Tuesday, April 26, 2016

A New Blog

Carroll Students on a field
trip to Jamestown
I've finally come around! After occasional encouragement over the years, I decided to start my own blog. The main intention of this blog is to share ideas related to advancing the hobby of reenacting, including significantly discussions on the field of education as it pertains to reenacting. I've sat back and watched the reenacting world evolve for the better or the worse, but education is one aspect of the hobby that hasn't evolved as quickly as the others. We all want the most accurate kit with the most stitches per inch, but how about we entertain the same enthusiasm for explaining why we stitch our clothes that way? Recently, I noticed some reenactors juggling with accuracy and education, so I think it's time we talk about it. I don't intend to stir things up and I certainly don't expect to directly change anything, I only hope that some of these blogs and discussions inspire thought. I hope to post occasional thoughts on how to share our passion for history as well as projects I'm working on. Our ultimate goals are not only to have fun ourselves, but to present ourselves as teachers in an unorthodox classroom.

Topics coming up:
  • How to engage spectators
  • Role of first-person interpretation
  • Making a 1716 kit

5 comments:

  1. Good plan! Please avoid using the word "progressive" at all costs!

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    1. Thanks! And yeah, I'm sidestepping politics to approach improving the hobby as a non-factional interest. My hope is that since these posts and discussions mostly concern the field of education in reenacting, it will transcend the boundaries of the various cliques. As living historians, I think we can all agree that education is a universal priority.

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  2. Excellent! Looking forward to your post on the 1716 kit. After doing French and Indian War and American Revolution reenacting for many years, I am slowly putting together an early 18th c. sailor's impression.

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    1. I will be updating on that by the end of this weekend. I'd like to hear about that sailor's impression, though. Not many people reenact the early 18th century; I'm happy to hear others are interested, too!

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