Comments on: Unusual Hobbies

By: Jonathan Dresner

Jonathan Dresner — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 21:10:43 +0000

Actually, the Japanese do historical military reenactments (I didn’t think so, either, but I was wrong), but they are mostly of pre-modern vintage: the 1863-69 Meiji Restoration civil wars, the Battle of Sekigahara, even a little medieval samurai recreation, it seems. The 19th century stuff is most popular, as near as I can tell, because it does include guns….. In their defense, by the way, I want to point out that historical drama is a staple of Japanese television even today, much the way that westerns and frontier drama used to be popular in the US. But that also includes what we’d call miniseries, but which are really full-season histories (Taiga), which are extremely popular.

By: a lesser mongbat

a lesser mongbat — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 16:14:04 +0000

You can make some good money doing the American Revolution stuff for tourists.

By: John

John — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 14:07:23 +0000

Easter Rising re-enactment? Never heard of that before …where did it take place ? (there were plenty of commemoration ceremonies,but I’m surprised that a re-enactment didn’t get some press in Ireland) Did they have a problem that everyone wanted to be a Volunteer and nobody wanted to be a British soldier ? Of course, there are a bunch of people that are convinced that they have been re-enacting 1916 for,oh, about the last 30 years, but we won’t go there….

By: Sam Dodsworth

Sam Dodsworth — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:18:21 +0000

Dsquared: Yes. That’s how I came to learn so much about reenactment politics in the first place.

By: Harry Tuttle

Harry Tuttle — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 22:12:15 +0000

Remeber that WWI was, indeed, a WORLD war. While I don’t know anyone who re-enacts WWI I do know a bunch of guys who are into insanely detailed figures and sandtable wargames based on colonial warfare (of the European variety) and they do a lot of stuff from WWI’s battles in Africa. They all do seem to have a pith helmet and a Lee-Enfield or Mauser bolt-action though so they’re one step away from re-enactment I suppose.

By: Thlayli

Thlayli — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 20:58:16 +0000

I didn’t like All Quiet on the Western Front that much. Sheesh….

By: duaneg

duaneg — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 20:56:08 +0000

Much of the plot of Elmore Leonard’s Tishomingo Blues turns around the peculiarities of US Civil War re-enactment. Well, along with other odd splinters of subculture. I think he evokes the scene wonderfully (as usual), with the bone dry discussions on the practice of spooning.

By: yami

yami — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 20:37:51 +0000

The Civil War reenactments I got dragged to as a kid always had a period infirmary for the wounded, and they absolutely did gangrene, and bloody amputations too – it looked like lots of fun as they of course used whisky for anaesthetic. As far as I’m concerned the real appeal of the Civil War is eating “authentic” kettle-style popcorn while watching the blacksmiths and patent medicine salesmen. Can’t imagine why some people feel they need an elaborate excuse for that, but apparently they do.

By: sam

sam — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 20:32:44 +0000

I wonder if in a few decades we’ll see societies springing up to reenact battles in places like Iraq. Though given the distances involved it’d probably turn out more like a rally than a real reenactment.

By: rick

rick — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 19:35:34 +0000

In Texas, there seem to be three main groups of reenactors ... 1. primitive or pre-colonial - these folks dress up in more or less authentic native American Indian dress and camping out in teepees. 2. Republic of Texas - yeah, you know ... "Remember the Alamo." Basically, grown men playing army. 3. American Civil War - more grown men playing army. As a youth, I participated in all three. Oh the dangers of growing up in the house of a history professor. I think Belle has already mentioned the reenactor's "code of honor" where you are obliged to drop dead if you see a puff of smoke coming from your opponent's rifle. I think the first thing most reenactors learn is to constantly keep an eye open for a good place to land. Once upon a time at a reenactment near Waco, one participant took a dramatic dive that wowed the crowd but he soon revived and was seen running across the field towards the encampment. Turns out he had landed in an ant hill.

By: dsquared

dsquared — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 18:26:27 +0000

Sam: I’d add a bullet for the other characteristic of reenactment groups; insanely complicated internal sexual politics, wifeswapping, etc.

By: rvman

rvman — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 17:51:55 +0000

In the ‘30s sometime, the Grand Army of the Republic (US Civil War Veterans’ Association) staged their national convention at Gettysburg, PA. During the festivities, they reenacted Pickett’s Charge, using Confederate members as Pickett’s men, and Union members as the union army – including survivors of the original on both sides. Note that most of these folks were in their late 80s or 90s at the time. Texas is holding a reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto, the battle which won Texas independence from Mexico, April 24th at the battlefield. (The actual anniversary(168) of the battle is the 21st.) (Just to add another name to the list of wars reenacted.)

By: Chef Ragout

Chef Ragout — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 17:11:36 +0000

Why the contrast between war reenactments and “seeing friends?” Surely a lot of the appeal of reenactment is camping out with your buddies from the regiment?

By: drapeto

drapeto — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 15:15:48 +0000

It’s looking like Dubya is a big fan of re-enactments, too. Only he gets to use real guns. As for WWI re-enactments… can they do typhoid, trench fever and gangrene as well? How about Weekend at the Gulag? If there were a Prof. Healy Fan Club, I would write in for membership.

By: Die Laughing

Die Laughing — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 15:06:46 +0000

And the SCA! Heh. Fighting can be fun if no one dies. But when people die, it is a nightmare.