Mainstream drama

The existence of ‘Medieval History in the Movies’ and its two companion sites, ‘Ancient History in the Movies’ and ‘Modern History in the Movies’, underscores something about what has been happening in the historical profession for the last 40 or so years – some historians have become interested in the visual media as both a competitor and a collaborator in their attempt to convey the past not only to students but to the culture at large. The best list ‘by historical accuracy’ contains only eight films, while the best ‘as films’ contains 17. Adhering to facts, especially details, gets pretty high historical marks. But facts alone do not in her view necessarily make for good history. Such apparent contradictions do not belong only to Lerner, whose essay is interesting and suggestive. The idea that works of history speak as metaphors is not unfamiliar.

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