This may seem a strange video to be showing here, but it holds some interesting information. Authenticity versus myth for one thing, and for another the fact that early history shapes our lives later on.
Too many living historians concentrate only on their persona/character in a particular period. Let us say for instance that you are interpreting and English woodsman in 1742 as I am. I did not just suddenly appear in 1742 dressed in 1742 style clothing and using 1742 equipment, I have a history before 1742, and that history shapes who and what I am now.
If it is 1742 now, then I was born in 1680 somewhere in England. Who and what were my Father and his Father before him? What was I doing as soon as I was allowed out and about on my own? Did I work for my Father? When I arrived in the New World in 1700, had I any experience in trapping and hunting? What equipment did I bring from home?
It is reasonable to suppose that if I was 20 years of age when I arrived in the New World that I would possess items made in the 17th century, and some of those items would still be with me in 1742. By the age of 20 coming from a working family in a small country village in England, it is likely that I have formed my own opinions on what clothing I like to wear, which clothing wears best and affords me the most protection. So now let’s for arguments sake move me forward in time to 1750. I am now in my 70s, and the clothing fashions are changing. Do I care about fashions born in Europe or England? No probably not. I like the way I am and the way I dress, I think the shorter weskits are silly and not practical. Why should I think of changing now?
So here we are back in 2010, what do you own that was not made in 2010?
