Being Period: An Examination of Bridging Discourse in a Historical Reenactment Group

Abstract

An ethnography found that when members of a historical reenactment group behave in ways that seem inconsistent with the group’s ideology, they engage in discourse to demonstrate to other members that their behavior is congruent with the group’s ideology and, in doing so, strengthen connections with other members who have different standards for behavior or different interpretations of the group’s ideology. The term bridging discourse is introduced to refer to this practice. Bridging discourse is useful for members of the historical reenactment group, as authenticity is an important but ambiguous part of the group’s ideology, and it is not always clear what behavior is authentic and what behavior is not. Members use bridging discourse to demonstrate to other members that a wide range of behavior can be considered authentic. Individuals engage in bridging discourse by redefining the group’s ideology, reinterpreting behavior, and making exceptions to the group’s normative standards. Such discourse ultimately allows the group to survive with a diverse membership.