Medievalism and Modernity – King Richard’s Faire and Jousting Tournaments
By Daniel Cano
The burning question of what to do with our free time once the work of the day is done. Go out for a couple of drinks with friends, stay at home and binge-watch anything palatable to our brain, some of us might even crack open a book we’ve been meaning to get to. Yes, what passes as entertainment in the modern age is all too familiar to us now. However, there is a way to escape this current drudgery. It lies deep in a forest with a great field and castle guarding the entrance and within, noble knights and steeds duel against each other for the worship of their lords.
King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Massachusettes was inaugurated in 1982, and every September through October since then, all kinds of acts and shows have been performed. Fire breathers, magicians performing wondrous spells, and merry minstrels dancing and prancing while singing of good times ahead. Plenty of food and drink to keep the belly warm against the autumn winds and carnival games to perform feats of strength and dexterity. All this and plenty more is Medievalism, recalling the past and reimagining it for our entertainment. Historically what the fair offers would be only for the Dukes and Duchesses to flaunt their wealth and pay homage to their King and Queen. But now that the days of royalty are long gone, the common folk have been able to make this celebration their own. Yet these great aspects are tinged with fantasy elements and remade to fit modern audiences. None compare to the marvel that is a jousting tournament
The Jousting Tournament is the main event of King Richard’s Faire and a historical staple of the medieval world. As it is understood, the jousts back then have remained what they are now, entertainment for the masses. Originally they were for knights to demonstrate their horse-riding skill and martial prowess. Putting their bodies on the line, each knight would hope to gain the favor of a noble lady and the approval of their lords. The glory of the fight still lives on in the reenactments as the tournaments gain the favor of the crowd instead. They ride around, hyping the crowd and rallying them to cheer for their success. The concept and thrill of the joust then is our purest adaptation of the medieval past. The medievalism of it appeals to our love for teams that represent us, much like teams across our other favorite entertainment mediums. The excitement of the shield breaking, the clashing of steel, and the roars of success are just as engaging to us now as they were in the past.
