Postmodern historical reenactment movement in Lithuania.

Šiame straipsnyje trumpai apžvelgiamas istorinės rekonstrukcijos judėjimas pasaulyje. Nacionaliniai šio reiškinio ypatumai išryškinami analizuojant istorinės rekonstrukcijos judėjimo prielaidas ir aplinkybes Lietuvoje. Judėjimo formavimosi ir raidos aplinkybės aptariamos pirmųjų istorinės rekonstrukcijos klubų ir istorinės rekonstrukcijos renginių kontekste. Darbo pagrindą sudaro lauko tyrimų metu (2015–2018 m.) surinkta medžiaga, pateikėjų apklausa ir interviu. Duomenų analizei taikyti istorinis lyginamasis ir analizės metodai. Remiantis atliktais tyrimais, istorinės rekonstrukcijos judėjimo pradžia Lietuvoje siekia XX a. 9-ąjį dešimtmetį. Tam įtakos turėjo tiek XX a. 7-ajame dešimtmetyje Europoje susiformavusi folklorinio judėjimo banga, pasiekusi ir tuometinę Lietuvą, tiek 1990 m. valstybingumo atkūrimas ir siekis tinkamai pristatyti ilgametę Lietuvos valstybės istoriją. Medijos (ypač internetas) bei santykiai su artimiausių kaimyninių valstybių (Latvijos, Lenkijos, Estijos, Baltarusijos ir Rusijos) klubais paspartino judėjimo raidą ir populiarumą. Atlikus tyrimą, išsiskyrė keturi istorinės rekonstrukcijos laikotarpiai: 1. Baltų; 2. Viduramžių; 3. Napoleonmečio ir 4. XX amžiaus. Nors istorijos atkūrimo procese pasirenkamos gana bendros temos (pvz., viduramžiai), tačiau dažniausiai į šią temą integruojama lokalinė, regioninė, nacionalinė Lietuvos istorija ir jai priklausantys artefaktai. Baltų ir jų genčių (jotvingių, kuršių) klestėjimo laikotarpis, LDK kūrimosi ir gyvavimo laikotarpis bei partizaninis pasipriešinimas yra temos, istorinės rekonstrukcijos judėjime žyminčios Lietuvos išskirtinumą.Different forms of historical reenactment had a long history before it was considered postmodern. Postmodern historical reenactments started in the 1970s in the USA. They spread first to Europe, and then reached the rest of the world. Aspects concerning the historical reenactment movement, such as authenticity and the use of material culture, narrativity or identity, have been analysed by several authors. So far, there are not many studies on the development and spread of the historical reenactment movement at a local level. During this last decade, the historical reenactment movement has become a constant and usual part of events concerning the historical subject. Nevertheless, the historical reenactment field has not inspired a deeper interest among researchers. Can national features of the historical reenactment movement be distinguished in a Lithuanian context? The object of this research is the historical reenactment movement and the circumstances of its formation in Lithuania. The aim of the article is to survey the beginning of the postmodern historical reenactment movement in the world, by defining the impact of the main organisation; and after defining the historical reenactment movement, to analyse the main features of the phenomenon in Lithuania. The features of the movement are analysed in the formation of the first historical reconstruction clubs and the first festivals. The basis of this work is fieldwork material collected between 2015 and 2019. Various festivals, celebrations and other events concerned with historical reenactments were attended (23), as well as participatory observations, interviews, and questionnaires with 63 respondents. The data was processed by applying historical comparative and analytical methods. According to the data received, the historical reenactment movement in Lithuania started in the 1980s. It was influenced by Lithuania’s restitution of its statehood in the 1990s after its suppression by the Soviet Union, and the desire to properly present the long history of the state. The folklore movement that started around the 1970s still was in existence, and influenced the start of the historical reenactment movement. The media (especially the Internet) and relations with foreign clubs (in Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Belarus and Russia) increased the development and popularity of the movement. The analysis of the data has indicated the following main historical reenactment periods: the Balts, the Middle Ages, the Napoleonic era, the First and the Second World War, and the resistance. In the reenactment of general themes (such as Medieval), local, regional and national history and artefacts are applied. The first club in Lithuania, called Kaunas War History Club, was founded in 1989. Historical reenactments by this club related to the Napoleonic era. Later, the Balt period with the Vilkatlakai club (from 1996), and the Middle Ages with the first Viduramžių Pasiuntiniai club, started historical reenactment activities. The First and the Second World War and the resistance movement were reenacted by the Grenadierius club (in 2008). In the reenactment of general themes (such as Medieval), local, regional and national history and artefacts are applied. The period of the Balts and Baltic tribes (Yotvingians, Curonians), and the period of the creation and prosperity of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the partisan resistance, are themes by which the historical reenactment movement stands out