David_Mooney@dell.com
Thu, 6 Jul 2000 05:38:59 -0500
E.A.Laycock wrote:
>>Brings me onto rant no 2
>>Is it just me or is there an upsurgence of nylon-clad people at >>heritage
sites?
>>Authenticity is something that most re-enactors strive for, and while
>>there is
>>obviously a place for both authentic and non-authentic, to tip the
>>balance away
>>from accuracy would seem a little dangerous.
>>Research by a friend of mine indicates that authenticity as well as
>>entertainment is important.
We're having the same problem in Ireland also. A member of my group got
himself a summer job in a Bronze/Iron Age theme park in Co. Clare recently.
They where aware he was a re-enactor as we had done work with them before.
He showed up for work in all his Bronze Age finest. Wools, linen, weaved
belts, horsehair belt, Bronze Age shoes and bronze extras etc. He's studying
the period in collage at the moment.
They made him take the whole lot off and don the Hessian rubbish that the
staff has to suffer.
What's the major malfunction with these people? It really wouldn't cost that
much to buy some blankets down the charity shop and run up some semi decent
stuff while they're sitting chatting to the public anyway. Sewing is living
history! They have a bloody loom and their own sheep on site. They could
weave their own fabric if they wanted.
It's creeping back into the re-enactment ranks also. I was at an event two
weeks ago and a group that haven't been seen in two years decide to show up,
uninvited, one of which was wearing a red curtain for a cloak. I know it was
a curtain 'cause I have one just like it at home.
In short, I sympathize!
Dave Mooney.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Tue 30 Jan 2001 - 02:31:22 GMT