HIST112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Historical Period Drama, Narrative Structure, Consumerism
HIST112 Lecture Notes Wednesday 24th May 2017
Reality in a new way?
- Fil is ot histor i our traditioal sese, ut it is a kid of histor oetheless…
films give us tools to see reality in a new way – including the realities of a past that
has log sie aished fro sight – Robert Rosenstone
- He could be saying that historical films do not really depict historical events, rather
than use them to depict contemporary events to which the film is made.
- Investigate not only the past, but the way we think about the past.
- i.e. Spartacus – Capitalism/Communism (the cold war)
- Life is Beautiful – aistrea stor aout Ital’s ioleet i WWII
- Forrest Gump vs Selma – Forrest Gump depicts a wider range of US history; what it is
like to be in the centre of every major event. Selma shows one event, about a figure
who actually was central to this event.
- Marie Antoinette – consumerism, both there and the present. Sympathetic
portrayal. Humanising the historical figures that have been portrayed. Provides a
new reality (Elizabeth too).
- Elizabeth vs Marie Antoinette – Elizabeth tries to be more historical, Marie
Antoinette is very consciously contemporary.
Two views
- On one hand, Robert Rosenstone argues that historical films play a much more
important role than written histories in stimulating thought and debate about the
past
- On the other hand, many other scholars criticise historical films ad inferior forms of
history-telling. What are their main criticisms?
o Inaccuracy
o Influence contemporary memory. If films represent inaccurately, people
remember inaccurately.
o The way film talks about history is as if history is completely driven by one
individual.
o Bias and influence in a certain train of thought. Identifications and appeal to
emotions.
o Driven by commodification; selling something.
Concerns
- In films, history get subsumed to drama, and is often highly individualised
- Films often highlight the emotional dimensions of human experience, at the expense
of the social or political
- The look of the fil a take preedee oer historial aura
- Films can sometimes offer only a closed, completed and simplistic version of the
past. Narrative structure. Might gloss over complexities
Loest Coo Deoiator
- Coerial iperaties ost ofte fuel ieati rerites of histor. Cople
economic and social issues are pureed into digestible bits of information intended
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
He could be saying that historical films do not really depict historical events, rather than use them to depict contemporary events to which the film is made. Investigate not only the past, but the way we think about the past. i. e. spartacus capitalism/communism (the cold war) Life is beautiful (cid:373)ai(cid:374)strea(cid:373) stor(cid:455) a(cid:271)out ital(cid:455)"s i(cid:374)(cid:448)ol(cid:448)e(cid:373)e(cid:374)t i(cid:374) wwii. Forrest gump vs selma forrest gump depicts a wider range of us history; what it is like to be in the centre of every major event. Selma shows one event, about a figure who actually was central to this event. Marie antoinette consumerism, both there and the present. Humanising the historical figures that have been portrayed. Elizabeth vs marie antoinette elizabeth tries to be more historical, marie. On one hand, robert rosenstone argues that historical films play a much more important role than written histories in stimulating thought and debate about the past.
