Clothed in History: Costume and Medievalism in Fantasy Film and Television
Abstract
This thesis examines representations of the medieval in popular fantasy film and television. Emphasizing costume design, this paper explores themes of identity, nation, past and present. Analysis is organized through three case studies, Andrew Adamson’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ Game of Thrones (2011-2019). Each work demonstrates different strategies for constructing the past and referencing history to authenticate fantastic worldbuilding. They exist within broader traditions of medievalism and exploring present concerns through the veil of the past. Despite overt anachronism and invention, their foregrounding of historically-based aesthetics contributes to popular imaginings of the past and constitutes a type of historical engagement. This thesis explores the implications of this style of historical representation as it relates to constructions of personal, cultural and national identities.