What is a reenactment?

[OhioBlue16]

I recently had a discussion on a different forum about what actually constitutes a reenactment or living history. There was a large number of(mostly Gen Z/younger) who are adamant that getting dressed up in their gear, and taking pictures of themselves,(sometimes in the woods, sometimes at a battlefield, sometimes maybe in their backyard) to post on the internet is a reenactment. (I also noticed that these guys tend to skew towards modern wars or WW2) I personally disagree.

I think there is far more to a reenactment than just dressing up and taking pictures. There is an educational aspect, reenacting also implies that something is being recreated. They say that their photoshoots are similar to a private immersion event. Where I again disagreed, thinking that most of the private immersion events ive done also raise thousands of dollars for battlefield preservation or museum donations, where as their activity brings no awareness, doesnt help preservation, and teaches nothing.

What do you think? Am I right in thinking this or am I just getting old?

 

[east_beast]

A great South Park episode celebrating s'mores schnapps

 

[Pat Answer]

What do you think? Am I right in thinking this or am I just getting old?

I am not a reenactor but in my humble opinion you are right in your thinking. Of course, I'm just getting old, too.
But seriously I do see a difference between an attempt to visually teach history and cosplay.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I recently had a discussion on a different forum about what actually constitutes a reenactment or living history. There was a large number of(mostly Gen Z/younger) who are adamant that getting dressed up in their gear, and taking pictures of themselves,(sometimes in the woods, sometimes at a battlefield, sometimes maybe in their backyard) to post on the internet is a reenactment.

Dressing up in period costume for fun is historical cosplay.

Dressing up in period costume to educate others is living history, or theatre if it's for entertainment of others.

Dressing up in period costume and reenacting historical activities or events is reenactment.

 

[OhioBlue16]

Dressing up in period costume for fun is historical cosplay.

Dressing up in period costume to educate others is living history, or theatre if it's for entertainment of others.

Dressing up in period costume and reenacting historical activities or events is reenactment.

I follow that line of thinking as well. I found it surprising how defensive they got about doing historical cosplay. I do have a concern that younger people looking at the hobby think that reenacting is just dressing up and taking pictures. I attribute that to internet culture and how popular cosplay is.

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

Here's what I think:
Reenactment: Acting out a historical event to an audience
Living History: Educating the public in costume
Campaigner: Survive off of period items for the weekend
Cosplay: Put on a historical outfit for other reasons, like a photoshoot or Halloween

 

[SethJ]

Well, guess I'll give my input.

A reenactment to me is with at any point, people in historical/historical based costumes/uniforms come together to recreate an exact battle or give a demonstration on how a battle would be conducted.

A living history to me is when any group of people (or even a single person at times) dressed in historical/historically based costumes/uniforms sets up any set piece or portion of camp to give a demonstration on how that worked (Ex. A dog tent with what a soldier would usually carry, or maybe a cooking set to discuss meals of a soldier), or simply to educate visitors on either a specific topic or whichever topics they ask.

Doing a photoshoot (which I have done), dressing up in uniform and taking a walk to get reactions or questions out of people (which I have done), or going to comiccon with a uniform/costume on... it's all cosplay. Most of the time, you aren't even close to doing living history. And imo, there is nothing wrong with historic cosplay.

I do it all the time.

Anyways, there's my input.

 

[captaindrew]

I recently had a discussion on a different forum about what actually constitutes a reenactment or living history. There was a large number of(mostly Gen Z/younger) who are adamant that getting dressed up in their gear, and taking pictures of themselves,(sometimes in the woods, sometimes at a battlefield, sometimes maybe in their backyard) to post on the internet is a reenactment. (I also noticed that these guys tend to skew towards modern wars or WW2) I personally disagree.

I think there is far more to a reenactment than just dressing up and taking pictures. There is an educational aspect, reenacting also implies that something is being recreated. They say that their photoshoots are similar to a private immersion event. Where I again disagreed, thinking that most of the private immersion events ive done also raise thousands of dollars for battlefield preservation or museum donations, where as their activity brings no awareness, doesnt help preservation, and teaches nothing.

What do you think? Am I right in thinking this or am I just getting old?

I agree with you

 

[RedRover]

Pageantry has always seemed a popular component to many historic commemorations for the public...
From 1897:

From Augusta, Maine, 1909: notice of an upcoming "Historic Pageant" called "Hooker and His Men" in Massachusetts:

From 1929:

From Websters' 1828:
PAGEANT, noun pa'jent. [Latin pegma; Gr. something showy carried in triumph.]
1. A statue in show, or a triumphal car, chariot, arch or other pompous thing, decorated with flags, etc. and carried in public shows and processions.
2. A show; a spectacle of entertainment; something intended for pomp.
3. Any thing showy, without stability or duration.
PA'GEANT, adjective Showy; pompous; ostentatious.
PA'GEANT, verb transitive To exhibit in show; to represent.

So pageantry is for public exhibition.

Webster's 1828 on re-enactments:

So a reenactment is perhaps some combination of historical records perhaps, tactics manuals, regulations, histories, etc., appears to be a "historic reenactment." Doesn't necessarily require the "pageantry" of period costume and flags, etc.

Doing a quick search, the first references in the papers to such a thing as a specific "Civil War Reenactment" appears in December, 1960, which appears to combine some features of historic pageant, viz. historic uniforms, etc., with the historic reenactment of a particular event...

It strikes me that a reenactment might consequently be seen as actually acting out historical events, drills, etc. But might be done with or without costumed pageantry designed for public exhibition, or perhaps with it, without the public in attendance, but with photographic or video representations. Perhaps parades are more generally pageants, but I could see where employing historic drill, historic uniform regulations, etc. are still "re-enacting."

For "living history" I've always understood it is an interpretive process. As in how to explain something from the past to people of the present. Both reenactment and pageantry might be employed in it, where it reflects the past, for example reenacting the manual of arms, or the pageantry of period parade and review, etc.

 

[bayonet]

Don't know or care what anyone thinks of it. I did it for only 1 reason. 2 of my GG Grandfathers were in the ACW. I wanted to get alittle taste of what they went through and it was worse than some of what I went through in the Army. Running and marching around in full wool sack or frock coat and pants in 95 degree heat. Eating nothing but an apple, hardtack (probably not as hard as they had it), salted bacon with too much fat on it, smashing coffee beans in a cup with a tree limb, etc. Firing and loading drills. In formation at big events with massed troops (thousands!), Flags waving (got in with the Irish Brigade next to the colors waving as we charged at 1 event, loved it), laying down in front of numerous cannons as they fired over our heads, etc.

 

[Chattahooch33]

Here's what I think:
Reenactment: Acting out a historical event to an audience
Living History: Educating the public in costume
Campaigner: Survive off of period items for the weekend
Cosplay: Put on a historical outfit for other reasons, like a photoshoot or Halloween

I would put "reenactment" in the "cosplay" section. There is absolutely nothing about most reenactments that look anything like an actual battle. Most reenactors look like they got their uniforms from party city. Just take a look at the reenactment pics that have been popping up on this forum lately. Cringey.

 

[DixieRifles]

Hmmm

Just wondering: Then what do I call wearing my kepi and hiking over a battlefield for my education?

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

Hmmm

Just wondering: Then what do I call wearing my kepi and hiking over a battlefield for my education?

Just casual wear at that point. I sometimes wear a cap box to school whenever I feel like my air pods are going to fall out the pockets of my pants

 

[DixieRifles]

Just casual wear at that point.

We need a technical term for that.
Historical Recon.

 

[bayonet]

I would put "reenactment" in the "cosplay" section. There is absolutely nothing about most reenactments that look anything like an actual battle. Most reenactors look like they got their uniforms from party city. Just take a look at the reenactment pics that have been popping up on this forum lately. Cringey.

That's because what you see are known as "Farbs". The outfit I was in was hardcore and did not allow or tolerate any "party city" as you called it phony nonsense. You have to go to the real run events with thousands (do they even do them anymore?). BUT I see your point some events and reenactors are total Farbs and baffoon looking, plenty of stories about them.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Hmmm

Just wondering: Then what do I call wearing my kepi and hiking over a battlefield for my education?

View attachment 522803

Hiking chic

 

[JackADriscoll]

I would put "reenactment" in the "cosplay" section. There is absolutely nothing about most reenactments that look anything like an actual battle. Most reenactors look like they got their uniforms from party city. Just take a look at the reenactment pics that have been popping up on this forum lately. Cringey.

Reenacting is cosplaying. That's not an insult. It's more just a synonym.

I've always wanted to try campaigning. I've been camping in substandard gear and it wasn't fun. I imagine camping and hiking in period gear would put a whole nother spin on it.

 

[archieclement]

I would put "reenactment" in the "cosplay" section. There is absolutely nothing about most reenactments that look anything like an actual battle. Most reenactors look like they got their uniforms from party city. Just take a look at the reenactment pics that have been popping up on this forum lately. Cringey.

Indeed what's curious about forming various categories.....if educational is used as a definer..... is don't think everyone is going to agree on how educational various events or categories are.

The whole "educational" aspect seems bit exaggerated to me most often. Even where it arguably is....its value is often questionable

For example if a correctly attired crew correctly presents 1860 artillery drill to elementary schoolchildren.........when exactly are most schoolchildren ever going to need knowledge of 1860 artillery drill? So wouldn't any such educational "value" be rather limited to non existent?

If enjoy doing period artillery drill and dress, do so. If you like to share doing so, also by all means do.....claiming it has much actual educational value to general public seems bit debatable to me though.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Indeed what's curious about forming various categories.....if educational is used as a definer..... is don't think everyone is going to agree on how educational various events are.

The whole "educational" aspect seems bit exaggerated to me most often. Even where it arguably is....its value is often questionable

Exactly. Embrace your hobby, no need to define it. I have never had much of a problem with farbiness as long as you know what you are doing and why you are there. Some folks can't afford nice kit and that should not bar you for participation. Embrace what you love, what its called is not relevant, unless of course you take yourself way too seriously.

 

[S.Isaacson]

Historical reenactments definitely come in "grades" in terms of realism and how well they represent life in the period. Some are just weekend cosplay in costumes and represent little in terms of reenacting original events with any degree of realism, but I still think that those are great for people to get an interest in the period and get a little bit of an idea of the uniforms and what not.

Some reenactments are much more strict and much more accurately represent uniforms, accoutrements, and sometimes battles than others. It is of course much easier to reenact a small skirmish event, or a small frontier battle from the early national period than it is to faithfully reenact a Civil War battle. If we wanted to be pretty accurate in our representations, you can't really have a good Civil War reenactment for most battles without tens of thousands of young, relatively fit or scrawny men representing different units and carrying a good variety of arms, artillery, cavalry, etc. moving about the battlefield in a coordinated and scripted way similar to how the original battle was recorded, etc. If we were to only consider such events reenactments and denigrate all the rest, very few people would be involved in it at all and there would probably be no events to attend at all.