Ideas about Authenticity
Authenticity comes from the heart. If you're drawn to the idea of wanting to look, live, sound, and behave just like a mid-nineteenth-century western gentleman or lady -- not only because it's "correct," but mostly because you love the era and want to experience it to the fullest -- then you're a kindred spirit. If you're fascinated by the time period, want to learn all about it, really want to sink yourself into it -- then you're a Star of the West. If you love the history of our own special region and want to be an "ambassador" for our unique western experiences, then you're ready for a fun and interesting adventure.
While we all experience the constraints of budget, time, and technical skills in achieving a high level of authenticity, we don't advocate taking short cuts. Authenticity is a process -- it can take time to do the research, learn the skills, and hone our impressions. But we feel that it's not helpful to begin with something that's just not quite right. It would be better to ask to borrow loaner gear at first, rather than to settle for less. The reason for this isn't just an obsessive insistence on accuracy; it's the fact that the more you learn, and the more research you do on your own, the better your "eye" becomes.
When you first wander into an authentic event, something tells you that the impressions are different, finer, and more believable -- even if you don't know why or how. As you learn more, you begin to be able to discern those wonderful little details that set an authentic impression or encampment apart. For example, maybe you're looking at a lady who is wearing a dress made from a period print -- in the original period colors. What sets this lady apart from another woman who may have made a similar dress, maybe even from the same print, but in a modern color? There will be other small details that may at first escape your notice -- the right size and shape collar and cuffs, in a nice white linen; fine piping on her dress, rather than thick cords; good period shoes; a belt, kid gloves, and a good reproduction pin. You won't be able to put your finger on the details just at first, but soon you'll learn why and how the lady's impression works.
And as you improve your own impression, you'll be helping and inspiring others to learn more about our period and our history. Don't forget that everyone who sees you will be taking away a lesson about the past. Because so many of our events involve some aspect of public history, we feel that we have a responsibility to put forth our best efforts in educating the spectators.
Every member of the Stars is eager to help you develop your impression. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Each of us has taken some area of 19th century life and culture for his or her special research. If one of us can't help, then we'll know someone who can.
Again, the point isn't necessarily authenticity for its own sake (though some of us do take that to heart); the point is to represent the past as well as we can and to allow ourselves that very special trip back into time that we all enjoy.
Authentic Camps and Homes
The environment we create at an event is one of the most important aspects of our overall experience and impression. While it may not be terribly productive to get into a detailed discussion of "mainstream" versus "authentic" events, we've discovered that there is one very crucial factor in striving for authenticity: it's the pursuit of that magical, elusive "period moment." That's probably what distinguishes an authentic event, and what motivates us in our constant search for ever-greater degrees of accuracy. True, for some of us, the striving for accuracy is in itself an interesting and rewarding hobby. But in the end, what really matters is creating that wonderful period moment, in which nothing interferes and nothing reminds us of the 21 st century. For example, some of the best experiences of my reenacting life have been very simple – getting up early in the morning, hearing nothing but birds and frogs, doing my morning routine in period dress, with handmade soap, tooth powder, hair pins … and never for a moment thinking about modern conveniences. Of course, living the 19th century life brings its own frustrations and challenges. But they quickly give way to a sense of wonder and enjoyment, knowing that you're living the way your forebears lived, and getting a feel for their problems and their experiences.
If you're interested in an authentic camping or housing experience, then you won't want to spoil the mood with plastic coolers or water containers, modern cosmetics or preparations, or other short-cuts or conveniences – even if they are hidden. Granted, there are times when you won't have any control over that. For example, portapotties seem to be an inescapable evil of modern reenacting. Nevertheless, it is still sometimes possible to dig your own sinks or cope with a chamber pot. That may take a bit of getting used to, but in the long run, you won't have that constant reminder of modern times. Sometimes it takes a bit of ingenuity to get around modern intrusions. Ideally, you remove or exclude those intrusions – hiding them does very little for your authentic experience! We all know that the plastic is hidden under the canvas. Getting rid of the plastic in the first place means that you're much more likely to experience the past the way it really was.
Finally, it's important to remember that reenacting is almost always done in groups, large or small. The main reason we don't bring cameras or coolers to an authentic event is simply that this would interfere with others' enjoyment. It's impossible to watch someone take a photograph, light up a cigarette, reach for a beer out of a cooler, or drive a car into camp and maintain anything like a period feeling. Similarly, there are times when we strive to maintain a 'first-person' conversation. Even if for some reason you may not feel comfortable joining in, bringing up a discussion about a movie or the internet would put an end to everyone's participation in the past.
The main point of this end of the hobby – sometimes known as the "dark side" is to relive the past in some way. This is not to criticize or denigrate other ways of reenacting; those can be fun, sociable, and very worth while. But our unique focus is to combine education about western 19 th century history with the personal quest for an authentic period experience. For that reason, we are always striving to learn to improve.