On May 3, 2007, at 3:30 PM, Robin Netherton wrote:
It occurs to me that the productions that get the most criticism on
this
list are historical drama, particularly those that purport to be
realistic
(say, "Elizabeth," which offered film-linked packets for school
history
programs as part of its marketing, as opposed to "Orlando," which
was also
set partly at the Elizabethan court but had a strong fantastical/
satirical
element).
Yes. For me, at least, less-than-accurate costumes are not really the
problem. The REAL irritation is that film directors (etc.) blithely
do whatever they think "feels right" with the costumes AND then have
the audacity to claim that their renditions are "accurate",
"thoroughly researched," and (deities help us) "educational." Which
thoroughly -- and unnecessarily -- confuses anyone who actually IS
trying to do research and/or education.
If they would stop making the silly claims, the clothing wouldn't
matter nearly as much.
The same goes for messing with history for the sake of the plot. It's
OK to invent how history might have been, or could have been if
things had happened differently, or how modern people would react if
put in that situation, or for that matter, it's OK to produce
allegories about modern times disguised as "history." What is NOT OK
is to then claim that your rendition is somehow "more true" than what
actually happened, or to produce school education packets asserting
that real historical figures actually DID what you have imagined.
Of course, I think it's quite legitimate to present a different
"take" on real history as "the real thing" when there actually IS
historical evidence for it. Scholars can, do, and always will differ
on what actually happened and why.
What I don't think is legitimate is to take half-baked or widely
criticized ideas (aliens building the pyramids, anyone?) and present
them as sober historical fact WITHOUT planting plenty of clues that
you're not _really_ serious. I didn't see "Shakespeare in Love," but
those who watched it closely tell me that a Stratford-on-Avon
souvenir mug appeared fairly prominently, early in the film. Nice
touch. <g>
____________________________________________________________
O Chris Laning <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - Davis, California
+ http://paternoster-row.org - http://paternosters.blogspot.com
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