Main > The Campaign
The Myth of European Reenactment Perfection
Ian:
There's a myth among the reenactment community in the United States that the European reenactment scene is just so much better and full of wonderfully accurate impressions. I used to think this to some extent myself. I think it's a 'grass is always greener' kind of thing. Turns out, they're just like us. They have some events that are truly a site to behold and short of a time machine are the closest you'll get the Middle Ages. They also have some events that are glorified LARPs (lightning bolt style without the magic) that are being passed off as history. I will present examples of both.
This is one of the most frustrating things about being part of the Living History community that cares. The public, largely uneducated on the details or facts of the medieval era goes to a reenactment, and for all intents and purposes goes home thinking that what they just saw was presented fact. A poor event has a detrimental effect on the public and reinforces all the worst myths and misconceptions of the middle ages. One bad event can erase all the hard work and research that went in to countless good ones. This is why the people who do care try so hard to get it right. We're fighting an uphill battle.
The bad example:
I present this video not to be made fun of, but as a showing of evidence of the contrasting levels of accuracy in events in Europe. This was an event held last year to commemorate the 600th anniversary of a battle in the city of Korbach, 1413. The armor is from every period of the middle ages, and poorly done at that. The clothing is mostly pure fantasy. The weapons and other equipment follow suit...
But remember, at the end of the day, every patron at that event who isn't a student of the middle ages just went home with that solidified in their minds that what they saw there is how it was. If you care about our history, strive to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. This is where the slippery slope of being too lax about things leads.
The good example:
Now as a contrasting example, this is how to do it right. here is the 650th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Wisby, 1361. I'm sure if you look really hard you'll find some things that may not be spot on, but overall this is an EXCELLENT event and what reenactments should strive for!
The patrons at this event were given an outstanding presentation of the history of Wisby. Again, at the end of the day, the people who didn't know about the details before went home with this presentation in their minds as the facts. The difference is these actually were done well. So just like here in the US, Europe is fraught with the good and the bad when it comes to historical accuracy.
Sir Patrick:
We that Battle of Wisby clip from "The Re-Enactors"? That's a great video showing all the hard work that goes into a good event.
Ian:
--- Quote from: Sir Patrick on 2014-06-30, 01:44:21 ---We that Battle of Wisby clip from "The Re-Enactors"? That's a great video showing all the hard work that goes into a good event.
--- End quote ---
Yep, same event. They did a great job with it.
Sir James A:
My biggest jealousy of the European events is in the setting; they have the actual period castles and cities at which to hold events, which is something we will never have here in the states.
Excellent thread and great comments, Sir Ian.
Mike W.:
Who cares about the mismatching armor. As long as everyone is having fun, nobody loses. ;)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version