Smoke fills the air after several cannons were fired during a civil war reenactment in Naperville, Illinois
(Tom Gill/flickr)
Charlie Schroeder talks about the year he spent reenacting one battle after another, from ancient Rome to Stalingrad, in his book Man of War: My Adventures in the World of Historical Reenactment.
Comments [5]
I was the first caller taken by Brian on this topic...
It never ceases to amaze me how quick to judge New Yorkers are of historical reenacting. If the commenters took a moment to actually sees what goes into it perhaps they'd gain a better perspective. It is no exaggeration to say that reenactors put in hundred and even thousands of hours into researching the people they portray, the clothing and uniforms they wore, the lifestyles and livelihoods of the time period, etc. The dedication shown to something that is simply a hobby is astounding.
By doing so, they educate not only themselves but, in the case of events open to the public, the average person not involved in reenacting. I have turned many people onto history that otherwise would have gone unexplored.
Reenacting has given me a better understanding of the human experience, which arguably is best defined in war. All of humanity's character is visible, both the horrible and the goodness, as war brings them all out. Yes, reenacting will never be like "the real thing" yet even if it gets me a small taste of reality, it serves to bring me closer to the live of my fellow men and women who came before me.
How can these people think that what they do, no matter how "authentic" has no connection to the real experience of war??
It's like "reality" shows connection to reality -- not!
why?
this disgusts me.
...to stay relevant to the story of this world..
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