What is with the ninjas? Last faire I went to started with one then somehow multiplied like rabbits.. and they were working at the faire.. Now I know back in the day there could of been ninjas but come on with the black outfit.. as I remember that they are suppose to blend in not stand out..
Please answer this for me cause it has been annoying me since the faire ended in september..
A lot of people use faire as an excuse to get out whatever costumes they can't wear elsewhere, like Klingons, or stormtroopers.
;) Here is what I found.
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/warsinasia/p/NinjaProfile.htm
It seems that they started around 600 - 900 AD
Hope this helps.
Yes the black suites are a movie invention originally they were spies and scouts and indeed were trained to blend in. Hard to spy on people when you stick out like a sore thumb. I know a couple of Ninjutsu instructors and they all hate the black suite Hollywood treatment of their art.
I saw my first ninja last season at FLARF. I agree they do stick out more than blend in. They certainly don't blend in with the general Tudor theme of that faire, but faire seems to have become much more about adding to the tapestry in a *BIG* way rather than a more subtle and quiet one, and strickly ren one, as in the past. Watching them play still made me laugh.
I have to admit I am rapidly losing my "tolerance" for Ninjas, Stormtroopers, Star Fleet, Superheroes, Furies, S&M, Victoria Secret Pirate wenches, etc. Last year I was "lucky" enough to see a guy in a "Holly Hobbie/Cabbage Patch" girlie outfit complete with matching doll being led with a leash and collar by his Goth Mistress...There is a line, some push it, others step all over it.
Sure, big tent, room for all, entertaining...er, no. At least try to find garb that ties in with the general theme of the Faire you are attending. Fantasy folk/Fae as written about during the time period are generally welcomed...Coming as "Hellboy" could be considered rude by some. At least try people!
I think the "fair experience" is becoming diluted and slowly turning into a Comic-Con. Sure things change and I am free to move on...Or I can defend that which I enjoy. I will never be "snarky" to any fair visitor, but I will not inter-act with those who do not respect what most Ren-Fairs are about.
Big exception...TRF on Halloween!
Quote from: Noble Dreg on December 28, 2009, 04:43:35 PM
I have to admit I am rapidly losing my "tolerance" for Ninjas, Stormtroopers, Star Fleet, Superheroes, Furies, S&M, Victoria Secret Pirate wenches, etc.
As long as no one knows what lies beneath.... ;)
Oh, I think we know! ;D
I think it's been a slow progression over the years. My brother can tell you of a time at my home faire...back in the early 80's when it began...where you'd never find a Coca Cola logo or any company logo on site. Eveything sold had to be packaged in plain paper and tied with twine. Never would you see a plastic shopping bag or anything other than handmade crafts for sale. Now it's everywhere. I've seen vendors chatting on phones and smoking, and at some faires, you have to run the gauntlet of 21st century merchants outside the gate wanting to sell airtime and water softners and all sorts of other things. So, for me it's no big deal what someone wears inside. I don't expect to find a "real" village on the inside. Fortunatly our casts do a bang up job of keeping the illusion going, regardless of the timewarps.
I was shocked a few years ago, when MNRF allowed an ATV dealer to set up right outside front gate. That really ruins the illusion we try so hard to create AND it's allowed by management!
If someone was in the market for purchasing an ATV, are they going to a ren faire to buy it?
Now that seems strange to even me. Why would you want to do that. I would think he would have better luck at the gun show than at a ren faire.
We had the Spam Mobile outside BARF one year. (appropriate maybe to some...Spam...BARF....) Not very authentic , but it made me laugh and Spam has (oddly) become part of the ren culture. Who'd have thought!? Besides...I happen to like spam.
As taken from the Monty Python Spam sketch.....
"Well, what you got? Well, there's egg and bacon, egg sausage and bacon, egg and Spam, egg bacon and Spam, egg bacon sausage and Spam, Spam bacon sausage and Spam, Spam egg Spam Spam bacon and Spam, Spam sausage Spam Spam Spam bacon Spam tomato and Spam, Spam Spam Spam egg and Spam, Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam baked beans Spam Spam Spam (Vikings sing) or Lobster Thermidor au Crevettes with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and Spam..."
I like spam but you would think they would be pushing it at like ww2 re enactments not ren faire. LOL
Quote from: Anna Iram on December 29, 2009, 12:41:49 AM
...appropriate maybe to some...Spam...BARF
LOL!
I admit, I like it too!
Well most of the faires I have seen are still pure without all the troopers, comic cons, and so on. So maybe I'm alittle upset at seeing the ninjas cause that opens a door for more out of age costumes.. I think our management is still trying hard to keep the faire from turing into a circus.
As is my homefaire of BARF. We are known to be more of a fantasy faire, I think, so lots of fairies and pirates and some LOTR characters now and again. Saw a barefoot Hobbit one year. Charming, but all I could think was *ouch* 'cause our fair is woods and mulch. Tough to walk barefoot in. Chainmaille babes and yes, ocassional goth and Vicky's pirates. No StarWars yet or ninja's. Our Queen can see the fairies, our King does not beleive in them and so they do not exist. He cannot see them. Perhaps adopt that bit of wisdom and see what you wish while there. Like the Coke logos, tune out that which you find jarring.
Well, presentation IS everything!
The mystery bidder and her Spam
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/2529727060_29d7985e1b.jpg)
Photo by Quiet One
Ah yes...Captain Spam at his finest. :D
And there's not really anything managment can do about it. "Hey, you're paying money tto come in to our faire dressed like a ninja? No problem!"
But could that be part of the rules? Saying that management has the right to ask people to not wear certain clothing/costumes?
I'm not talking about people paying in dressed like that, I'm talking about non-paid performers.
Could be some Pirates vs Ninjas skit.
I agree with Keno.
I'd love to not have the grossly out of period costumes, but I do so love the Pirates, even though they are arguably out of period dress by a few decades or so. I love the fae people too, but in my opinion they belong as part of the folklore of the time.
I think you're right and it is the Pirate vs Ninja game. Interesting that a Ren faire would incorporate that into their story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_versus_Ninjas
haha, I love the fact that Puzzle Pirates got a mention in that wiki page! ;D
Well if they do Ninja vs Pirates the next thing would be the Zombie game. It uses nerf guns and socks.
^^^ Now I'm scared...
well in 2008 ORF had a Zombie Choir. A bunch of the cast members were zombies and a couple times a day they would sing at one of the smaller stage.
Well this is very interesting and somewhat close to home. When my wife and I reigned in Tenn. There was one year where an individual staged a mock asassignation on me. It was done quite well and as such I was mortified that I could be done in so easily. His purpose was to point out that I walked the faire with no guards, a common problem then, the volunteers could not keep up with me. He offered to portray the kings shadow(i.e. my body guard). His character was that of a ninja, complete with black outfit, katana etc. etc. I accepted him post haste. Then I started to run into flack from certain elements within the faire saying it was not period. I stated the fact that Ninjas were around way before the renaissance(as was stated before), and as far as I was concerned, since I was not an historic actual King, I could have whatever guards I wanted. At that time I embarked on a mission to try and come up with some evidence that Ninjas or at least orientals had made it to Renaissance, England, Italy, France, or Spain, but so far have not been able to come up with any. But just because no record can be found does not mean that not one of them ever made it. By their very nature Ninjas would be inconspicuous and not noticed as their function was one of stealth and they would work at night. Now that could be a Hollywood generated concept, but so what. Most of what we portray is the paying patrons concept of what was then, instead of what some people have come to label "Historically accurate". Pirates should be no problem since since pirates roamed the high seas during the renaissance period and equally more so in QE I's time. Granted they flourished more in the later 17th and 18th centuries. My point is that for the most part what we ourselves view as period may not necessairily be so. I for one would love to see a group of Moors in traditional Moorish garb descend on any faire that I am at and then hear some clown say " that's not period".
I do not believe this is a "Period vs non-period" issue but more of the "period vs absurdly not period" question. Yes, there where "period" pirates but not Stormtroopers, Spock, Furries, or pajama clad Ninja's. I do not mind people taking "liberties" but admit to tiring of some stepping all over the "spirit" of a Ren-Faire.
It's easy to say "to each their own" but I also believe it is important to protect the things you love. If you do not like what you see, politely bring it up with management. That is what I will do next season.
At BARF we also have a day where the Deadite Empire comes to faire "zombiefied." It is about having fun. If your fun is going somewhere that may have pirates and you wanna be a ninja, so be it. If you wanna be a fairy, go for it.
My biggest garb-gripe is the Victoria's Secret (or Frederick's of Hollywood) Pirates. I want to yell and shake those women.
I know I don't go "period" all the time, but I go to have fun. I'd certainly hope my friends would tell me if I looked ridiculous! Too bad the Vicky's Secret Pirates' friends don't mention it, but think that may be on my list this year. :D
Quote from: Kate on January 06, 2010, 01:43:15 PM
My biggest garb-gripe is the Victoria's Secret (or Frederick's of Hollywood) Pirates. I want to yell and shake those women.
Shaking a Victoria's secret or Frederick's of Hollywood Lady Pirate. HHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
let me think about that for a moment. Would my iron lung stand the strain, No, no viagra that day, that's for sure.
between that and welsh wench running downhill, can we all say MIOCARDIAL INFARCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have a Zombie day at BARF Kate??!!! :) :) :) :)
I so want to play with those guys when they come. How could I have missed this zombie nirvana in the past?
Quote from: Anna Iram on January 06, 2010, 10:21:02 PM
We have a Zombie day at BARF Kate??!!! :) :) :) :)
I so want to play with those guys when they come. How could I have missed this zombie nirvana in the past?
Yes! I don't know exactly what day, but they usually come in garb, having suffered from the plague and risen from the dead. ALWAYS amusing! When I hear about it coming up this season I'll post something int he BARF thread.
:) Thanks!
I've seen a Teletubby and a tiger-pirate at KCRF before.
Here's what I don't understand: when I voiced my displeasure (read : distress) that someone at TRF had dressed in an SS Nazi uniform, many on this board thought I was over stepping my bounds and should just keep quiet. The uniform was not only NON period, it was also pervasively disgusting. And yet some thought that I was out of line for bringing it up. Where are those same nay-sayers for those objecting to the teletubbies at faire?
I'd hate to think that those objections were just being leveled at me.
Nazi is definitely out of line.
German officer...*shrug* some people like re-enactments.
But just as I wouldn't wear my Confederate uniform to Faire they shouldn't be wearing a Nazi one. I think it is great that people are willing to reenact a time that was terrible and don the uniform of the Nazi to demonstrate that history to the public. Just as some people look down on me for putting on the Confederate uniform. I do it for the love of history. Yes, people should feel free to wear what they want. Faire is about felling free to be you. BUT, there is also some respect for the intent that people seem to overlook. I don't want stormtroopers and Nazis at my Civil War reenactment (and I imagine they would be escorted out if they did show up!). I'm not going to make a huge deal over it, but I will make it known that I don't agree with the extreme latitudes that some people are taking.
I have seen things/people paraded at Scarborough that made me want to cover my children's and later my grandchildren's eyes. I have seen poor Eagle Wolf taken to task for his authentic Native American garb while a pair of bridled and bitted *pony girls* pranced chained together in front of their *master*.
Frankly I would MUCH rather see any bit of thigh or chest from Eagle Wolf than to see a woman prance around in absurdly high heeled, thigh boots and barely covered lace accented ... ah...charms.
When I worked for Belly Dance Treasures ladies would come in to buy a dance bra and belt and want to wear only that. Seriously. We often would do our best to talk them into the pants but I have seen them walk out with a sheer skirt under it showing their so mundane and charming panties underneath. Delightful I am sure for some of the lads... but also not all the ladies were the kind that the look flattered.
Where can management draw the line on who comes through the gate when the bottom line is money?
As for Scarby, I was under the impression that the year was that of about 1536 or so. Now, anything over a hundred years to that future seems a bit out of time to me. Nothing against those that dress otherwise but they should be using their brains and know that Stormtroopers from Star Wars and Nazi SS troops have no business there. I like some of the Victorian age things I have seen but still they are out of time for me. Just my opinion and remember it is worth what you paid for it.
Has anyone seen the episode of The Big Bang Theory where they want to go to the Renaissance Festival, but Sheldon comments that all of their costumes aren't period so they suggest he dons a Star Trek costume and pretend he want back in time?
You never know what people are thinking. Faires are places to have fun. If you want period accurate stuff, do SCA events instead!
Just my two cents.
I'm ok with most fantasy players at ren and I love the fae I'm even ok with the guy from Assasin's creed because he is from about the time of the Templar Knights so its all good.
Personally I play a fantasy style character but I try to keep as close to the relative "time period" - even when I go pirate I try to build my garb to be as close to period correct as possible- usually within a 200yr window.
Thankfully I have not seen a ninja or a storm trooper at our faire. (watch now that I said it I will see a ton of them), but if I did it would irk me and leave a bad taste in my mouth, enough so that I would say something to the management, verbally and in written form.
I think its in poor taste because if one of us showed up in our period garb to one of their period/movie specific reenactments, we probably would not be allowed in, so why can't the same be said for faires??
QuoteFrankly I would MUCH rather see any bit of thigh or chest from Eagle Wolf than to see a woman prance around in absurdly high heeled, thigh boots and barely covered lace accented ... ah...charms.
I totally agree with this.
Kate- that is my favorite show and that was one of my favorite episodes.
I'm not a period accurate ocd person. Case in point my boyfriend goes as a viking barbarian and I made his garb- what does that say.
I think its more to do with the spirit and ambiance than exact period specific correctness.
Quote from: angusmacinnes on January 08, 2010, 11:51:24 AMAs for Scarby, I was under the impression that the year was that of about 1536 or so.
1533 to be precise
thanks VIII
I justr watched the Simpson ToMacco episode. They are watching a movie. Zorro is fighting the musketeers and the Man in the Iron Mask.
Zorro: I have come to return King Arthur to the Throne.
Bart: It's a history lesson come alive.
Lisa: It's totally inaccurate.
Bart: Quite! Here comes the Ninjas.
Just from last year at TRF....
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/trf%20opening%2009/TRF09011.jpg)
What looks worse here, the teletubby or the mulleteer in jeans?
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/TRF%20Pirates%2009/TRFPirates09073.jpg)
Frederick's of Hollywood Lady Pirates...I'm OK with them.
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/TRF%20Hallween%2009/TRF09AHE075.jpg)
Doctor Who, he is a time traveler..
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/TRF%20Hallween%2009/TRF09AHE085.jpg)
Spock
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/TRF%20Hallween%2009/8229_144709283343_633273343_2659959.jpg)
A Sith Lord, his ol'lady, and a clone, from "a long time ago"
I thought I had a picture of a Ninja, but they know the art of invisibility!
But really, these folks are all having fun and paying to get in, why make them feel unwelcome at faire?
Psst That's his wife. :)
Quote from: renfairephotog on January 08, 2010, 03:39:16 PM
Psst That's his wife. :)
Fixed, Man, I gotta put down the pipe!
Last year at BARF...
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Knoty-Dragon/BARF%202009/IMG_0013a.jpg)
I guess I have no problem with the girls wearing almost nothing because back then there were whores, and I guess that what I would expect them to wear. But as I said ninjas should blend in not stand out. I don't care what people that pay to get in wear, cause they are paying to get in. But people that work there should at least look close to the age. I know these kids have been there for some time so I would think they would have enough time to make something.
Quote from: Keno on January 09, 2010, 02:17:07 AM
I guess I have no problem with the girls wearing almost nothing because back then there were whores, and I guess that what I would expect them to wear.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAH
ROFLMAO
well... you do have quite a few people who merely think Faire is a costume party
Anime to Zombies and everything from Slavegirls to Starfleet to Steampunk to Stormtroopers to Superheroes in between
I'm sure this season we'll possibly see the Avatar creatures.
There are Jack Sparrows and Aragorns
Back in the day, I saw more than my share of Connor MacLeods... kilt and katana
In my experience, there are two sorts of folk who do this...
There are the sort that want to participate... so they dress in what they have...
these folks are rennies waiting to happen.
Then there are the sort that are really just wanting to disrupt and shock.
I avoid these folks. Best to do so. Giving them attention fuels that attitude.
But, I have a question for all of us.
We're all much more tolerant of some flights of fantasy than others... no?
I mean, fairies are an expected sight at Faire.
Trolls... treemen...
and no one gets too upset at the Jack Sparrows or the Aragorns...
even if Jack Sparrow is Elizabethan era and the Faire isn't.
So my question is this:
Why do you think certain elements are more acceptable... or grate on us less, at least... than others?
Is it ok if it's "Medieval Fantasy" in essence but not otherwise?
Once you step into more "Space Opera" like Star Trek or Star Wars, it's suddenly not?
I agree about the Ninja thing, by the way. I think it'd be HILARIOUS to do a deadpan skit with a ninja and a nobleman ... I can think of a few very funny concepts right off the bat.
Oh, and by the way
I wear my garb to Sci Fi Conventions.
When they ask "who are you supposed to be?"
I tell them... a character from a book that isn't OUT yet. I believe in being a trendsetter, not a trend follower.
I think you are right on this, Count.
MEDIEVAL FANTASY.
To quote from Steve Martin's Theodoric of York--
'Why just 50 years ago we would've thought your daughter's illness was caused by demonic posession or witch craft. But now adays, we know that Isabelle is suffering from an inbalance of bodily humors. Perhaps caused by a toad or a small dwarf living in her stomach.'
People were more superstitious then, I do believe. Well, while they are superstitious today, they know the reasons for their superstitions.
For example, the Cornish believed in what is called 'pisky-mazed'. That pixies had a way of confusing travelers so they were lost and needed help getting to where they were going.
If this were true, then most men would be pisky-mazed. Hence most men are reluctant to ask for directions due to some medieval man getting directions from a pisky.....but I digress!
What I am trying to say is that pixies and fairies and trolls had their place in legend and lore in medieval thinking.
Star Trek and Stormtroopers?
Ummmm......no.
But live and let live.
I think the ninja emerged in the 14th-15th century, so they are at least period ...
I think its ok for fairies, troll, and other mistical creatures cause they were in the stories back then, if they weren't it wouldn't be period. But I never heard in the old days how storm troopers would walk the paths, posing for the girls. I took a study on ninjas and they were there back in the day but unless it was night or a very dark place would wear black. But they would dress to blend in so no one would know what they are there to do. Now I have heard of raising the dead but most of the time there was a witch or demon involved..
As long as there was the toss in about Jack Sparrow not being period ...
Did kilts back then have sewn in pleats?
Well, I'd chat more, but I have a costume festival coming up to prepare for ...
:)
I know of a wonderful couple who were checked at the gates last year because someone got a bug up their butt about chainmaille not being worn in a family friendly way. Hers was not revealing, and I certainly saw much more revealed throughout the day from wenches and others in "acceptable" garb, but maille was the days target. Needless to say they were upset and left. A shame, for they are good patrons of the faire and there's a good chance they won't return.
So consider the fallout if you decide to speak out against someone elses garb. Take a good look at yourselves in the mirror and wonder if there is someone else who thinks you are disrupting their view. Perhaps rather than try to run someone out, get to know them. It might be they'll catch the tone of what the faire is meant to be about and become a villager next season. Not everyone makes it to cannon for the preshow or reads the program, so they may not even know there is a timeline and story and God knows I've shown up to medieval faires in elizabethan hoops etc etc and even my pirate garb one year as I was returning from a pirtate fest and wanted to stop by. I can't imagine how I'd have felt if I had been shunned, or turned away at the gate because of something so trivial. Not until later did I do a "duh" and realise how out of period I'd looked, but for that day the cast treated me as though I fit right in. Why can't we, as a group, be just as gracious?
Quote from: Betty Munro on January 09, 2010, 09:57:12 PM
As long as there was the toss in about Jack Sparrow not being period ...
Did kilts back then have sewn in pleats?
Nope, tailored kilts didn't happen till about after 1790 or so.
http://www.albanach.org/generations.html
Anna: God, I hate that! There's this one lovely lass (patron) who has an AMAZING leather outfit, that covers everything, but shows a lot of leg, and every year some stupid puritan complains because they think they see more then they do, even though she wears shorts underneath it all. And of course, if a patron complains, management has to pretend to care...
Quote from: Zardoz on January 10, 2010, 05:20:00 PM
Quote from: Betty Munro on January 09, 2010, 09:57:12 PM
As long as there was the toss in about Jack Sparrow not being period ...
Did kilts back then have sewn in pleats?
Nope, tailored kilts didn't happen till about after 1790 or so.
http://www.albanach.org/generations.html
Well, that's it for me ... my 2 favorite things about faire ... GAoP and pleated kilts, neither of which belong ... so I guess if I have to turn a blind eye to the storm troopers and ninjas in order to have Pirates out of period and kilts out of period, then ok, I concede.
But, just a thought ... wouldn't it be AMAZING if faire opened for a single day (either a weekend early or late) JUST to "properly" dressed playtrons? Sort of like an invitational? The year before invites could be passed out with a dress code posted online so there were no misunderstandings ... if someone heard about it and wanted to participate they could contact and have their garb approved ... just a thought. Probably too much work to really happen, but it would be cool wouldn't it?
Quote from: Betty Munro on January 11, 2010, 08:53:16 AM
Quote from: Zardoz on January 10, 2010, 05:20:00 PM
Quote from: Betty Munro on January 09, 2010, 09:57:12 PM
As long as there was the toss in about Jack Sparrow not being period ...
Did kilts back then have sewn in pleats?
Nope, tailored kilts didn't happen till about after 1790 or so.
http://www.albanach.org/generations.html
...But, just a thought ... wouldn't it be AMAZING if faire opened for a single day (either a weekend early or late) JUST to "properly" dressed playtrons? Sort of like an invitational? The year before invites could be passed out with a dress code posted online so there were no misunderstandings ... if someone heard about it and wanted to participate they could contact and have their garb approved ... just a thought. Probably too much work to really happen, but it would be cool wouldn't it?
They do this all the time...It's called an SCA event. I do not want to see "Fair" turn into the SCA with Garb Police at the gate. But at the same time I do not want my fair to turn into a Comic-Con, and I will take some action in voicing my opinion to management if and when the "Storm-Troopers" return. Sure, there is a "fuzzy" line between "period" and "not", but Spock ain't "period", period! Keep the chain-mail, toss the Yoda.
Are we tossing Yoda for height or distance? Sorry couldnt help meself.
He's the guest of honour at the trebuchet demonstration. I'll bring the lighter fluid and a Zippo to ensure his warm welcome.
This topic comes up a lot, and I'll admit that ten or so years ago I was among the folks who bridled at any garb or even elements of garb, that I found to non HA or otherwise an anachronism in the faire setting. I would walk around in my dull peasant garb, and annoy my friends with a stream of "this or that's not period" etc...
Personally I've gotten over that! People are gonna do it, nobody is gonna change it, I do it, and I've come to think its a good thing that folks want to do something to get into the spirit of faire, so I wouldn't want to discourage it. It's better than showing up in the baggy cargo shorts and crocs they might wear otherwise!
I seem to be in a lot of groups that have this sort of issue! I recall we had some folks from the TRF cast come to our local Sci-fi convention here in Houston to promote the faire. I thought it was nice, as I see a lot of cross-over of Sci-Fi with the 'fantasy' of faire, and many folks I know really get into both, but there were actually people there at the con who thought it was "inappropriate" to mix ren-faire with Sci-Fi! Nothing like a 40 year old man in a Harry Potter school uniform saying some faries, princesses and elves are inappropriate at a Sci-Fi con! It all led to infinitely boring discussions that evening where I found myself hearing and using words like parachronism or prochronism or chronological anomaly, which nobody should have to say unless their gonna be graded on it !
So, is the Steampunk, Wonderland, Star Trek and Star Wars kids' garb more fantasy than Renaissance? Sure, but so are barbarians, fairies, chicks in chainmail, elves, rangers, pirates of the Caribbean, belly dances, gypsys, most kilts, turkey legs, bathing, etc.......But...
Faire would be a less interesting place without them!
My point wasn't about being a garb nazi. I'm not the least bit interested in the difference between hand stitched and machine stitched clothing, or whether or not my kilt should have pleats in it. If my pleats offend some, they can talk to the back of my head.
I am talking about a true Nazi SS Stormtrooper uniform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_uniform (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_uniform). Like the kind worn at Dachau and Auschwitz. You know, those same folks that hosted the death camps in WW2?
I'm sorry that chainmaile offends some people, but the next time I see an SS Stormtrooper in a chainmaile bikini, I'll give a little credence to their point.
At least the ninjas were real as well as a whole lot closer in the historical time line. And I'm sorry, but not a single one of the other objectionable characters made a near successful whole sale attempt at racial decimation.
There's a real difference in attitude between a Star Wars stormtooper in a kilt and an Auschwitz death camp guard. Just pause for a moment and mull it over, that's all I'm saying.
Rapier, I'd say they accomplished their objective. They offended you and probably everyone else they came into contact with. No there is nothing remotly pleasant about seeing one, though I would love to visit a WWII event one day and I can't imagine why anyone would want to bring that to a ren faire any more than I really get the Star Wars thing, but then I wasn't there. Perhaps they meant it to be a dark joke on the garb nazi issue. If you should see them again walk up and ask them why they came as Nazi's. You might hear a good story, or you might be even more offended. Then, I suppose you'd have the option to speak with management. Your right as a paying customer.
Yeah, this has been an ongoing issue from day one. Just seems to be the way of it. I imagine had a pirate shown up to one of the original faires of the early 80's all hell would have broken out, but now they are accepted as ren. Things morph and change.
I *do* understand why you all would feel your faire is being invaded. I just don't see why it has to come to war. Besides, I'd kind of like to meet Yoda. Even thinking of a Elizabethan or Tudor Princess Leia gown, or has it been done? Then maybe a stormtrooper bikini....
Quote from: Noble Dreg on January 11, 2010, 09:32:10 AM
They do this all the time...It's called an SCA event. I do not want to see "Fair" turn into the SCA with Garb Police at the gate. But at the same time I do not want my fair to turn into a Comic-Con, and I will take some action in voicing my opinion to management if and when the "Storm-Troopers" return. Sure, there is a "fuzzy" line between "period" and "not", but Spock ain't "period", period! Keep the chain-mail, toss the Yoda.
I'm with you there, Dreg. While I have no use for Garb Nazis, you won't find me joining hands and singing "Kumbayah" with the Furries, Startfleet away teams, Juddoon, etc.
The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. ;) :D
Quote from: Anna Iram on January 11, 2010, 02:22:44 PM
The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. ;) :D
That was almost worthy of John's Inn, but it's probably just me... ;D :D
In reality I suppose we should be glad that anyone come to fair. I know that the owners certainly are. So with that said I am off tae purchase yet another modern era kilt. Have fun all.
Quote from: Anna Iram on January 11, 2010, 02:22:44 PM
The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. ;) :D
In your opinion. :)
Not everyone is going to agree on this matter, which is good. Ensures variety.
LOL. Agreed.
* and on another note...what a dirty little mind you have Rapier... :D*
You say that like it's a bad thing... ;D
Toss Yoda ... but I vote to be a little more tolerant of the Victoria Secret Pirates, the Chain Mail peek a boos, the dirty minds ... :) Add dirty minds to my list of my favorite things to encounter at fair ...
An SCA event ... I am afraid my garb wouldn't pass muster. 1. Pirate 2. Machine Sewn. But it might be worth it to make another set of garb.
Some leeway has to be allowed for historical inaccuracies; otherwise half of all teeth will have to be knocked out, all cats will have to be destroyed so that the rats can run rampant so that they can spread disease, dysentary and the black plague. Any and all sanitary facilities will have to be dismantled, food and beverage locations will have to be appropriatly disheveled and dirtied up. Etc, etc, adnauseum.
Any takers?
Quote from: Anna Iram on January 11, 2010, 02:22:44 PM
The more you tighten your grip Jack, the more stormtroopers will slip through your fingers. ;) :D
Serious funny there...
Quote from: Rapier Half-Wit on January 11, 2010, 04:16:30 PM
Some leeway has to be allowed for historical inaccuracies; otherwise half of all teeth will have to be knocked out, all cats will have to be destroyed so that the rats can run rampant so that they can spread disease, dysentary and the black plague. Any and all sanitary facilities will have to be dismantled, food and beverage locations will have to be appropriatly disheveled and dirtied up. Etc, etc, adnauseum.
Any takers?
But will there be rum?
I have said it before - at least the garb should be in the spirit of the Faire. Star Trek, Star Wars and the like have their own gatherings. If that is your passion, attend that venue. If you can't get to that venue, don't take away from the aura of a Faire by having a bunch of Storm Troopers show up. I go to Faire to escape from the mundane reality in which most of us exist. It's like going to the Santa Claus parade with a sign saying that reindeer can't fly.
I have no problem with, instead I encourage something I call Period Correct Fantasy. In the day, Fairies, Sprites and the like were believed in. Dragons, ogres, satirs and other creatures we now *believe* were mythogical were thought to exist just out of site, or in uncharted areas during the period we all love.
I don't really mind people coming and having fun... I didn't mean to make it sound like I did. I do wonder about drawing the line at what is publicly acceptable in a *family* venue like the Ren Faires.
I liked the S.C.A. back in the days when we did that too. I ran into the *authenticity police* A.K.A. the costume mavens.
I love all the fae folks. I love the native american costumes, I can look past the storm troopers and steam punk ( I love steam punk by the way)
A lady can always ignore that which she does not understand, I can always say I am having visions brought on by an overly warm day.
I do how ever think it was grossly unfair to ask Eagle Wolf to *cover up* that handsome skin of his when there were ... um... ladies trotting around in so much less.
I'll be honest, there are some things I don't as much over others.
Yes, I've dressed up in steampunk at faire.
And yes, I will participate in a very obnoxious and un-revealed outfit (hopefully) for the Day of Wrong at Scarby this season.
Has the population of people who go to faire just to go against the grain and purposely wear stuff out of period ? Yes, and at times it gets annoying because they do it merely to go against everybody else.
I don't care for some things at faire BUT at the end of the day, every person buys their own ticket and because you buy your ticket, you are permitted to wear whatever you'd like, just like Chewbacca walking ahead of you or an older version of Link behind you.
*shrug*
C'est la vie.
Quote from: eloquentXI on January 13, 2010, 01:56:39 AM
C'est la vie.
Oooh, You speak French....
I am la impressed.
Ok what is steampunk? I heard of a computer game but a style..
Quote from Queen of Navarre
"A lady can always ignore that which she does not understand, I can always say I am having visions brought on by an overly warm day."
I am *so* going to have to borrow that. :) :D
Keno, there's a whole movement here on this forum:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=7343.0
..and Steam punk has been growing "out there" for a time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
I guess the Storm Troopers and sci fi- etc just don't bother me. I laugh- and it is all part of the experience!
Quote from: KeeperoftheBar on January 13, 2010, 07:14:04 AM
Quote from: eloquentXI on January 13, 2010, 01:56:39 AM
C'est la vie.
Oooh, You speak French....
I am la impressed.
I hardly speak any French, and speak a tad more than that of Spanish.
Steampunk has been around for over ten years now, its just been now that a larger mass have gotten into it and started inventing and making costumes.
I agree completely about star trek but stormtroopers and yoda remember at the beginning of the movie it does say "a long long time ago." Maybe that's it or maybe I am just a big star wars fan.
Quote from: House on January 13, 2010, 02:27:12 PM
I agree completely about star trek but stormtroopers and yoda remember at the beginning of the movie it does say "a long long time ago." Maybe that's it or maybe I am just a big star wars fan.
AND "In a galaxy
far,
far away"! ;D
Although I would never approach somebody and comment on their garb, when I see all the people from other time periods like Storm Troopers and other eras, real or imagined, I think to myself, "Boy, do you look really stupid wearing that."
And since it's only my opinion and nobody is ever going to hear it, I laugh to myself, mentally shake my head, then ignore them and go on my way having fun. It hurts no one and makes me laugh.
I kinda like having all of the various costumes running around-ninjas, Darth Vaders...it's cool with me. The faire is all about having a good time, isn't it?
My two cents:
I am distracted by Pepsi ads on programs. Meth-heads in Metallica t-shirts heckling actors piss me off. But I would not want the HA police to determine who could or couldn't come in- I'm not HA (can't even get the BFA down yet!) but I enjoy making the effort to contribute to the faire experience and I enjoy being a grungy peasant in a village flooded with nobility, pirates, goths, knights... I can't tell you how many people think I'm a paid performer just because I'm so un-flashy!
I agree with Betty Munro that it would be nice to have a day per season with fairly authentic garb. Or to have faires knock a couple bucks off admission if you arrive in (fairly) HA garb. A sliding scale discount would be a fine incentive to go "whole hog" and would help the faire in the long run by peopling the streets with unpaid scenery.
My last question/observation: why are most of the faires renaissance-themed? I'd love to see more medieval faires and fantasy faires. I enjoy the day of wrong- I think it's fun to have a semi-sanctioned day for fantasy. I think the reason faire gets hit with so many fantasy types, ninjas, stormtroopers, etc. is that these people want to dress up in these various ways and faire is the only outlet they can find.
Just my 2 cents.