Comments on: Historic “Blockbuster” Store http://www.starchamber.com/2008/05/historic-blockbuster-store.html Ned Gulley's Blog. Resident buzzwords: synthetic biology, ambient displays, swarm robotics, wise crowds. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:06:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mike O http://www.starchamber.com/2008/05/historic-blockbuster-store.html#comment-74313 Mike O Thu, 22 May 2008 20:39:56 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/?p=1783#comment-74313 Without paying jobs for historical reenactors, we'd have no RenFest. Without paying jobs for historical reenactors, we’d have no RenFest.

]]> By: Ned http://www.starchamber.com/2008/05/historic-blockbuster-store.html#comment-74187 Ned Thu, 22 May 2008 02:40:35 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/?p=1783#comment-74187 I went to Plimoth Plantation several years ago, and the English part was filled with re-enactors with silly accents, whereas the Indian part had a Native American guy (a Wampanoag in fact) who was dressed historically but talked as a normal modern person about how we think things were back then. I much prefer the second approach. Acting turns the whole thing into a game and I find I stop thinking about the history. It's like seeing the microphone at the top of the screen in a TV show. I went to Plimoth Plantation several years ago, and the English part was filled with re-enactors with silly accents, whereas the Indian part had a Native American guy (a Wampanoag in fact) who was dressed historically but talked as a normal modern person about how we think things were back then. I much prefer the second approach. Acting turns the whole thing into a game and I find I stop thinking about the history. It’s like seeing the microphone at the top of the screen in a TV show.

]]> By: Ben http://www.starchamber.com/2008/05/historic-blockbuster-store.html#comment-74180 Ben Thu, 22 May 2008 01:54:20 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/?p=1783#comment-74180 Fun fact: Historians actually debate such things every day. On the one hand, we don't want to assume that people in history were some kind of completely alien species, but at the same time we don't want to assume they're just like us. Plus, I think Williamsburg hurts history, since it reinforces the idea that it's all facts and minutiae, instead of larger interpretational ideas. Who's got two thumbs and a useless M.A.? This guy! I guess that works better when you can see my thumbs. Fun fact: Historians actually debate such things every day. On the one hand, we don’t want to assume that people in history were some kind of completely alien species, but at the same time we don’t want to assume they’re just like us.

Plus, I think Williamsburg hurts history, since it reinforces the idea that it’s all facts and minutiae, instead of larger interpretational ideas.

Who’s got two thumbs and a useless M.A.? This guy! I guess that works better when you can see my thumbs.

]]> By: Rob http://www.starchamber.com/2008/05/historic-blockbuster-store.html#comment-73939 Rob Tue, 20 May 2008 19:14:19 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/?p=1783#comment-73939 Ye Ole Video Shoppe Ye Ole Video Shoppe

]]> By: Joan Arena http://www.starchamber.com/2008/05/historic-blockbuster-store.html#comment-73892 Joan Arena Tue, 20 May 2008 12:50:07 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/?p=1783#comment-73892 Thank you for demonstrating the truth: Yes, idiots do take tours in Colonial Williamsburg. Thank you for demonstrating the truth: Yes, idiots do take tours in Colonial Williamsburg.

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