"Ritualistic circumstances"?

[Chirs]

Chris: Thanks. Now, when I am asked, "Why are you wearing a kilt?", I can simply say, "I'm trapped in a special ritualistic circumstance".

Why didn't I think of that before!?

John

I hadn't thought of that!! I will have to use it, maybe even to him!

[Chirs]

Sorry, Chirs, that's just what I saw in the quote. I took some Women's Studies courses in college, and things often leaned in that direction... Brought back memories...
* SCREAM *

Excuse me.

No! No excusing, you're right. There are too many who hold that sort of position and the quote did give that impression. Poorly chosen on my part. I'm the one who owes you an apology.

[xman]

Perhaps the writer is only referring to modern western cultures, but the roman army wore skirts. Conquered the known world in them too.

[CMcG]

On a serious note: I understand that 'skirt' refers to a garment that covers from the waist down, to varying lengths, and that robes and leines would not qualify. But are there no historical incidences of a skirt being worn as male attire in The West?

In the Balkans, there is also the fustanella:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fustanella

Even in the miscellaneous section though, this thread runs rather close to breaking some forum rules. Let me spin this back towards semiotics... and kilts!

As the most recognizable unbifurcated male garment in Western culture, the Scottish kilt has had an impact on language. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "kilt" can now refer to any unbifurcated knee length male garment with pleats in the back. Some people prefer to call modern kilts "male unbifurcated garments" (MUG) because they feel the word "kilt" should be reserved only for the traditional tartan variety. Usage and the OED beg to differ...

The cat is out of the bag and kilts have spread far and wide beyond the Highlands of Scotland. In 21st century Western culture, kilts can be found in a plethora of both special and mundane circumstances. Since the early 1990s there has been an amazing proliferation of kilt styles, fabrics, designs, etc. As a signifier, the kilt has been destabilized; I would argue that consumers, manufacturers, and retailers have all taken advantage of the semiotic availability of the kilt as a sign.

[Bugbear]

Ok, CMcG, I can see the link between ritual and symbol or semiotics. What are these kilt rituals, or rituals involving the kilt? That is what is interesting about the subject to me and the main reason I looked in this thread.

Which specific rituals require a kilt?

I don't think that question is off topic or problematic with the ruels of the forum.

[CopperNGold]

Chris: Thanks. Now, when I am asked, "Why are you wearing a kilt?", I can simply say, "I'm trapped in a special ritualistic circumstance".

Why didn't I think of that before!?

John

That would make a great signature, Mookien.

[CMcG]

Ok, CMcG, I can see the link between ritual and symbol or semiotics. What are these kilt rituals, or rituals involving the kilt? That is what is interesting about the subject to me and the main reason I looked in this thread.

Which specific rituals require a kilt?

I don't think that question is off topic or problematic with the ruels of the forum.

Yes, that is well within the purview of this forum

I haven't read the book that Chris quoted from in the OP but I'll hazard my best guess. The reference to kilts in ritualistic contexts probably refers to two different situations. The first is when the kilt is worn as part of a uniform. A performance by a pipeband or a Highland regiment being called to inspection are types of rituals. In these situations, men wearing unbifurcated garments are not only expected, but required.

The second example is somewhat more nebulous. The kilt as ethnic or national attire also has status as a sort of ritual object that is not bound by the standard Western conventions of gendered clothing. The kilt in Scotland, worn for weddings, to church, clan events, Highland games, or to football matches is perfectly acceptable.

Here is where it gets tricky though; when the Scottish kilt is worn outside of Scotland, it becomes a semiotically more dense sign.

Some people continue to wear the kilt as THCD but as ethnic Scots and not Scottish nationals. Here the ritual link is most strong when the kilt is worn for the same type of events and in the same way as it is in the Highlands. The further away from the ethnic or nationalistic ritual of kilt wearing one gets, the more tenuous the ritual justification for breaking gender codes becomes. At that point the kilt becomes polysemic as its clarifying context is disturbed. In other words, people wonder "why is this person wearing a kilt?"

Of course people can wear a kilt for all kinds of reasons, not just ritualistic ones. But how many of our members have experienced some sort of scorn when they trod on societies mores without the shield of ritual?

[Chirs]

CMcG, The reference in the book is no more than what I wrote; there is no elaboration on the topic of the kilt or circumstances for wearing it. But I would agree with your reading of this. And I think, Bugbear, that the word 'ritual' in this context is being used with a less specified meaning. Rather than thinking of ritual as a prescribed set of actions designed to bring about a specific effect, think of it as an occasion which has been set apart from the mundane, the usual daily life. In this reference I think the author is trying to use the word 'ritual' to mean 'not normally done.'

[Chirs]

Perhaps the writer is only referring to modern western cultures, but the roman army wore skirts. Conquered the known world in them too.

Well, of course they did!! I hadn't even thought about that. Good call! And now I have something to say to him as I stand before him, kilted of course, and say: "So, about this book..."

[Bugbear]

Ah, CMcG, isn't it interesting to consider things, like the Tartan Army putting on kilts for the game, to be kilt rituals? That is what I'm getting at with the question. The address to the haggis, if I remember what it is called, that seems to be done at Burns nights was one ritual that came to mind. On the other hand, hiking in a kilt of some sort seems to be another ritual of manhood.

Chirs, Osprey has a few books, one of which I have read, that show Roman garb and armor. I think the armor is skirt like, but a tunic was usually worn under all that. In the beginning of a book by a different publisher on Medieval armor, a Roman tunic with a slit in the back is described for riding a horse. Also Xenophon talks about arranging one's skirts when getting on a horse in, On Horsemanship, if I remember correctly.
I'm just listing this off the top of my head, though I could look up the titles and authors of these books. I'm sure you could easily find much better proof in case he challenges you. You never know...