For my sins, I have set out to do a dissertation on military and and other violence-related (like gladiators) re-enactment for my MA in Museum Studies at Newcastle University. Specifically I'm focussing on moral and ethical issues - safety, authenticity, sensitive issues and so on.
I was wondering what views you might have on such issues? Authenticity seems to be a key issue as, one might expect, but what about sensitivities (not something one would generally expect to encounter a problem with at a Roman site, but it's suprising how excitable some people seem to get about the Roman Empire, especially if they have romanticised views of the assorted barbarian peoples).
Are their any ethical concerns about 'playing' soldiers? And so on. I know I'll get rather a biased slant on a purely Roman forum, but I am aware that there are those on the boards who also do or have done other periods.
In addition to any general comments, if you could fill out the survey it would be most helpful (if you'd rather be anonymous, you can of course send me a private message). Also, please indicate if you would be happy to be quoted and/or named in the dissertation.
EDIT:
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ANSWERED
1) What gender are you?
2) What is your age group?
Under 25
25-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
Over 65
3) What period do you portray?
Prehistoric (including Iron Age)
Roman
Dark Ages (post Roman – Saxon/Viking etc)
Medieval (1066 to 1485)
Tudor/Elizabethan (1485-1603)
English Civil War
American War of Independence
Napoleonic Wars
Victorian
First World War
Second World War
Post WWII
Other (specify)
4) What role do you play?
5) Why do you take part in living history activities? Which is the most important reason?
Hobby
Research
‘Live’ the past
Educate the public
A job
Other
6) Are potential ethical or moral issues something you would take into account when participating in an event?
7) If yes, what issues would you consider? What is the most important?
Seen as glorifying war/violence
Violence as entertainment
Sensitive time/locality
Need for authenticity Other…………………………………………………………………….
8) Which would be of more importance to you in an event?
Education Entertainment
9) At what point would you consider an event unethical or inappropriate?
Always unethical
Period too recent
The group/unit portrayed
The location
Violence too graphic
Violence with no educational purpose
Inauthentic display
Timing (e.g. during real war)
Never inappropriate
Other
10) Have you any other comments?
Thank you so much!
David
Hey David, interesting subject for a paper. Here's my stuff:
1) What gender are you?
Male
2) What is your age group?
25-35
3) What period do you portray?
Roman AD 105
4) What role do you play?
Optio/Centurion
5) Why do you take part in living history activities? Which is the most important reason?
Hobby
6) Are potential ethical or moral issues something you would take into account when participating in an event?
Absolutely
7) If yes, what issues would you consider? What is the most important?
Need for authenticity
However, I also think that in terms of audience age, violence can also be an issue. But given other media forms, I think that reenacting is the least of our worries. Having said that I have no issues with using roman stylism to create other objects based on actual finds, or using a combination of actual finds to create a new theme based replica. My main concern has always been the overall impression given by a group or person. Little details can be explained, but it's rather hard to say "we're doing this maneuver because it makes sense to us" and justify it.
8) Which would be of more importance to you in an event?
Education & Entertainment - I think they are both of equal importance, not just for the reenactors, but for the public as well. They need to be entertained so the education will stick with them. If it's boring and dry, the people won't retain the information. If it's boring and dry for the participants they won't want to continue doing it.
9) At what point would you consider an event unethical or inappropriate?
Inauthentic display - in terms of showing the public something based on little to no evidence, such as formations, tactics...even recreated combat using fake weapons. By untrainted soldiers, even members of the SCA it looks hokey and unprofessional. Not to mention a far cry from the real thing. I think this can be done in Civ war events because gun shot kills can easily be simulated, plus we have accurate evidence on the combat tactics they used.
10) Have you any other comments?
Personally I don't feel that violence in a historical context can be damaging to society, if it is used to educate. Violence is a part of human nature, and it's foolish to try and deny that, and I think the context of it's use should be what determines whether or not something is appropriate or inappropriate.
Feel free to quote what you want if anything I had was useful.
1) Male
2) under 25
3) Roman 33-73 AD
4) soldier/optio/gladiator
5) Hobby
6) Absolutely!
7) Authenticity. I agree, that authenticity is very important but you can only take it so far. I also agree that while simulated combat as a soldier is probably not accurate because the tactics we use are based on modern military tactics, also we use several safety measures that make is evenless accurate. While, I have no problem displaying the swastika on a sheild or sewn on my tunic because that is a symbol of good luck, the general public sees that as a symbol of hatred and Adolf Hitler. For that reason I do not display that symbol on my gear.
This re-enacting period is not like most re-enacting periods. You can go to WWII events, or Rev. War, or even Medevial events and they can tell you even the smallst of detail. On the Roman side, especially the Republic and early Imperial period a lot of information they we no little to nothing about. The tunic color we have no idea, we can make an educated guess but that is it.
8) Education Most people that are really into the hobby are entertained by educating the public, or at least I am.
9) Violence with no educational purpose (as a gladiator I do not mind violence for a good purpose, except when I am the one that dies)
Inauthentic display (When we know that that particular item/s didn't exist during that period or was no longer in use during the period)
Hi, i'm only just starting out re-enacting, so i'm not sure how helpful i'll be but i'll put my views anyway
1) What gender are you?
Male
2) What is your age group?
Under 25
3) What period do you portray?
Late Roman
4) What role do you play?
Currently a civilian, but will be moving on to a military role, in the near future.
5) Why do you take part in living history activities? Which is the most important reason? [b]Probably hobby, but educating the public is a reason aswell.
6) Are potential ethical or moral issues something you would take into account when participating in an event?
Yes.
7) If yes, what issues would you consider? What is the most important?
Need for authenticity, simply because of the fact that you are meant to be educating the public, not giving them a false impression.
8 ) Which would be of more importance to you in an event? [b]A mix of both education and entertainment is a must in my opinion, it has to be entertaining to keep the public intrested, and so they can enjoy themselves, but one of the main points of re-enactment/living history is to educate.
9) At what point would you consider an event unethical or inappropriate?
Inauthentic displays, because it is misleading to the public.
Here you go, frater:
1) Male
2) 46-55
3) Roman
4) Legionary, and when required Centurion
5) Hobby
6) Yes
7) Need for Authenticity
8) Education
9) Inauthentic Display
10) No
Hope this helps you and good luck.
Regards,
Edge
Carus,
I completed a similar project when I was at Lancaster Uni, although my angle was more "why do we play". Specifically, why does the UK boast such a concentration and diversity of reenactment groups, compared with other parts of the world. But my survey had many of the same questions as yours. I'd be happy to foward my results if you promise to do the same once your project is finished. It's a subject I'm fascinated with.
1) What gender are you?
male
2) What is your age group?
36-45
3) What period do you portray?
Roman
4) What role do you play?
legionary soldier
5) Why do you take part in living history activities? Which is the most important reason?
Hobby-Research-‘Live’ the past-Educate the public
6) Are potential ethical or moral issues something you would take into account when participating in an event?
Nothing particular to re-enacting
7) If yes, what issues would you consider? What is the most important?
Need for authenticity is a must, although I do not consider it as a primarily ethical or moral issue.
8 ) Which would be of more importance to you in an event?
Education
9) At what point would you consider an event unethical or inappropriate?
Inauthentic display
10) Have you any other comments?
Good luck with your research!
Thank you, Gaius.
Franklin, that is a most generous offer which I would be happy to take up! Thank you!
Drop me your email and I'll send them right along.
Here you go:
1)Male
2)25-35
3)Roman 1 cen AD ( Have participated in WW1, WW2, and Second Seminole War )
4)common soldier
5)educate
6)yes
7)violence
8) educate
9)violence w/ no purpose and inauthentic display
10)I'm new to the Roman era and I look forward to years of participation. I was always at my happiest when involved in other time periods when I could help educate the public one on one. First person impressions and just answering questions such as: NO ,the Confederates did not drop the Atomic bomb and they didn't fight the Seminoles in 1835.
I strayed away from the "powder burning" events and stuck to living history events in my area. Hope this helps-
1) What gender are you?
Male
2) What is your age group?
Under 25
3) What period do you portray?
Roman
Other (bible histories)
4) What role do you play?
-Roman soldier
-Roman citizen
-Arabic citizen in times of Abraham
-Arabic bussinessman around 600 AD
5) Why do you take part in living history activities? Which is the most important reason?
Hobby
Educate the public
6) Are potential ethical or moral issues something you would take into account when participating in an event?
Yes
7) If yes, what issues would you consider? What is the most important?
Need for authenticity
8) Which would be of more importance to you in an event?
Education
9) At what point would you consider an event unethical or inappropriate?
Inauthentic display
10) Have you any other comments?
No