4 ms·

Are they? That's far more for production stereotypes than viewer convenience or expectations, or at least seems so. Down to current fashion, and the expectation

Are they? That's far more for production stereotypes than viewer convenience or expectations, or at least seems so. Down to current fashion, and the expectations of the kids in the production team -- or the execs signing off. The most popular aliens in Doctor Who are dustbins with a sink plunger (Daleks). One of Star Trek's most popular the tribble. I get really tired of rubber enhanced blue aliens, with a few forehead bumps, and utterly perfect English. I'd rather have a few of the sillier ones from the 50's B movies or B&W Dr Who make a come back than yet another tedious perfect humanoid with augmentation... Though I also like to intersperse the fiction with history and anthropological. I can picture the fiction better, and find I enjoy it more with a clearer idea of how people actually lived, struggled, died etc. I also end up judging some of the historical fiction against the actuality too -- some authors are far more accurate than others. I am sure most productions could go vastly further than they try to, as 95% of all historical and fantasy (e.g. GoT) drama are 21st century views, mores and habits in cute -- and in the case of armies perfectly matched and colour matched -- costume. I think this article does a disservice to what we could show. We could show a much closer representation of actuality without triggering revulsion, or making racism or sexism acceptable again, spoiling the show, or losing viewers. Heck, even half the supposed documentaries get fundamentals wrong! Some accuracy we would indeed struggle with, but I suspect most could handle and enjoy far more than we're ever given! Being unfilmably dark didn't stop GoT filming the series climax in the dead of night, outside. It was unwatchably dark for pretty much a whole episode, without a poorly lit castle or smoke filled long house in sight. Overall I think it's more a lack of imagination, or laziness. Adaptation so it becomes the usual formula with new overlay. I appreciate the rare ones that are faithful, or do depart from the usual tedium that much more as a result, and often forgive other glitches or ropy moments. I'm usually much more damning of poor adaptation than costuming or habit. :)

jhbadger 7y ago
I think the trope "rubber forehead aliens" is broader than just that literally, but is referring to aliens who might as well just be humans. Daleks are still "rubber forehead aliens" in that they aren't really that alien psychologically -- they are basically just metaphorical Space Nazis who think they are superior to everyone else and who want to rule the universe. And Tribbles don't really count at all because they are just props and not characters. A true non rubber forehead alien would be the squid-like things from Arrival -- not only alien in shape but alien in mind.
philipkglass 7y ago
I agree with both you and jhbadger that the argument about recording dark scenes is one of the weakest he makes. I just didn't want to truncate any of the sentences I was quoting. What are some examples of successful historical fiction or fantasy on the screen that aren't just contemporary views, mores, and habits dressed up in costumes? According to the original article, "Borgia: Faith and Fear" should count. I watched it because I read this very Ex Urbe article back in 2013. But nobody else I know watched it except at my recommendation. I knew a number of people who watched Showtime's The Borgias. I think that The Borgias reached more viewers. I don't know which one was a better investment, financially. Maybe the smaller audiences and budgets of Faith and Fear delivered a ROI equal or better to that of The Borgias. Audience might tolerate significantly more historicity than they typically get now. But there doesn't seem to be an audience-driven clamor for more history in historical drama (at least on the screen; it's easier to find and cater to niche preferences among readers). It also takes more effort to understand a period and write for it than to just drape costumes over contemporary conflicts and ideals. That's one of the reasons that I read more drama than I watch. Productions for the screen tend to be more small-c conservative about imitating what succeeded recently, probably because failed experiments are more costly for movies and TV series than for books. My favorite short take on ahistorical historical fiction: https://pbfcomics.com/comics/now-showing/ https://pbfcomics.com/comics/now-showing/

jhbadger 7y ago

I think the trope "rubber forehead aliens" is broader than just that literally, but is referring to aliens who might as well just be humans. Daleks are still "rubber forehead aliens" in that they aren't really that alien psychologically -- they are basically just metaphorical Space Nazis who think they are superior to everyone else and who want to rule the universe. And Tribbles don't really count at all because they are just props and not characters. A true non rubber forehead alien would be the squid-like things from Arrival -- not only alien in shape but alien in mind.

philipkglass 7y ago

I agree with both you and jhbadger that the argument about recording dark scenes is one of the weakest he makes. I just didn't want to truncate any of the sentences I was quoting. What are some examples of successful historical fiction or fantasy on the screen that aren't just contemporary views, mores, and habits dressed up in costumes? According to the original article, "Borgia: Faith and Fear" should count. I watched it because I read this very Ex Urbe article back in 2013. But nobody else I know watched it except at my recommendation. I knew a number of people who watched Showtime's The Borgias. I think that The Borgias reached more viewers. I don't know which one was a better investment, financially. Maybe the smaller audiences and budgets of Faith and Fear delivered a ROI equal or better to that of The Borgias. Audience might tolerate significantly more historicity than they typically get now. But there doesn't seem to be an audience-driven clamor for more history in historical drama (at least on the screen; it's easier to find and cater to niche preferences among readers). It also takes more effort to understand a period and write for it than to just drape costumes over contemporary conflicts and ideals. That's one of the reasons that I read more drama than I watch. Productions for the screen tend to be more small-c conservative about imitating what succeeded recently, probably because failed experiments are more costly for movies and TV series than for books. My favorite short take on ahistorical historical fiction: https://pbfcomics.com/comics/now-showing/ https://pbfcomics.com/comics/now-showing/