Difference between revisions of "329--Week 15 Questions/Comments"
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I wish we had read the middle section - pgs 90-138 - a little earlier in the semester. I really liked the idea of "faction." I feel like we have addressed some of the ideas in this section in class already, but it was interesting that historical films revolving around fictional characters have a higher success rate of impressing critics concerned about historical accuracy. I personally have mentioned this on the wiki before - for example in the Long Walk Home, I was happy to NOT see Rosa Parks and MLK attempted to be portrayed - instead, fictional characters represented themes and general things that happened during that period. I agree with Toplin that this is a more effective, and often times less criticized, method of portraying history in film. - Elle W. | I wish we had read the middle section - pgs 90-138 - a little earlier in the semester. I really liked the idea of "faction." I feel like we have addressed some of the ideas in this section in class already, but it was interesting that historical films revolving around fictional characters have a higher success rate of impressing critics concerned about historical accuracy. I personally have mentioned this on the wiki before - for example in the Long Walk Home, I was happy to NOT see Rosa Parks and MLK attempted to be portrayed - instead, fictional characters represented themes and general things that happened during that period. I agree with Toplin that this is a more effective, and often times less criticized, method of portraying history in film. - Elle W. | ||
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| + | Throughout this class, we have evaluated the historical accuracies and inaccuracies in historical films. At times, I feel as if our nitpicky attacks of historical inaccuracies as scholars might be too harsh. Several times throughout the reading, Toplin discussed the format of the historical film in Hollywood and how diversions from the formula can sometimes have financially disastrous consequences for directors. I agree with Toplin that it is more important for a historical film to portray the bigger picture, and sometimes the small fictional details which help make the movie more appealing to audiences do not matter that much. If a director inundated audiences with every historical detail and perspective, the movie most likely would not be very successful. If a movie is unable to reach a wide audience, than whatever story the director is attempting to tell gets lost in obscurity. ~Juliann Boyles | ||
