It's been a very long time since I posted last. I sort of optimistically expected to have free time just oozing out throughout the summer, but with work, that didn't really seem to pan out. From time to time, I'd log on here and start a topic, then just sort of trail off as I was too tired to think. In any case, I'm here now and want to be more diligent about keeping up with this thing.
First off, quite a bit has happened since I posted last. I have completed several projects that I failed to document here as planned- a handsewn linen canvas doublet, a handsewn pair of Venetian hose, and a hand-finished prototype pair of unpaned trunkhose, and have been a part of or visited several multi-time period events that I've yet to review. In the last 24 hours, I was more or less recruited to contribute to a friend's blog with a related goal of documenting historical projects, so I'm going to try keeping up with both. I will definitely continue posting here. Here's a link to the new one- www.coempiricart.blogspot.com
Without any further ado, I'd like to review a Rendezvouz I attended in in early August.
This was my first time attending the Pike River Rendezvouz, conveniently held on the lake right next to downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was a pretty sizable, and was quite literally sprawling. That said, it was rather unremarkable. The same or similar vendors as all the other Colonial-era events held in this region, rows of cookie-cutter campsites, and more homemade rootbeer vendors than you could count on your fingers and toes. There were a few highlights, including getting to spend time with someone really special to me, running into another living historian I'd met a few years ago at Reenactorfest in Chicago, finding a bargain priced leather drinking jack (there's really no such thing as "bargain-priced" when you're as obsessed with getting things period correct as me, but it was $30 cheaper than the retail price, so I'll take what I can get) and visiting the shop of William Booth, Draper. They always have incredible period materials that really make me wish I wasn't a poor college student. If you're a reenactor and haven't seen their stuff, check them out NOW www.wmboothdraper.com
Anyways, the event was overall stunningly disappointing in large part due to its participants. Hobbies like reenacting are just about entirely reliant on the efforts of individuals, and such a large event wouldn't be possible with only a few. I really do wonder why some people do it. There were many (but NOT ALL!- many had excellent impressions) participants that just set up a campsite and sat around shirtless in leather pants smoking a modern cigarette. They made zero attempts at demonstrating anything or interacting with the public in any sense of the word. Several of these same campsites prominently featured plastic wrappers all over the place or athletic shoes. Many of the camps also displayed the exact same goods and "set dressings", many less accurate than they might be and if nothing else over exaggerated in their commonality.
This is all well and good in certain contexts, but not here at a public event. Many of the participants may simply enjoy "primitive camping," but at an event which the public visits (whether they are there to learn or not) I don't feel this is appropriate. Much of the public/visitors take what they see at face value when it's billed as historical and walk away assuming what is presented is implicitly correct. They learn from what they see, hear, smell, and touch. This is a problem as they're misrepresenting the real people they're there to reenact and the contemporary public is suffering as a result. This goes a lot deeper than smoking a cigarette or consuming plastic wrapped goods (both of these can simply be hidden), but is instead a call to responsibly research and represent when people will be educated explicitly or implicitly.
Best,
-Dan
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Origin Story
When I was about nine or ten I went to my first reenactment- An American Revolution event in Vernon Hills, IL. It proved to be life changing, and it stands out as one of the clearest memories of my childhood.
It all started when my Fourth Grade classroom was visited by a reenactor portraying a Continental surgeon. During his presentation, he demonstrated his tools and talked about everyday life, hardships, the war, and more. He allowed us to experience the past through all our senses. After I got home from school, I begged my parents to take me to the upcoming reenactment to be held nearby.
Even then, the idea of assembling for myself an accurate outfit was a top priority. Also like the present, nine year old me was short on cash, so I manufactured myself a pair of long stockings by cutting the feet off old socks to make tubes then basically stacked them, turned in the legs of some khaki pants until they reached the knee, and scraped the Jolly Roger off a pirate hat. I was ready to go.
Upon arriving, the smells of black powder, woodsmoke, pine tar, and wet canvas hit me full force, and to this day these smells represent "history" for me. I explored the soldiers' campsites, tasted hardtack, felt the coarse wool of their uniforms, heard the crack of musket fire... I was hooked for life.
The battle took place on a small island that was separated from the park by a narrow creek. I helped out the Colonial cause by brandishing my plastic Captain Hook pistol, carefully selected from the toy store as it had a flintlock...albeit neon orange. After the battle, I approached an English soldier and asked why none of the "dead" had fallen into the water as they might in real life. The reenactor discussed the expense of uniforms and how the battle had simply been a demonstration (First vs. Third person interpretation will be covered in a later post), while I brashly questioned, in a way that only snotty kids can, why they didn't just make their kits out of the same material as SCUBA suits. I believe he politely explained to me that it simply wasn't what the real people did, and how it wouldn't represent the truth or be a good teaching tool for visitors. A lesson that I have always remembered.
The only other part of the day I remember clearly was when a group of stereotypically burly Scottish infantrymen threatened to eat me. I'm not sure if they wanted to jovially intimidate the little wanna-be rebel punk or simply have some fun. After my brush with their cookpot, they were very kind and explained all sorts of interesting elements of Scottish life.
If it hadn't been for the visit by the surgeon and my day at the Reenactment, I really can't guess what sort of things I'd be doing with my life. There's probably a good chance I'd be another sheep wasting their life with video games. I am deeply grateful to those men and women I met that day for introducing me to something I am so passionate about. I have not yet put together an 18th century kit, but it is something, with time and money, that I would love to do someday.
I happened to run into the surgeon for the first time since the fourth grade at the Trail of History Rendezvouz in McHenry County, IL this past fall. I introduced myself and thanked him for taking the time to come in and talk to children. He really made a difference in my life.
Here's a picture of him showing off the tools of his trade.
It all started when my Fourth Grade classroom was visited by a reenactor portraying a Continental surgeon. During his presentation, he demonstrated his tools and talked about everyday life, hardships, the war, and more. He allowed us to experience the past through all our senses. After I got home from school, I begged my parents to take me to the upcoming reenactment to be held nearby.
Even then, the idea of assembling for myself an accurate outfit was a top priority. Also like the present, nine year old me was short on cash, so I manufactured myself a pair of long stockings by cutting the feet off old socks to make tubes then basically stacked them, turned in the legs of some khaki pants until they reached the knee, and scraped the Jolly Roger off a pirate hat. I was ready to go.
Upon arriving, the smells of black powder, woodsmoke, pine tar, and wet canvas hit me full force, and to this day these smells represent "history" for me. I explored the soldiers' campsites, tasted hardtack, felt the coarse wool of their uniforms, heard the crack of musket fire... I was hooked for life.
The battle took place on a small island that was separated from the park by a narrow creek. I helped out the Colonial cause by brandishing my plastic Captain Hook pistol, carefully selected from the toy store as it had a flintlock...albeit neon orange. After the battle, I approached an English soldier and asked why none of the "dead" had fallen into the water as they might in real life. The reenactor discussed the expense of uniforms and how the battle had simply been a demonstration (First vs. Third person interpretation will be covered in a later post), while I brashly questioned, in a way that only snotty kids can, why they didn't just make their kits out of the same material as SCUBA suits. I believe he politely explained to me that it simply wasn't what the real people did, and how it wouldn't represent the truth or be a good teaching tool for visitors. A lesson that I have always remembered.
The only other part of the day I remember clearly was when a group of stereotypically burly Scottish infantrymen threatened to eat me. I'm not sure if they wanted to jovially intimidate the little wanna-be rebel punk or simply have some fun. After my brush with their cookpot, they were very kind and explained all sorts of interesting elements of Scottish life.
If it hadn't been for the visit by the surgeon and my day at the Reenactment, I really can't guess what sort of things I'd be doing with my life. There's probably a good chance I'd be another sheep wasting their life with video games. I am deeply grateful to those men and women I met that day for introducing me to something I am so passionate about. I have not yet put together an 18th century kit, but it is something, with time and money, that I would love to do someday.
I happened to run into the surgeon for the first time since the fourth grade at the Trail of History Rendezvouz in McHenry County, IL this past fall. I introduced myself and thanked him for taking the time to come in and talk to children. He really made a difference in my life.
Here's a picture of him showing off the tools of his trade.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
New
Hello and welcome!
I established this blog to consolidate my research and document my projects and experimentations into recreating or producing interpretations of garments and items from the material culture of the 16th and 17th centuries.
I am committed to using only the most accurate materials and fabrics available and documentable construction methods when I can. I typically sew everything by hand, but when time is very short, I have resorted to machine-sewing hidden seams and hand-finishing in the past.
I'm very interested in the topics of living history and historical interpretation, and currently participate with a group that presents educational, hands-on displays and demonstrations on Elizabethan military history throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Please enjoy.
-Dan
I established this blog to consolidate my research and document my projects and experimentations into recreating or producing interpretations of garments and items from the material culture of the 16th and 17th centuries.
I am committed to using only the most accurate materials and fabrics available and documentable construction methods when I can. I typically sew everything by hand, but when time is very short, I have resorted to machine-sewing hidden seams and hand-finishing in the past.
I'm very interested in the topics of living history and historical interpretation, and currently participate with a group that presents educational, hands-on displays and demonstrations on Elizabethan military history throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Please enjoy.
-Dan
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