I was struck by the post regarding principles for making documentaries, especially the element of finding your conflict. I started thinking that we need to start recording all of our ideas regarding the conflict that we can think of or that we might find as we enter this arena. These ideas are just the first that I could think of, but I know we need to keep digging into this question to find not just the surface conflicts but deeper ones.
1. Faire vs. Theater: I expected and have continued to discover a real distain for the Ren Faire costume compared from the perspective of the theater scene. For the larger documentary, I think this issue is going to be a key to connect the two areas. The Theater folks look at the Ren Faire as a silly place not to be compared with what they do. Much of the attitude comes from the fact that the patrons at Fairs come in costume.
2. Authenticity: While we haven’t gone to a reenactment yet, I expect to discover a conflict in the area of authenticity. I have a feeling that this will be key to the hierarchy that exists. This is also an interesting counter point to the Ren Faire which is based in history but only anchored there as a starting point.
3. Costumers are Dorks: This is an idea that we are counter with costumers are imaginative and creative. It is quite possible that they are creative and imaginative dorks though, so I think we need to also show that MANY MANY people are involved in costuming on various levels. It is not so fringe at is seems. We will have to do research to help us develop this more. I think interviews with some academics regarding fan culture might also be really helpful.
I need to stop for now, but I want us to continue developing these ideas.
I had a very commercial-esque image in my head when you said, ‘there are many many costumers’ of hundreds of costumers flooding an urban city street in slow mo, strutting proudly for all the world to see their glorious numbers!