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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 battles within their Amphitheaters as a form of public spectacle), and the Victorian s 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 within a historical context. REENACTMENT GROUPS See Also: Comparison of historical reenactment groups Most groups and individuals who are dedicated to reenactment are amateurs who pursue reenactment as a Hobby . Participants within this hobby are extremely diverse. The ages of participants range from young children whose parents bring them along to events, to the elderly. Among adult participants, people from all different walks of life can be found - college students, firemen, lawyers, members of the armed forces, doctors, and even professional historians. {Link without Title} PERIOD XV ''Apollinaris'' , from Austria.]] 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:
recreating a small medieval military camp in France, 2006.]]
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT ]] Small cottage industries abound that provide not only the materials but even the finished product for use by re-enactors. Uniforms and clothing made of hand woven, natural dyed materials are hand-sewn (or machine-sewn, as the case might be) using the sartorial techniques of the period portrayed. The same holds true for headgear, footwear, camp gear, accoutrements, military equipment, weapons and so on. These items, which are generally much more expensive than clothing and uniform in modern production, offer the wearer an actual life like experience in the use of these materials, authentic tailoring techniques, and manufacture. Also, it is hoped that spectators will have a better experience when attending an event in which a high level of authenticity is attained in both individual clothing and equipment, as well as equipment used in camp. 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. EVENTS See Also: list of historical reenactment events PERMANENT EVENTS There are a number of locations which have set up a permanent Authentic displays:
CREATIVE HISTORY AND FANTASY EVENTS ing Knight s on horseback perform at the Texas Renaissance Festival.]] Technically, creative history and fantasy events should not be listed along with historical re-enactment, as these types of events allow clothing and equipment that is not historically correct (for example, Polyester clothing for a setting in the Middle Ages), or that may have no basis in history whatsoever (Fantasy groups). The purpose of re-enactment is the authentic recreation of a time period, not merely playing "dress up" in "clothing that kinda looks historic". 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 Faire s, which blend medievalish customs, dress, and activities within historically inspired fantasy kingdoms. However many Renaissance Faire s have begun to rein in the fantasy elements and have a more historical feel. 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 , from Poland , Mai 2007, Sanok -Błonia]] |
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