ARGH! (A plea toReenactors and history lovers)

[beloitpiper]

Every year at the Highland Games, these guys show up and do a demonstration.

Here is an excerpt from their main page

We are a not-for-profit Celtic reenactment/ living history group known as the Tribes of the Blue Rose. Our emphasis is cultural archaeology...The time and scope of our reenactment is mainly the time period of the 2nd through the 6th century A.D....We do historical / educational demonstrations and presentations for Schools and Universities.

Now, that's all fine and good, however, when I look at their site it is clear to me that these people have no interest in history of Britain from the 2nd to 6th century. They present history as if it was Lord of the Rings! It's like watching #*@!ing Braveheart presented as a documentary! Sure, I know this is all crap,but everybody else there is eating up and it kills me. I want to call them out on their BS, but I know they won't care. What should I do?

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Their site is well.. interesting I am all for people trying to understand cultures or the past through "hands on activities"..led by academics or experts.
I can see how this could infuriate you.. it makes me scratch my head. I have no idea what to tell you. I would avoid them and just have a good time.. but that's just passive me.
Sara
who is now a member of the AIA now that it is included with Archaeology Magazine subscriptions!
:ootd:

[Howard Clark]

Smile, breathe deep, have a beer. Enjoy life. It is better to be happy than right.

[Bigkahuna]

Sounds like a bunch of Germans to me. If their Leader is Arminius??? I would just try not to think about them. Serious reenactors will call their bluff soon enough. It's just Ren-Faire stuff.

[beloitpiper]

But that's my point, Bigkahuna, it's not Ren-Faire stuff, this is the Highland Ga--oh, wait, never mind...the games haven't been about real Scottish culture for decades.

[duchessofnc]

Smile, breathe deep, have a beer. Enjoy life. It is better to be happy than right.

*wicked grins*That's a personal mantra here in my household. From time to time my husband finds himself being asked whether he wishes to be happy or right. Of course I'm usually teasing him at the time.

[puddlemuddle]

These guys are LAME!!! Sorry if that seems harsh...but its true..they are basically glorified SCA guys (No downing the SCA guys because at least they advertise what they are, basic role players that love "history") I have know a lot of SCA'ers and they have all been great guys...however, to use this type of "role playing" as historical educators....is complete bull! I Completely understand your frustration!
Cheers,
Chad

[Rex_Tremende]

Remind me - your degree is in cultural anthropology? So, you can devote your passion, knowledge and creativity to developing an engaging, entertaining and factually educational program and set up a tent right next door.

Regards,
Rex.

[Bigkahuna]

Remind me - your degree is in cultural anthropology? So, you can devote your passion, knowledge and creativity to developing an engaging, entertaining and factually educational program and set up a tent right next door.

Regards,
Rex.

Hear, hear. You might even teach THEM something.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Years ago I stumbled upon a web site for a reenactment group that supposedly recreated soldiers in the camp of Robert the Bruce. But in the group photo they were all wearing the feilidh-mor (or "great kilt" as they referred to it). They even had a special section on their web site about their clothing, where they claimed to have documentation that the great kilt was worn in the early fourteenth century by the Bruce's men.

I wrote them an email, and without making any accusations or sounding rude at all, expressed interest in their research and asked to see their documentation because, as I said, the earliest evidence for the use of the great kilt I knew of was late sixteenth century.

They wrote me back and told me that "the curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, NC" had told them that Bruce's men had worn the great kilt. That was their "documentation."

I wrote them back, explaining that I was the curator of said museum, and that to the best of my knowledge there was no evidence of the feilidh-mor being worn at that time, and the earliest hard evidence we have for that garment was from 1594. But if they had managed to uncover any further documentation that would suggest an earlier use I would be glad to know about it. In the meantime, I suggested they amend their web site to reflect what could be supported by the documentation.

The email I got back from them was horriffic, calling me every foul name under the sun. I had never read such vitriol!

I saw no need for further communication with them at that point, and let the matter go. I don't even recall the name of the group any longer, as this was years ago.

But it is amazing how some people become so attached to their particular preconceived notion of history that they can willingly blind themselves to any evidence to the contrary.