> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Chris Woodson
> Sent: May 27, 2000 12:01
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: reenactments
>
>
> It also might be helpful to your quest to mention that there IS a
> difference
> between re-enactments and living histories.  Reenactments are
> generally held
> to re-create a specific battle or other event, while living histories are
> primarily re-creations of a specific period in history, be it Civil War,
> colonial craftsmen, Old West, etc etc etc.  ....
> Chris Woodson
> Roanoke Island Festival Park/Elizabeth II state site
> Manteo, NC

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Here is yet another aspect to PERCEIVED differences between re-enactments
and living history. A group I was involved with on my own time, depicting a
World War II Canadian Army unit, chose to describe itself as a "living
history" group rather than as "re-enactors".

It seemed to us that WWII "re-enactors" in the USA tend to emphasize
"tactical battles" firing off blanks, with some members dressed as German
soldiers and others dressed as Allied soldiers. These "battles" are closed
to the public and the participants seem to have a good time - when they are
not arguing over who was driving a vehicle recklessly or who is not
authentic enough ("farbs" being the term for people who are far from
authentic). Our Canadian group was less interested in tactical battles and
was more interested in educational displays at an historic fort, air shows,
gun shows, veteran's reunions, Remembrance Day and Veterans Week events,
parades etc. We preferred not to be thought of as people who simply want to
"play sillybugger" (as we used to say in the Canadian Army) and run around
the "boonies" firing off blanks. We did not object to that, but it was not
our main reason for doing it. We wanted to honour the veterans and tell
their stories to new generations.

Bottom line is that the terms "living history" and "re-enacting" have
different meanings for different people. Maybe they are all correct.

Colin Macgregor Stevens,
Curator,
Burnaby Village Museum,
Burnaby, BC, CANADA

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