"What is your opinion of historical re-enacting?" Topic

What is your opinion of historical re-enacting?

(a) I am a re-enactor (specify historical period if you like)
(b) I have seriously considered participating in re-enacting.
(c) I like to attend events, but have no interest in participating.
(d) I admire their stamina, but would not attend any of their events.
(e) I dislike it due to historical inaccuracies (or specify other reasons).
(f) ________________________

c

(c) I think Historical reenacting is great even if there are inaccuracies and the reenactors I know are pretty determined to be as accurate as possible.

The presence of these people on battlefields can inspire young minds with an appreciation of what happened during these conflicts. To expect the average 8 year old to have an understanding that a big grassy and apparently featureless, field has some sort of importance is difficult.

If there are reenactors there doing what they do the child will at least take that away from it and it may fire their imagination to find out more about it later.

You can do the same thing with wax figure displays but it isn't as effective as having it actually come to life.

It isn't something I'm interested enough in to do but I'm really glad there are people out there who are and do it.

A- 1st Sgt. La. Tiger Rifles. I've been a reenactor for over thirty years. I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm having a hard time doing double time these days due to two leg surgeries, so I'm down to one or two events a year. The only "reenactors" that really crack me up are the RenFest people. But, I go to watch and have a good time. TIG

C. Although sometimes the "I KNOW about History because I RE-ENACT!!" attitude can be somewhat annoying and/or hilarious.

Like wargamer, reenactor covers a range of types from those who are there for a bit of dress-up fisticuffs (and the beers to follow) to those who are seriously trying to unravel the mysteries of past conflicts by practical experiment etc. etc.

All have a part to play and reenactors are vital in presenting military history to a general audience. It isn't the whole story but it is an essential part of it.

Phil
(and what nazrat said – sometimes )

Although sometimes the "I KNOW about History because I RE-ENACT!!" attitude can be somewhat annoying and/or hilarious.

The same can be said of people who say "I KNOW about WWII Armor battles because I play FoW!"

C. Although sometimes the "I KNOW about History because I RE-ENACT!!" attitude can be somewhat annoying and/or hilarious.

As if what we do makes us prone to error and they are not.

To me it's just another hobby, like what we do. They are no better or worse than we are, or stamp or butterfly collectors.
Hobbyists are all a bit loony, and they, and we, are no exceptions.

F. That's like LARPing, right?

F. Fine for those who want to do it.

a. WW2 British, German and Russian.

As Phil observes, there is a fairly wide range of re-enactors, ranging from those who are literally just there to get pissed all weekend via farbs, stitch counters and those people who insist on wearing stuff seen in precisely one photo.

I do find that spending a few days trudging around in the rain gives you a certain perspective on what actually matters though.

F. One battle, one event. The rest, meh….

C. once in a while.

A. Historical music. Camp Chase Fifes and Drums, ACW

F.

C

C

C

c. I enjoyed all the ACW 150th events over the last couple years I attended. They put a lot into their presentations and battles and the crowds tend to appreciate it.

I enjoy seeing re-enacting and although this is not part of the hobby I would personally consider following, I do enjoy chatting to them when we meet up.

I believe that what they do is both worth while and educational and for these two reasons alone I would support any local re-enactors by attending their day events and donating money to their cause.

Long may they continue.

So I suppose that's a 'C'

Tony

B.
Plus some other possible options:
X. Too expensive
X. I'm just fat enough to look not quote right.

C. besides, how many old guys do they need?

G. I think it sounds interesting, and perhaps even fun. Never been to an event that did that really, but would like to (not counting the Renaissance Faire, or Medieval Times, even though I've been to both of those).

C

I enjoyed it until I grew out of it physically and chronologically.

I was a re-enactor for about a decade back in the 1990s. Yes, there's the living history part, the assembling of kit that is as accurate as you can get, the learning about history and expanding your knowledge of the period you're re-enacting (it really does increase knowledge) but….let's face it….it's fun. It's playing war for grown ups and with context. That doesn't mean your average re-enactor is insensitive to real war and suffering, but during battle re-enactments, you get swept up in the excitement and adrenaline.

The big problem for most re-enactment societies is getting people the right age to take part. You want people age 18-25 for the most part, but they don't have the money (it is expensive) and the only people who do are over 35.

I'm surprised there haven't been more negative reactions to re-enactors here. I did a few wargames shows back in the 1990s with my society and I got a few angry people say things to us such as "you're wearing a uniform you're not entitled to wear" or "you weren't in the army, you shouldn't be doing that" to which my answer was always "we're re-enACTORS, like actors we're playing a role. I'm not saying I'm entitled to wear this uniform, I'm showing people what the uniform, equipment and history is in visual terms. Do you have a problem with the idea of actors playing soldiers in movies? No? We're not much different in that regard."

Anyway, I have too many grey hairs and aching joints to keep up the hobby now!

ps. It didn't take long for someone to take a pop at Flames of War!

D. Not only am I too old for this, I also cannot afford it (do you have any idea what those uniforms and weapons COST ? Multiple large armies !
But I do enjoy their pictures: the re-enactors I have spoken with have convinced me of their knowledge about "correct" uniforms and therefore those pictures were very helpful for painting.

!) It's not my thing. It is, however, their thing. If no one is getting hurt without knowing about the dangers beforehand, why nor? More power to them. It's like historical LARPing.

F – don't see what sitting in a muddy field does to expand our knowledge of history….. Also accurate kit etc…very subjective……

WWII – lot of dodgy ss……..

SAD

F It looks like a lot of fun but I've never needed a second expensive hobby. I'm too old now anyway.

it is LARPing.

B

a

C. Usually way too hot and I hate camping.

I used to

C- I've been to a number of reenactments both ACW and AWI and enjoyed them.I know some of the guys who do it and they are a lot of fun to talk to about history and uniforms.

F – Don't care about it at all, except re-enactors sometimes work as extras in movies.

C for me

A. Part of French and Indian War (French), AWI (British), War of 1812 (British) and Napoleonic (French) units. All infantry types, usually with some position of responsibility. The hobby has taken me all over North America and Europe for events, so I feel enriched and blessed from participating.

C

D. More power to them and I have quite a few friends that enjoy it but a) once in the real service was more than enough and b) wool in summer?

I think we're all old enough and in shape enough to re-enact the Wizards' Council of Atlantis just before it sank. The Great OOPS moment…

c)

I enjoy going to watch re-enactments.

I don't really understand the negative attitude some people in the wargaming world have towards re-enactors. All the ones I've seen and spoken to have been very knowledgable about their period and keen to portray an as accurate as possible depiction.

LARPing and Renaissance fairs are a different hobby in my opinion. I think this kind of thing appears to be more popular in America. We have LARPers in Britain but they don't do their thing at re-enactment events. I've never heard of a U.S. style Renaissance fair over here, either.

I forgot…..

Regarding the point someone mentioned about "not being entitled to wear the uniform". I was at an event a couple of years ago where there was a fairly big WW2 re-enactment. Wandering around the British encampment I saw an old chap in a wheelchair talking to a re-enactor in uniform. Turns out the old feller had fought in Normandy and was praising the re-enactors not just for their accuracy, but also for bringing back so many memories for him. He was also pleased that they were keeping the memories alive for the many children that were attending.

Seeing that joy and gratitude of that bloke tells you all you need to know….

f. I think its silly, as is LARPng and CosPlay. I find the participants uncomfortably strange. Sort of way out there but socially awkward at the same time and it appears to be very nerdy attention seeking thing. When I helped set up a wargames club in my local area, these guys set us backward with the local community when some Vikings showed up un announced at an open day we were running. They got bored with what was going on and decided to have a free for all, whack at each other in the carpark. It involved the police and nearly got our group evicted from the community centre. Sorry I have no time for it.

Does the SCA count? ?

And it is no less silly than playing toy soldiers as seen from the outside.

Was an ACW re-enactor a while back (Union) and enjoyed it. But they don't need anymore old overweight infantry men so I dropped out. Still like to go watch events

c.

Great entertainment value & I appreciate the passion a lot of re-enactors take to their hobby.

A

I reenacted the War of Spanish Succession, now I'm into napoleonics, French first light infantry (and reenacting French/Catalan countersubversion unit).
I am in the process of starting several projects:
- WWII reenactment, as an OSS operative (a Jedburgh, to complement my colleagues' FFI maquis)
- hoplite reenactment (ekdromoi and 5th century generic hoplites)
- gladiator reenactment (we the Tarraco ruins, and a very good group named Tarraco Ludus already working here in Catalonia)

Reenactment does a great work explaining history in a way that books or other media simply can't, with people being much more receptive to it. Also many reenactors have actually pretty good (even rare) knowledge about the period/s they reenact. of course there are those who are there just for the fun (which is MUCH), but generally there's much to learn from them.

Regarding some comments about nerds or attention seeking, those are opinions with no foundation; quite frankly the look of several people playing armchair generals and moving around little toy soldiers is way much more ridiculous than that of people working out a living museum. All those who like the wargaming hobby should be more receptive to reenactors who at least take pains to bring the experience of past conflicts and the people who fought in them.

In comparison, I see everytime the disregard on life and psychology players usually have when playing wargames; while reenactors usually get to know and explain the pains of soldiers and commanders, players rarely are able to convey those realities, but only can make displays of more or less pretty miniatures with more or less pretty paintjobs.

As a conclusion, miniature wargaming is a great hobby, and reenacting is a great dedication (read commitment). A mix of both (as they do in the Girona napoleonic sieges reenactment) is double fun and much enjoyable and educative.