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Daily Telegraph article on reenactment
#1
Following the coverage of Paul Allen's inquest (see separate post in Dis Manibus), an article on re-enactment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8...-past.html

Time Team joust death: the history buffs who relive the past

By Nick Britten 4:26PM GMT 27 Jan 2011
Participants have access to an array of deadly weapons; they learn to shoot arrows, preferably on horseback, wield swords and use axes. And, of course, they get to dress up.
And it’s a growing industry. Pick your battle, and it won’t take long before you can find somewhere it is being re-created. Groups are springing up all over the world on a regular basis, giving folk the opportunity to let off steam by charging around a field wielding something lethal whilst learning history.
There is the fun side of it where much of the enjoyment comes from a sense of camaraderie and shared knowledge, a kind of in-joke that outsiders don’t get.
These are the nerds and there are the sorts who simply like smashing seven bells out of each other on a Sunday afternoon.
But increasingly it’s big business, playing important roles in anything from education, academia to Hollywood blockbusters.

John Conyard, who runs Comitatus, a Late Roman re-enactment group, is also a research assistant at the University of Kent, specialising in Roman Military equipment, and is rather dismissive at the public image of re-enactors as some sort of nutcases.
Mr Conyard was actually asked by Time Team to fulfil the role that Mr Allen was doing when he died, but turned it down because he does not joust.
He said groups like his reconstruct historical artefacts for academic use, to “find things about the Romans that have something to offer” rather than “running around lighting fires and shooting arrows”.
Their Roman Cavalry displays, says Comitatus, which works with schools and universities, “push authenticity and experimental research to new heights for the period”, and Mr Conyard said: “Academics can be very, very snobbish and you have to go to the right conference to be taken seriously, but our aim is to educate.”
Charlie Allan, chief executive of Clanranald and a director of Combat International, said that it gave men the chance to relive long-held interests and was a great family hobby.
His members receive training in weaponry and health and safety, and adhere to a strict code of conduct on the battlefield.
He said: “Whole families get involved and it’s a great way for kids of the Playstation generation to learn and be active, and whether they are participating or watching it gives them an experience they cannot get in school.
“We make the environment as safe as possible but it can be aggressive, and people can get hurt, which is why we place a strong emphasis on training.”
He added: “Audiences have been growing rapidly because it gives them a rare chance to see and touch live what they have seen on television.”
[Image: wip2_r1_c1-1-1.jpg] [Image: Comitatuslogo3.jpg]


aka Paul B, moderator
http://www.romanarmy.net/auxilia.htm
Moderation in all things
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#2
That's a nice little article. They could have said much more, though. Maybe they had space limitations.
David J. Cord
www.davidcord.com
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