An Historian Goes to the Movies
This is my Facebook page for this blog. I’ll link to new posts on that page, so if you want to get regular notification of new posts, this is one way to do it. I also post links to articles that are in some way related to the blog.
Also, you can follow me on Twitter @historyatmovies
A blog devoted to badly-costumed historical dramas, with an appropriate helping of snark. I’m not a clothing historian, so it’s often hard for me to say intelligent things about what’s wrong with the clothing in most period films. So check out the ladies at Frock Flicks.
This blog deals with England in the period from 1870-1939, which is a very popular period for historical films and tv shows. The author has smart things to say about Downton Abbey, so if you’re interested in that show, definitely check it out.
Like me, Michael Livingston is a professional medievalist who writes about all things medieval in popular culture. He tackles movies, video games, historical literature, and other related material.
This blog posts links for tv shows and graphic novels with historical and scientific themes. It’s worth checking out.
Medievalists.net is a website that covers a wide range of medieval-related topics, including recent news, scholarly articles, discussions of films, teaching resources and more. Check them out!
My colleagues at Marquette University maintain a blog that deals with professional historians doing research and teaching. It offers a nice window into what historians actually do and how they do it.
This is a blog that reviews historical monographs, museums, and old pubs. It’s worth a look if you’re looking for something for your reading list or if you’re planning a trip to England.
A Corner of Tenth-Century Europe
Jonathan Jarrett, an early medieval historian, maintains a blog looking at 10th century Europe and various facets of studying the period and its documents.
A blog dealing with history, pedagogy, and technology
If you live in England, or if you’re interested in coffee, you should check out Brian’s Coffee Spot. My good friend Brian Williams blogs about coffee shops and all things related to them.
An Historian Goes to the Movies 
Would you please consider reviewing the new movie Pompeii? I would love a historical perspective! Thank you 🙂
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It’s on the list!
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I’ve never once watched Game of Thrones and thought that is was supposed to be accurately depicting medieval England. Obviously medieval England is a major influence, Hadrian’s Wall/The Wall, but I don’t know anyone who actually watches it and thinks that’s how it was back then. Pretty sure everyone knows it is fantasy, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Also, if you read the books the part about knowing caring about the Seven is a HUGE plot point coming up. No one giving a damn about religion has been leading up to the next big turning point in the war…. I know you’re commenting on the tv show, not the books, but it makes more sense if you have read the books.
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One of my great frustrations as a teacher is how easily students (and other people) absorb ideas from movies and tv shows, even when it’s obvious those movies aren’t depicting reality. As I note in my post on the Mummy, I once had a student ask me if scarab beetles actually swarmed people and stripped them to the bone. So just because a film obviously isn’t history doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have an effect on how people see the past. Film has a persuasive power that often influences viewers without realizing it.
As far as books vs tv is concerned, I am in no way trying to suggest that the books share the flaws of the series–I haven’t read the books at all. Nor am I suggesting that the things I object to are major flaws. But they do irritate me as a scholar. The society that we see in the tv series doesn’t persuade me to fully suspend my disbelief, because parts of that society don’t make sense when you really probe them.
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Any chance of you doing a podcast? I just found your site and love your presentation and obvious love for this material. I’d love to be able to hear you speak about it as well.
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Oh, goodness! That would a lot more work, unless I just recordedy lectures as I gave them. Perhaps at some point I’ll explore that, but not at the moment. But thanks for the compliment.
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There’s a new show called Outlander which is kinda perfect for this blog. I really enjoyed the show, and wanted to know how accurate it is. Obviously not the time travel bit, but the rest of it.
From IMDB, “Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743…”
It’s on Starz. The first season just ended.
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Yes, I’m aware of it. I’ve thought about reviewing it, although tv shows are a little harder to review this way than films. But I don’t have Starz, so I’d have to find another way to get access to it.
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Actually, If you really want to understand the secrets of the Arthurian Legends and the real reason Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote them then I suggest that you study the painting by a 14th century artist called Michel Gantelet. Mister Gantelet also knew the secret and he has encoded everything into his painting, in such a clever way, that even today everyone, including the experts, think it is a painting of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In fact, that is what it is called, but that I can tell you is not even close to the truth.
Here is a link to the painting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Table
The original painting is called…”Les chevaliers de la Table Ronde” and is held in… Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF).
This painting tells you everything you need to know about where and how to find the Grail, and it isn’t Holy. Nothing to do with Jesus Christ, Bloodlines or Royal Families. If I were you I’d brush up on a little Mathematics before you start. It is a source of extrordinary power. Be careful, you may not like what you wish for.
Regards,
Tom Hull
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Sorry, but the idea that a 14th century painting would shed any light on the intentions of a 12th century author is nonsense. Nor was the Holy Grail an actual historical object–in its first appearance in literature, it’s not even a cup, but rather a serving platter.
There are no ‘secrets’ of the Arthurian legends. Their historical development is fairly well understood, although there are few major questions (such as whether there is a historical figure at their core or not).
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Many thanks for adding my blog to your list. Have been checking out the others on this list and they’re fascinating.
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Glad you like them!
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The one on historical costumes is good. I’ll pass it on to someone I know who specialises in historical fashion.
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Frock Flicks is a very good blog. I’ve learned a lot from them. And it’s amusingly written.
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The snark does make me laugh.
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Hi!
Have you ever considered reviewing Captain America and its portrayal of World War II? I’m really interested in the study of women in the armed forces during WWII, and was curious about your analysis of Peggy Carter’s character in historical terms.
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I have thought about it a bit. I’m not super-familiar with the issues around women in WWII, but it wouldn’t be hard to bone-up on it.
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