Faire: Should it be Fantasy or Historically Accurate or a Mix?

[lys1022]

Since I'm feeling mischievous, I'm going to throw a twist out:

For those who disagree with folks who wear sci fi or other types of clothing / costuming to a Ren Faire, I'm curious what you feel about wearing faire clothing to places like restaurants or stores?  Is that the same kind of attention-seeking behaviour?  Or do you feel that it's different for some reason?  Is it acceptable for renfolke to "freak the danes" and then turn around and say "but don't wear wierd clothes into OUR sandbox!"  Or should the standards go both ways?

Now, I realize that we all get caught having to stop and grab a bag of ice for the cooler, or needing to fill up the gas tank on the way to faire.  That's not what I'm talking about.  I'm referring more to the practice of going to restaurants after faire and the like.

This is probably also a hot potato, but the thread conversations so far just made this question keep popping up in my head.

[Cobaltblu]

I of course see no issue with going into a store dressed in garb if someone has to buy water or pay for gas or etc.

I think it is ok to go to eat at a restaurant like TGI Fridays or Outback Steak House in garb after or before faire (don't bring swords and weapons of course).  It is not ok to go to a fine eating establishment where everyone wears nice clothes and even suits and ties.

The issues are:

What is the obvious intent of the event you are going to?
Will what you wear go against that obvious intent?

In the case of a convenient store the obvious intent regarding clothing is that patrons simply wear clothes (I.E. the typical sign saying "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service").  If you walk down the street in your neighborhood the obvious intent regarding clothing is that you are merely decent (I.E. laws for indecency with definitions of what it entails).

In the case of a renaissance festival the obvious intent is that if you wear garb that it be appropriate for the renaissance/medieval time frame.

Regarding a person's intent...if someone wears historically accurate period garb for the renaissance and attends a faire to "freak" the mundane people who also attended...that is also unacceptable.  Not because of the garb but because of why the person wore the garb.  Let's face it...a regular patron who sees a person in very nice and accurate garb being a moron or pestering them may likely assume you work at the faire.

Regards,

CB

[Fenrisulfr]

The nature of a Renaissance Faire is somewhat transcendental, methinks, and as such it would not be unseemly to come as a fairie, wizard, or someone (or something even) mentioned in the folk-lore of the period. 

As for the issue of pirates: it would not be out of line, as if I recall Sir Francis Drake disrupted his fair share of Spanish trade in the 1500s.

However, this must be weighed against the issue of ambience, which would preclude something like stormtrooper outfits.  There ought to be standards in place so that the Faire does not become just another costume party, but for them to be ordained from a hierarchy would destroy the creative and somewhat free-wheeling (and thus transcendental) nature of the event.  If any guidelines are in place, it ought to be from a consensus, not unlike the Norse Thing (þing i.e. assembly) of old.

[Noble Dreg]

...For those who disagree with folks who wear sci fi or other types of clothing / costuming to a Ren Faire, I'm curious what you feel about wearing faire clothing to places like restaurants or stores?  Is that the same kind of attention-seeking behaviour?  Or do you feel that it's different for some reason?  Is it acceptable for renfolke to "freak the danes" and then turn around and say "but don't wear wierd clothes into OUR sandbox!"  Or should the standards go both ways?...

Depends on the restaurant...most "pubs" actually like to see their patrons appear in garb and/or kilts, for the very reason it adds to the ambiance of an English/Irish themed establishment.  Going to Perkins to 'freak the danes' would be disrespectful to gramma who's out with her friends to grab a bite!  So I say yes, it is o.k. to go to a 'pub' in garb after fest but if going to McD's I'll use the drive-through.

One exception, if said establishment is across the road from the Fair it's pretty much understood where you came from and what you are doing.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

I walked into the Red Lobster in Sioux Falls after a long hot day at faire.  Yes, I was dressed as a pirate.  No surprise.  But to find the doors flung open and the entire wait staff there to greet me because I was in pirate kit?  THAT was priceless. 

[tigrlily64]

When I went as Mun with my family to fair, we stopped at a local diner for breakfast.  It was fun to see people dressed (or, in some cases, half-dressed) in garb.  They didn't even get that many looks.  So, at a place like that, a mile or so from Faire, I would say it's appropriate.

[BubbleWright]

I think that each Faire must have a historical starting point and core events for the time period it portrays. That is the framework that holds the show together. That being said, H/A needs to be tempered with practicality. Emptying chamber pots out the windows on unsuspecting Danes is not an advisable course of action.

Much has been said as to what peoples costumes and/or actions do to others enjoyment of the Faire. I would ask, "What do you bring to the Faire?". I make and fly kites and use bubble machines to show me what the ground wind is doing. I thought how can I bring my hobby of bubble making to the Faire? I designed the Renaissance Bubble Machine using technology and mechanical principles that were known at the time. The knowledge of soap goes as far back as the ancient Phoenecians and the 7th century Arabs. Bubbles occur in nature. And children making bubbles is documented in Pieter Bruegel's painting "Children's Games" (1560). Was a bubble machines ever made in this time period (?)... not to our knowlwdge. Could a bubble machine like mine have been made then (?)... yes, all the elements and knowlwdge were in place then. When questioned, I say " I asked myself, what would Master Leonardo do? Master Leonardo watches the birds to learn how they fly, I watch the bubbles in the wind to see that on which the birds fly". The whole setup is unintrusive and not until the patrons get close do they even know it is there. It makes smiles and sparks dialog as to wether this was possible in the Time of Elizabeth. It makes people think. I love hearing children explain to their parents how the machine works.  I have brought something postive to the Faire which brings knowledge and enjoyment. Even Storm Troopers may come and play in my bubbles.

http://renstorearticles.blogspot.com/2007/03/felix-cartagena-renaissance-bubble.html

[robert of armstrong]

It is bad enough that they are there because they (in the above video) think it's funny to disrupt the Faire, but it is made far worse by the miniscule effort he put into the robot.  That "I want to be a pain, but I'm going to do it with as little effort as possible" attitude is a futher slap in the face.  At least the StormTroopers put in some effort.

[Tipsy Gypsy]

Just to play devil's advocate, then... would this be interpreted as mocking TRF by making a miniscule effort, doing the best he could given whatever resources he might have at hand, or just having a little tongue-in-cheek fun?



Not knowing the guy myself, I lean toward option #3, but others may see it differently; someone here may know him and be able to answer the question for certain. Me, I just thought it was pretty funny.

[Capt Gabriela Fullpepper]

Just to play devil's advocate, then... would this be interpreted as mocking TRF by making a miniscule effort, doing the best he could given whatever resources he might have at hand, or just having a little tongue-in-cheek fun?



Not knowing the guy myself, I lean toward option #3, but others may see it differently; someone here may know him and be able to answer the question for certain. Me, I just thought it was pretty funny.

I wouldn't want to be seen DEAD with that guy. Even my ex made a far better attempt at garb than this guy. Thi sis to funny.. I am Lord Duck of Tape, Knight of the Sticky all binding substance.

[Valiss]

I think it's probably impossible to enforce a strict costume rule.  You would have to have people at the front gates checking everyone who comes in, and that's not fun for the customers. That said, I would prefer that people at least attempt to stick to the genre at hand.  Wearing a wizard costume, while not being technically accurate, is at least derived from the overall impression people get from a "ren faire."  Whereas wearing a storm trooper outfit really has no relevance to the theme and disrupts the overall renaissance experience.  The goal for many faires is to recreate a town or village in the era and having other-worldy characters detracts from that.

Of course I've never seen anyone come to faire in sci-fi garb, so maybe this is an issue at just some faires.  Most people come in either mundane clothing or some version of faire garb. Is this a big problem for some of you at your local faires?

[Tipsy Gypsy]

I really haven't noticed that much sci-fi garb at TRF, myself. A stray storm trooper, someone on Halloween weekend dressed as Ash from Army of Darkness, and a girl I know wearing a gown from Riddick (to her credit, it did suit her). Not so much as to be an issue, IMO...

[robert of armstrong]

Just to play devil's advocate, then... would this be interpreted as mocking TRF by making a miniscule effort, doing the best he could given whatever resources he might have at hand, or just having a little tongue-in-cheek fun?



Not knowing the guy myself, I lean toward option #3, but others may see it differently; someone here may know him and be able to answer the question for certain. Me, I just thought it was pretty funny.

I am embarassed for him.  Not upset or insulted, as it is an attempt at armor, although a pathetic one.  I think he would have been better off just coming in mundane garb, although his lady friend is clearly in garb.  Perhaps she could have given him a little advice a few weeks before the Faire, like "You are not going to be seen with me wearing that."  First time garbing is so easy, even a pair of black jeans can be worn and a Ren shirt can be bought just inside the gates for around $30.  That wold have been far better.

My wife saw the photo and right away that his lame attempt is most likely a snapshot of their relationship, with him making half-assed efforts to make it look like he is trying to take part in her interests.

[Anna Iram]

Well let's not make too hasty a judgement about his intent. It's silly enough to give me a smile. I'll assume he was going for that.

Believe me, if you all had a picture of my first attempt at garb you'd tear me to shreds. A few years later and I'm still far from HA. I guess I'm in the Renaissance "like" category.

As for going out in garb, sure I've done it. En masse. Had a table next to our group ask which church we were from.  In all faireness we did have Father Simon with us, but still.....

[silverstah]

My wife saw the photo and right away that his lame attempt is most likely a snapshot of their relationship, with him making half-assed efforts to make it look like he is trying to take part in her interests.

Wow - let's not judge the guy's relationship!  That seems a bit harsh.  Most likely he's not terribly into faire, but his partner is - so he made an attempt to fit in for her.  I think it's cute.