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Why must a pirate be defined as someone wearing..


WocPiracy

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I think it really comes down to wanting to emulate what we think of as the Golden Age of Piracy (early 18th c). And I think that comes from the romanticized Hollywood representation of the GAoP, which was really hyped in the 50s (along with cowboys). And that probably comes from a fascination with romantic pirate fiction from before that time. (Howard Pyle, Rafael Sabbatini, R.L. Stevenson, etc.) And that comes from the romanticized stories in The General History. It's been exaggerated to the point where it strikes that chord in people - independent freedom fighters railing against unjust persecutors and making a handy packet on the side. Besides, they flaunted the rules, which appeals to the thirteen year old boy in all of us. (Even the women.)

What's really funny is that many of us are trying to deconstruct the romanticism by adhering to as many 17th/18th c. facts as we can get without losing the romantic angle that interested us in the first place.

Personally, I became interested because of the Disney POTC skeleton models form the 70s. Pirates - Skeletons, the link is undeniable. (Thanks to Disney.)

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“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” –Carlos Casteneda

"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be." — Voltaire

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That is an interesting statement. I don't think pirates are defined as wearing 18th century clothing unless you are talking about the GAoP, in which case, well, yea, they were wearing (early) 18th (and late 17th) century clothing. It's really relative to what you are doing, and it just so happens that there are a good deal of reenactors and people who are interested specifically in the Golden Age of Piracy... There are pirates of all sorts stumbling around this pub (rum) Rennies and tudors... whatever. *shrug* The fun of piracy is that there are many different ways to play.

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When I was in Spain at a museum they had a special section focusing on Pirates. What made it intestering was that they were focused entirely on the Med and didn't even mention what we refer to as the GAoP.

Now that was unexpected! Which museum?

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  • The Charles Towne Few - We shall sail... The sea will be our empire.

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I think most people like the GAoP and dress like that period, I've found in most of my pirate history research that most of your pirate captains always dress up, with the hat's of that period and outfits, not like hollywood or fiction books with bandana's and a ear ring in one ear and tattoo's ( which I don't think any pirates had tattoo's in the Golden Age ) .

Hollywood has alot to do with the fictional pirate look, not true to history.

In the 1700's, about half of the Pirates were of Welsh descent.

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It is ironic that, in all my years of pirate reenacting, I have never worn 18th century clothing. Being based near St. Augustine, Florida, I always end up in the attire of much earlier periods. It is always either Elizabethan sea dog (for Sir Francis Drake's Raid) or mid-17th century at latest.

It has been a long educational process, getting the public used to seeing anything other than tricorn hats and frock coats.

Red Sea Trade

In days of old when ships were bold just like the men that sailed 'em,

and if they showed us disrespect we tied 'em up and flailed 'em,

often men of low degree and often men of steel,

they'd make you walk the plank alone or haul you 'round the keel.

--Adam and the Ants

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I think most people like the GAoP and dress like that period, I've found in most of my pirate history research that most of your pirate captains always dress up, with the hat's of that period and outfits, not like hollywood or fiction books with bandana's and a ear ring in one ear and tattoo's ( which I don't think any pirates had tattoo's in the Golden Age ) .

Hollywood has alot to do with the fictional pirate look, not true to history.

Actually, we have documented period accounts of pirates with tattoos. See this thread. However, I don't think they were as ubiquitous as you see in pirate movies. Tattoos seem to have been more exception than rule. (But this isn't the place to discuss this - check out the above-linked thread. :D )

Edited by Raphael Misson

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” –Carlos Casteneda

"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be." — Voltaire

gallery_1929_23_24448.jpg

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You could always walk around in cut off BDU's holding an AK and wearing a bandana. biggrin.gif

Oh my! I love this! If I go to the PPF this year, I think I'll have to do this!

Nah I don't dress like traditional pirates so I shall dress it lol.

I'll mostly wear red or black shorts with thin white line shorts and a wife beater with black symbles on my body.

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