. Sheess is that re-enacting? After a hard day of play fighting they retire to their hot showers and Dan Rather on TV?
A harmless pastime and probably educational but kinda juvenile as far as I am concerned. And another thing…the people in the picture were all wearing sunglasses and eye glasses that you surely wouldn’t find on the Oregon trail. Looked like frames by polo and ralph Lauren.
Well, at least they are outside doing something. It’s not like they are a bunch of losers sitting around exchanging messages on the internet! That would be pathetic.
When I read the OP I had to laugh, because just last night I was too lazy to get up and get the remote, and my toddler had switched the channel to one of the public access channels, and they were showing a bunch of guys, re-enacting the Civil War.
What I wondered was how and when the soldiers decide to “fall down and die”. It reminded me of playing Cowboys and Indians with my sibs, and arguing over whether or not the pretend shot hit me, and if it did, whether or not it was fatal.
Not my cup o’tea, but it looked like the participants were having fun.
As for how they decide? They choose before hand who’s going to die, and where. When the whole reenactment thing started, they didn’t do it, and ended up with all sorts of problems(after all, who wants to be the one to die after taking two steps forward?) Nowadays the things are pretty choreographed, can’t have the Confederates winning at Gettysburg or anything.
The only real danger is that someone across from you will forget and leave the tamping rod in the gun…
Um…no?
What makes it any more idiotic than any other hobby? Some people sit around and play poker, some people wander around in pastel plaid and hit a golf ball, some people dress up in old fashioned clothes and act out history.
Actually sounds a lot more fun than a lot of stuff that is more accepted, though personally I prefer ren faire type stuff to civil war stuff. In fact, I like to dress up in those kinds of clothes just to sit around the house. They’re FUN.
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“Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion”
O p a l C a t www.opalcat.com
Hey at least in these particular activities, you don’t know who’s going to win beforehand.
Re-enactments are the equivalent of having five guys sitting around a poker table going “Okay here’s an Ace of hearts for you Bob, and a King of diamonds for you Dave …”
Maybe it’s dumb, maybe it’s not. Maybe people who don’t like it should show up at the next one and heckle them? That would feel good, I’m sure! Sheesh! Live and let live, you know?
That said, I have a good friend who does re-enactments, and also a “train robbery” show. He has tons of fun, and loves to tell people that he’s “robbing a train” this weekend. I’m pretty sure they know ahead of time that he’s going to be “caught” by the “sherrif”, but it’s still fun. It’s called acting. They aren’t really fighting, you know? Just playing make believe.
Zette
“If I had to live your life, I’d be begging to have someone pop out both my eyes. Just in case I came across a mirror.” - android209 (in the Pit) Zettecity
Voted “Most Empathetic”- can you believe that?
I recommend Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz for people who are interested in this subject. Interesting book, and fairly comprehensive. It is available in paperback.
Jess
Remember the Straight Dope credo: It’s all about wiping out ignorance, not coddling the ignorant.
I don’t have a problem with anyone having this as a hobby (not that they’d care, anyway), but what bugs me is the romanticization (is that even a word) of the Civil War. This was a WAR…people DIED. I don’t know, to me, it just trivializes the whole thing.
Maybe for those who only participate on a superficial level, but I volunteer at a historical society and meet a lot of reenactors who seriously research their subject. They read soldier’s letters home, diaries, other personal accounts, obits, etc. I think they develop a very good appreciation of the realities of the war.
Yeah, and screw all those losers who perform Cats onstage every night… Or anyone who has ever watched a movie twice or read the same book again, or seen a rerun… or done anything where the ending wasn’t a total mystery… because you know, the only thing that makes a pastime worthwhile is not knowing how it’s going to end…
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“Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion”
O p a l C a t www.opalcat.com
Sitting here at work in my 18th century clothes before I have to go out and teach the children about history. Nope shouldn’t do that I guess, reenactments have been deemed idiotic, can teach by showing them how things were in an up close and personal way…nope…can’t do that…guess I’ll put in a video for them, yeah, that’s better…
All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people.
Re-enactments aren’t a sporting event–they’re more like a history lesson. I think it’s good to really study history, even immerse yourself in it. One who says, “Oh, no, I don’t like the Civil War; people died, that’s awful,” may be expressing taste, but it’s a lousy reason to condemn it for others. Learn something about your people’s history; you may be surprised.
“Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them.” or somesuch; Santayana, or Santa Anna, or Carlos Santana…
Actually, I think “puffington” might prefer SCA Crown Tourneys. A real physical contest, to be sure!
Depends on what you re-inact. Anybody up for a little Roman orgy? We can do Caligula’s last great bash and torture a few trolls to boot…to boot (get it?) he-he-he.
Re-enacting seems harmless at least a lot more intellectually challenging and involving than most pasttimes.
We have quite a few Civil War re-enactors hereabouts. For the most part they are passionate amateur historians who don’t just yell and play antique soldiers. They’ve read the military histories, consult “The War of the Rebellion” and try, as much as possible, to recreate Civil War realities.
F’rinstance, I’ve seen practices disintegrate into hotly debated dissections of battles, e.g. this unit did this, that unit scattered when Officer X was shot, etc.
They aren’t just playing dress-up. Some of them recreate the foods eaten, stay in tents and one group of wives was busily stirring a kettle of soap. (That is, making soap, with the lard, lye, etc.)
As far as hobbies and interests go, it makes much more sense to me than passionate, teeth gnashing involvement with corporations, er, teams gussied up in helmets and padding and chasing after a ball.
::yawn::