Living History

We’ve all seen things that take us right out of the moment when witnessing Living History, this week we talk about some of our pet peeves, those items that, for us, are real show stoppers, including:
• Modern clothes, shoes and jewelry
• Modern piercings, tattoos and hair colors/styles
• Actions and words, politicizing, talking about your personal life,  smoking a cigarette
• Furniture and items like coolers, sleeping bags, toiletries, vehicles, porta-a-potties, ATMs, cameras, cellphones
• Food containers like beverage containers, plastic bags and wrappers, and vendor purchased items

Musical Interlude: Tribe of the Lost Road by Ensemble Davuli off their album The Wandering Drum

Download: Show Stoppers

This week, episode 33, Alena and Stephen follow up the episode on Minutiae with by talking about reenacting and interacting the larger objects. They tackle big topics like:
•    Shelter: from Houses and environments to tents and other portable homes
•    Furniture: camp furniture, common furniture and a reading from Home by Witold Rybczynski
•    Storage: humans collect stuff, and have found myriad ways through the years of storing it all
•    Vehicles: both historical and modern transport concerns
•    Animals: adding animals to a portrayal, working with heritage breeds, dealing with the public.

Musical Interlude: Greensleeves performed by Renaissonics

Download: The Big Stuff

This week Alena and Stephen tackle the stuff of Living History, and talk about how much the little things can really add both for your own enjoyment and for the publics’ edification. We talked about:
• Steps toward historical accuracy
• pocket stuff and personal items
• Comfort items and furniture
• Tools, weapons, leisure and religious items.

Musical Interlude: Hey Ho to the Greenwood sung by Ravenrook Consort

Download: Minutiae
Listen here  

Episode Summary:

This week we will discuss what to look for in a clothing presentation, including:
• The Look: how you wear it, what you do in it, and caring and storage.
• Materials: synthetics, cotton, linen, wool, high-end fabrics; weaves, knits & leather
• Fit: why is it important, how it will look, how you will feel, Patterning & sewing
• Layering
• Footwear
• Headgear

Musical Interlude: Pastimes With Good Company, sung by the Cast of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire

Download here: Historical Clothing