The fantasy of yore and the stories that define it;

‘The wheel turns, nothing is ever new.’ From Greek mythology to the Dark Ages, people’s fascination with medieval fantasy is growing by the hour. Movies and series like “Lord Of The Rings”, “Narnia”, “Game of Thrones”, all play a vital role to feed this passion for the medieval era. We’ve always heard stories about castles and princesses, of dwarves and elves, of kings and power, but the question here really is why is medieval fantasy so commonly portrayed in fantasy films and books?

The Middle Ages are open to interpretation. They have been articulated and re-articulated by academic, political and popular culture since the idea of ‘Middle Ages’ arose in the fifteenth century. Each new configuration reflects and revises what the Middle Ages are understood to have been. The Middle Ages have been regarded as backwards-seeming ancestor or source of passion, beauty and inspiration. They are seen as both opulent and filthy, saintly and barbaric, playful and sombre. They are the source of many of Europe’s national histories, identities, myths and legends. They are used as a justification for the present or a warning for the future.

What does medieval fantasy really comprise of?

Popular medieval shows describe the Middle Ages as a time of filth, disease, spiritual enlightenment, ignorance, riches, poverty, romance, oppression, mystery, and/or rugged adventure. They are also inspired by remnants of monarchical governments, legendary battles and pre-industrial society.

Medieval films generally look the same and draw upon the same filmic conventions. Icons such as a knight in armour or a king wearing a crown, are ideas based in history and used to evoke medievality or even “ ‘stand for’ the Middle Ages as a whole.” These signs can be thought of as “history effects” which are distinct from historical references because they often relate more to other medieval films and popular ideas about the medieval period. Kingdoms, dragons, and wizards are classic elements found in fantasy.

Magic and Religion are in perfect harmony in this film genre. One of the most common arguments used to explain why magic and the medieval period works has a lot to do with how magic would be mute in a world that is technologically advanced. The “Dark ages” allude to sorcery, curses and death. The influence of Christianity also contributed to fears about spirits, demons and plagues sent to punish sinners. Since the idea of magic was already fully ingrained in the period, it makes it easier to stretch out what is already known and turn it into gold.

Let’s talk cinematography, set design and lighting. These three factors majorly make or break a film in this genre. World building not only marinates the plot and gives context, it enhances the story visually. Most of the set design is inspired by renaissance and gothic architecture. Elements like pointed arches, domes, castles, towers and forts are very commonly depicted from that era. The colour schemes are usually earthy tones and have monochromatic layouts.

When it comes to lighting, cinematographers use high-key lighting to show shots taken outside and lowkey lighting to show shots of interior. This is perhaps because lighting in the middle ages mainly came from clerestories (small window openings on the walls of naves) and the light was insufficient. The also means that interior shots had hard lighting where only highlighted features are given emphasis while the rest of the set is dark.

Costume plays an active role in plot development, worldbuilding, and communicating narrative themes. The Narnian costumes rely on standard symbols of medievality (crowns, long, modest gowns, suits of armour) to convey a general sense of time and place. This strategy is known as “stereotypical costuming” where costumes are used to identify a “type” that relies on dominant ideas about a certain class, person or, in this case, time period. Costume signals are used to give a broadly correct sense of period, and a more playful use of historically inaccurate detail which can transmit contemporary information about beauty and fashion.

All in all, Medieval fantasy is a genre that can single-handedly portray action, adventure, fantasy, romance and history packed with good cinematography and set design. It is a genre that’ll make you learn things and will make sure you are on the edge of your seat at all times, mesmerized and anxious. It is a genre that romanticizes war, greed and power, a genre that explains your past with a twist of enchantment.