Historical reenactment

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Historical reenactment is an activity in which participants recreate some aspects of a historical event or period. It may be a narrowly-defined time period, such as a specific war or other event, or it may be more broadly defined.

Activities related to "reenactment" are not new. Tournaments in the Middle Ages had Roman or other earlier themes (while the Romans themselves staged recreations of famous land and sea battles within their Coliseums as a form of public spectacle), and the Victorians recreated medieval furnishings such as tapestries. However, historical reenactment in pursuit of practical historical interest, beyond merely re-inventing history as an entertainment to suit contemporary convenience or sensibilities, seems to be an invention of the 20th century.

The term living history describes attempts to bring history to life, either for an audience or for the participants themselves. The primary distinction between reenactment and a period dramatic performance is the degree of immersion and the amount of improvisation. Historical reenactment can be considered a form of live-action role-playing.

Contents 1 Reenactment groups 2 Period 3 Props and costume 4 Experimental archaeology 5 Events 6 Permanent events 7 Creative history, and fantasy events 8 Commercial reenactment 9 Publications 10 Media Support 11 Criticism 12 See also 13 External links 14 References

[edit] Reenactment groups

Main article: Comparison of historical reenactment groups

Most groups dedicated to reenactment are amateurs who pursue reenactment as a hobby. Increasingly, there are a number of enthusiasts who have made it their goal to be as authentic as possible.

[edit] Period

The period of an event is the range of dates . See authenticity (reenactment) for a discussion of how the period affects the types of costume, weapons, and armour used.

Popular periods to reenact include:

• Napoleonic reenactment
• Ancient reenactment (See also: List of ancient reenactment groups)
• Dark Ages reenactment
• Early Medieval reenactment
• High Medieval reenactment
• Renaissance reenactment
• Jousting tournaments from the Middle Ages

• Burgundian Wars of Charles the Bold have been made very popular as a reenactment period by groups like the Company of St. George etc.
• The English Civil War
• The The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its great wars.
• The Fur Trade is reenacted by many in North America at events known as "Rendezvous."
• The French and Indian War is becoming popular in the United States and Canada, with many American Revolutionary War reenactors also having a secondary portrayal and unit in this time period.
• Military units and battles of the American Revolutionary War are popular across North America
• Napoleonic reenactment battles
• War of 1812
• The Franco-Prussian War
• American Civil War reenactment
• Wild West themes and Cowboy action shooting
• World War II, and modern reenactment

[edit] Props and costume

Small cottage industries abound that provide not only the materials but even the finished product for use by these ultra authentic re-enactors. Uniforms made of hand woven, natural dyed materials are hand-sewn using the sartorial techniques of the period portrayed. The same can be said of headgear, footwear, camp gear, accoutrements, weapons and so on. These items, while costing sometimes 30% more than their mass produced counterparts, offer the wearer an actual life like experience in the use of these materials. Also, it is hoped that spectators will have a better experience when attending an event in which a high level of accuracy is attained.

[edit] Experimental archaeology

Experimental archaeology is an important part of many authentic living history events, where crafts and techniques are evaluated to see whether they make sense in the appropriate historical setting. For example, various combinations of armour can be tried to see if an item for which no historical evidence exists is actually easy to make with the tools available and practical to use in the battles of the time.

[edit] Events

Main article: list of historical reenactment events

[edit] Permanent events

There are a number of locations which have set up a permanent authentic displays:

• Butser Ancient Farm
• Colonial Williamsburg
• Cosmeston Medieval Village
• Greenfield Village
• Plimoth Plantation
• Little Bighorn National Monument-Reenactment is known as Custer's Last Stand Reenactment in Crow Agency Montana.

[edit] Creative history, and fantasy events

Although some historical reenactment groups follow a very loose interpretation of history (sometimes mixing equipment from closely related periods or often just the use of inauthentic materials: eg. cotton clothes in a medieval setting) some groups go a step further and mix historical elements with elements of the Fantasy genre or incorporate modern technology or culture into a historical setting (often simply reducing the level of authenticity for increased safety or reduced costs, eg. making melee weapons out of rubber or plastic rather than iron or steel).

A common example for this variation on the theme is the Society for Creative Anachronism and Renaissance Faires, which blend medievalish customs, dress, and activities within historically inspired fantasy kingdoms.

However many Renaissance Faires have begun to rein in the fantasy elements and have a more historical feel.

[edit] Commercial reenactment

Many castles, museums, and other historical tourist attractions employ actors or professional reenactors as part of the experience. These usually address the recreation of a specific town, village, or activity within a certain time frame. Commercial reenactment shows are usually choreographed and follow a script.

See also: list of tourist attractions providing reenactment

[edit] Publications

Over the years, there have been a number of publications devoted to covering the subjects of historical reenactment and its close cousin, living history. These have included the Camp Chase Gazette and, at various times, two different magazines named Living History (the most recent of which last appeared in 1997 and was published by Great Oak Inc. and edited by history author Michael J. Varhola).

Another popular book is The Medieval Soldier by Gerry Embleton and John Howe, 1995. It has been translated to French and German. It was later followed by Medieval Military Costume in Colour Photographs.

For the Napoleonic Period there are 2 books of interest that cover life in the military at that time and Living History; "The Napoleonic Soldier" by Stephen E. Maughan, 1999 and "Marching with Sharpe" by B.J. Bluth,2001. The various Napoleonic re-enactment groups, some of whom are listed in the External Links below, now cover the history of their associated regiment as well as try to describe and illustrate how they approach recreating the period. The aim to be as authentic as is possible from the various source materials has led many serious re-enactment societies to set up their own research groups to verify their understanding of the uniforms, drill and all aspects of the life that they strive to portray. In this way re-enactment plays a vital role in bringing history to life, keeping history alive and in expanding the knowledge and understanding of the period.

[edit] Media Support

Motion picture and television producers often turn to re-enactment groups for support; films like Gettysburg and Glory benefited greatly from the input of reenactors, who arrived on set fully equipped and steeped in knowledge of military procedures, camp life, and tactics.^[1]

[edit] Criticism

Reenactors are sometimes looked on with suspicion, particularly by military veterans, but also by elements of the general public. Common criticisms revolve around motivation, as well as concerns about the level of immersion found in some arenas, notably those involving 20th Century conflicts where combatants had stricter regulations regarding personal grooming.^[2]

Another commonly voiced criticism is that many reenactors are more corpulent than actual soldiers in the period they are portraying. ^[3] The average age of reenactors is also generally far higher than the average age of soldiers in most conflicts. Few reenactment units discriminate, however, based on age and physical condition.^[4] However, there has been criticism about the exclusion of women from some American Civil War combat reenactment units. While hundreds of women may have fought in the conflict, almost all of them did so disguised as men. Attitudes on this topic seem to vary widely. ^[5]

A final concern mentioned by Thompson's book is the "fantasy farb", or tendency of reenactors to gravitate towards "elite" units such as commandos, paratroopers, or Waffen-SS units resulting in an under-representation in the re-enactment community of what were the most common types of military troops in the period being re-enacted. This is largely drawn from an North American perspective, although there are parallel issues on the European scene, such as the general discomfort and uneasiness with recreation of the SS, for example. Many of the earlier period groups have begun to meet under umbrella organisations to debate and discuss ethical dimensions. In the UK there are multi-period events such as 'History in Action' where groups get to look at each other's appearance and performances as well as perform for the general public. Most reenactment groups do not delude themselves that they wholly represent the period with which they associate though some are more authentic than others. Nor are the public stupid.

There is certainly much criticism from within reenactment organisations as to meritocracy, leadership and so-on. On the whole reenactors could be guilty of projecting their own, present-minded attitudes onto their historical alter egos. There is also a tendency to become obsessed with war when in actual fact there has been less war than peace.

[edit] See also

• The English Civil War Society

• The Sealed Knot

• Historical Maritime Society

• List of historical reenactment groups

• Comparison of historical reenactment groups

• Living history

[edit] External links

General

• Historical YellowpagesThe Phone Book for Historical Re-enactors Worldwide.
• The Historical Reenactment Web Site Huge site for information relating to reenactment gobally.
• Histrenact are a large site for links to the global reenactment community including both societies and suppliers.
• canadiansoldiers.com article on history of military reenactment in Canada
• Irish Living History Site is a site for Irish Re-enactors with a large forum. Has discussion of all periods.
• Historical Reenactment is a list of reenactment links
• Skirmish Magazine UK periodical for reenactors
• A Brief History of Reenactment UK
• Re-enactor World All about re-enactment and living history

Ancient

Roman

• The Roman Hideout an Italian site for Roman reenactors.
• Legio Secunda Augusta, a British site for Roman reenactors.
• Comitatus (Late & Sub-Roman and Germanic Reenactment & Living history, 306-866 A.D.) Web site: comitatus.net
• Legio I Germanica The evolution of the Roman army, re-enactment group from Catalonia.

Medieval

• The Company of Saynte George
• The Medieval Combat Society, 14th Century Medieval Reenactment
• Silwer Wolf, Ukrainian Medieval Reenactment group
• The Great Northwood Bowmen Medieval Longbow Archery and re-enactment Society, re-enacting the 15th century, based in London.

17th Century

• The English Civil War Society UK-based organisation which consists of the King's Army and the Roundhead Association.

• The Sealed Knot One of the UK's largest re enactment groups, dedicated to re enacting the English Civil Wars, though some regiments within the society occasionally put on events depicting the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685.

18th Century

• British Brigade American Revolutionary War - British Army
• Continental Line American Revolutionary War - American Army
• Forces of Montcalm and Wolfe - French & Indian (Seven Years) War
• New France & Old England - UK French and Indian War Re-enactment Society
• Historical Maritime Society is a voluntary organisation researching and portraying life in Nelson's Navy.
• Milizia Veneta - Historical reconstruction of the Infantry Company "Veneto Real" of the Venetian Republic.

19th Century

• Custer's Battlefield-Pictures from reenactment in Crow Agency, MT
• Napoleonic Association Napoleonic Reenactment and Living History, UK
• 95th (Rifle) Regiment of Foot - Napoleonic Battle Re-enactment and Living History, UK
• The Napoleonic Assosiation of the Netherlands - an association containing just about every Napoleonic re-enactment society in the Netherlands
• Tercio de Montañeses de Buenos Ayres - Napoleonic Wars - Southamerican wars
• The Historical Maritime Society is a voluntary organisation researching and portraying life in Nelson's Navy.
• 1st Battalion, 95th (Rifle) Regiment of Foot (1/95) - 95th Rifles Living History Society An affiliate of the Napoleonic Association, UK
• Washington (state) Civil War Association
• 21eme Regiment de Ligne French Napoleonic group based in England, with members worldwide
• Portazgo Combat Guardia Salinera Isleña: Re-enactment Group Based in Spain.

20th Century

• WWII Re-enacting, UK is a website for Second World War re-enactors based in the UK. Has a large discussion forum for re-enactors from all over the world.
• US WWII Re-enacting 26th Infantry "Yankee" Division, Information on the common G.I. of World War Two.
• WWII US women's service organizations — Resource for female WWII re-enactors (WAAC/WAC, WAVES, ANC, NNC, USMCWR, PHS, SPARS, ARC and WASP history and uniforms in color)
• [http://www.usmwhi.org/ United States Military Women Historical Impressions- Honoring the women who served.
• WWII Axis reenactment — Community and resource site for Axis Reenactors
• Finnish Reenactors Site Finnish Army wartime photos and information for reenactors of the Winter War between Finland and Russia in 1939
• Finnish Retroactive Agent Production of Reproduction. All kinds of retro, mainly from WWII period.
• The Netherlands 1940-1945, Study and Living History Group - A dutch living history group portraying daily life in the Netherlands during WW2
• Tommy Atkins Society - Preserving the memories of British Line Infantry Regiments during WW2
• Oostblok Re-enactment Nederland - Re-enacting the Nationale Volksarmee of the DDR during the Cold War.
• 9th Infantry Division Reenacted

[edit] References