History vs. Hollywood?

Question

I am often shocked at the attitudes of many who use Hollywood for their exposure to history.

Hollywood's goal is to entertain and make money; Not educate.

Some of the questions, here, certainly reflect that, and by one side of the coin, it chaps me, but on the other side of the coin, at least they are questioning the information/misinformation rationally.

How do you feel about these people who take historical fiction and without questioning it, accept it as fact?

Answer 1

From a positive perspective historical movies can pique interest in historical events and people. Using that interest as a springboard, a rational person would do some digging to get the facts straight and learn about those events and people accurately.

From the negative side there are those that think a movie accurately represents historical events and take the entertainment as absolute proof. 300 comes to mind as the most recent.

"Based on actual events" may be the most misleading tag line for a movie ever written.

Answer 2

Examination balanced with Common Sense, Logic, close examination, research, and scrupulous judgement can yield the truth of history.

Either Voltaire or Napoleaon said that "history is a lie agreed upon." Some people say that history is "HIS- STORY". There is much truth in either. Humans do tend to root for the version that helps their particular agenda.

Depending on the Historcal Text, historical fiction can also be present in books.

For instance, the "Louisianna Purchase" is a situation where stolen property is bought. .

Of course the ever popular, Columbus discovered the "New World", is an example of limited primitive thinking, that lends itself to linear thought processes, that imply that there was no history in the New World prior to the appearance of Columbus.

Another has to do with the name of the New World "Ameirca". It allegedly come from the first name of the cartographer Amerigo Vespucci. His name was Albierto. There is no one from that time or before that time with the name Amerigo. It is possible that the name was taken from some members of the nations in the New World in whose language America meant the land of Gold.

Answer 3

Considering the texts and methods of teaching history in the public schools, it isn't surprising. History doesn't become interesting in the American educational system until after the freshman level in college, and how many get there?
Of course it's a shame that fiction muddies the waters of some really interesting events, but so does the usual educational system, so it's hard to be too critical except at election time. When the politicians crank up in earnest, it gets a little frightening, since our views of history often influence our Weltunshauung and political views.

Answer 4

The base answer is that most people don't know how to read. I don't mean they are illiterate, as they are reading things on this site, but they don't know 'how' to read. They cannot absorb information because their mind wanders and they are not disciplined or educated enough to actually understand anything. Thus, they sadly turn to movies, because it is simple and direct. It requires no energy or work on their part to sit in a theatre or on their couch and watch a film for 2 or 3 hours.

I have had several students who write about the Iliad and only follow the plotline of the movie 'Troy,' which is not accurate to the story, because they don't want to put the time in to read the Iliad, and they think it's just as good watching a movie. People are inherently lazy, and thus, ultimately inherently stupid.

Answer 5

It concerns me because those who do not truly know history cannot understand what has brought us to where we are today. So some of their judgments may be clouded by their misperceptions.

Even though Hollywood's goal is to entertain, I do not see why it is necessary for them to subvert the truth in order to do so. However, much of it is based on political agendas and personal prejudices.

As an example, Braveheart was made by someone (Mel Gibson) who is extremely anti-British. Although Edward I certainly earned his epithet "The Hammer of the Scots" he did not do some of the things the movie suggested. Nor was there any possibility that Edward III was the result of an affair between William Wallace and Isabella (Edward I's daughter in law) since Wallace was killed two years before Isabella came to England.

More recently Michael Moore who apparently hates US President Bush with a passion made a "cut and paste" movie in which many pieces of information were "cut and pasted" and used out of context in order to bolster his own political agenda, (whatever that is.) Unfortunately, it appears that many people who saw the movie thought it was the truth.

The danger comes when people make political decisions based on these fictions. However, in a free society, people are allowed to say and publish and broadcast whatever they like.

Answer 6

If I had to elect which section is larger, i could've chosen the genuinely Civil war. In Hollywood, movies like long gone with the Wind are all with reference to the Civil war era. yet we would like a action picture focusing on the civil war and on infantrymen combating, no longer voters throughout the time of the Civil war era. significant issues to remember must be that the Civil war era became an particularly, very undesirable time for all people and black people. interior the action pictures, they do no longer tutor various of the poorness. in actuality that maximum "Civil war" movies are not all with reference to the war. it is approximately romance or suspense like a Nothern guy loving a Southern woman or a secruity on the borders or the North and South.

Answer 7

I do agree that before you believe everything you see on screen you should do some research. I think that if the movie gets people to look into the FACTS then it is a good thing.

Answer 8

Hollywood always looks to rewrite history so as to push their own viewpoint. Many people are too stupid to do the research themselves, and Hollywood knows it.

I see from the thumbs down that there is at least 1 gullible sap who read this question.

Answer 9

hollywood's easier to absorb and more entertaining. however history is what's real and sometimes hollywood should stop attempting to retell history if they can't get the facts right.

Answer 10

Was it Randolph Hurst who said "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story "?