Now, we all know history is amazingly vast. There are just so many things that have happened and even more things that are waiting to happen. One of the things that has always fascinated me about history is the versatility with which it may be examined.
Most people seem to think that history can only be found within the weathered pages of thick, leather-bound books with a musty smell that reeks of age. Ok, ok, so I’m stereotyping but isn’t that what most conventional film-makers do whenever they want to create scenes whereby the protagonist is required to leaf through pages of old books as part of some great mission to uncover some unknown mysteries that have been buried in the past. (Think Gandalf as he was going over details regarding the Ring of Power.)
This actually brings us to a perspective of history that tends to be disregarded as historical crap – that of film-makers.
Ever so often, we tend to look at historical films and criticize the director for minor little things like whether or not the costume was truly reminiscent of the past that he is trying to portray or whether or not that little romance that the heroic character developed was a figment of imagination. In effect, we should really look at it from the context with which a particular film is made. It is interesting to note how films almost always reflect the attitudes of the society regarding the perceived past.
I could go on and on about it but hey, I’m not writing an academic piece here so my argument would end there. Yes, it is unsupported and unsubstantiated but let’s just say it’s a point of reflection. Why don’t you go and watch a couple of films and make up your minds?
Anyway, I like movies. I especially enjoy historical films. It’s interesting to note how a particular past is rewritten and repackaged to suit the ideals of the current society. Take for instance, the numerous movie plots that are contextualized against the backdrop of the Wild West. A movie in the 1960s would hardly dream of incorporating a Black or Asian character in any supposedly Western film but by the 90s and the new millennia, Will Smith AND Jackie Chan had found their way into the wild, wild west. Interesting, isn’t it?
Oh well, enough rambling on my part. Chao!
Most people seem to think that history can only be found within the weathered pages of thick, leather-bound books with a musty smell that reeks of age. Ok, ok, so I’m stereotyping but isn’t that what most conventional film-makers do whenever they want to create scenes whereby the protagonist is required to leaf through pages of old books as part of some great mission to uncover some unknown mysteries that have been buried in the past. (Think Gandalf as he was going over details regarding the Ring of Power.)
This actually brings us to a perspective of history that tends to be disregarded as historical crap – that of film-makers.
Ever so often, we tend to look at historical films and criticize the director for minor little things like whether or not the costume was truly reminiscent of the past that he is trying to portray or whether or not that little romance that the heroic character developed was a figment of imagination. In effect, we should really look at it from the context with which a particular film is made. It is interesting to note how films almost always reflect the attitudes of the society regarding the perceived past.
I could go on and on about it but hey, I’m not writing an academic piece here so my argument would end there. Yes, it is unsupported and unsubstantiated but let’s just say it’s a point of reflection. Why don’t you go and watch a couple of films and make up your minds?
Anyway, I like movies. I especially enjoy historical films. It’s interesting to note how a particular past is rewritten and repackaged to suit the ideals of the current society. Take for instance, the numerous movie plots that are contextualized against the backdrop of the Wild West. A movie in the 1960s would hardly dream of incorporating a Black or Asian character in any supposedly Western film but by the 90s and the new millennia, Will Smith AND Jackie Chan had found their way into the wild, wild west. Interesting, isn’t it?
Oh well, enough rambling on my part. Chao!
About me
- Every second that passes by is a second that's part of history...
- My profile
Previous posts
Contributors
0 Responses to "of history and films"
Leave a Reply