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Location: The Tudors in the Media
Discussion: Re Alison Weir's comments
Keyword tags:
Alison Weir
Anne Boleyn
Gabrielle Anwar
Henry VIII
James Frain
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Michael Hirst
Morgan O'Sullivan
Natalie Dormer
News about the Tudors
Princess Mary Tudor
Sarah Bolger
Showtime series
The Tudors
Watch
 angelosdaughter |
Re Alison Weir's comments
Mar 30 2008, 4:21 PM EDT i can understand Weir's dismay. I have just finished her "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" and I was looking at her notes and bibliography. Weir is very thorough. Each of her chapters has a corresonding section of sources in the back of the book. Her bibliograph is extensive. Even the photos she uses are cited as to origin. Although the book is written in the style of a popular biography, (meaning readable and interesting to the average person, vs the scholar - not a bad thing because people who would not read a biography couched in scholarly jargon will read the book and learn about the period) it was thoroughly researched and her sources cited. Weir uses both primary sources (i.e. The Spanish Calendar and the dispatches of Eustache Chapuys) and secondary sources (Authors of other biographies). Nevertheless this series should be enjoyed just for what it is, a royal soap opera, just as one would enjoy a novel about the period for its ability to transport us to another time and place. In some cases both ot these media lead us as they did me to research nonfiction sources for a truer picture of the period. One could for example, even research the dress of the period (an interesting study in itself) to check for historical accuracy in movie costumes. Obviously costumes were also a part of Weir's research. She certainly did her work. 1 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
 Boudica |
RE: Re Alison Weir's comments
Mar 31 2008, 12:36 PM EDT Yes, I can understand Wier's commentary as well. I can relate to her comment on the costumes for the ladies. I was at first a little disappointed when I saw customes that looked like the kind of wench wear one might find at a Renaissance festival (not the lower classes wearing these, but the upper class gentry and royalty like Princess Margaret Tudor!) , I thought they could do MUCH better than that. But after a while, as the series started to grow on me the costumes did too (minues the wench wear imitators, I still really hates those whenever I see them) they remind me of those from the film "Ever After" and I like them just for what they are, not for what they aren't (historically accurate court gowns). For the historical purists, who simply cannot abide by any adaptation without cod pieces and farthingales, there's so many other versions to enjoy (Kieth Michell's "Six Wives" or Ray Winstone's "Henry VIII"), mind you they aren't perfect either but they're more accurate. And then there's plenty of documentaries and books. My point is, there are alternatives. If the Showtime series isn't your cup of tea there are others out there. Though I'm not entirely satisfied at times, I like the Tudors, if nothing else but the novelty of a different take on historical dramas for televison, kind of what Sophia Copolla's "Marie Antonette" did for historical biopics. Do you find this valuable? |
