You don’t need to look far to find examples of medieval settings in modern entertainment. Our love for this period of history is growing, but why is this the case and what can we expect to see next?
The Rise of Medieval and Neomedieval Subjects in Popular Culture
From the various Robin Hood movies to The Name of the Rose and Braveheart, medieval period entertainment covers a huge period with many possible themes. 2024 has seen Netflix launch The Decameron, set in plague-ridden Italy in the 14th century, and Shōgun, also partially set during the 15th century, is now available on FX and Hulu.
Many towns in Spain and elsewhere have medieval markets and theme parks. The International Medieval Battle in Cuenca brings to life a full-contact competition between competitors wearing authentic outfits. Our love of the medieval setting can also be seen in games like the Knight Fight slot.
Based on classic slot machines and set in a forest, it sees a group of knights battle against each other. Other medieval slots including Tarasque and Robin Hood Golden Loot use the same theme with different symbols and features.
The Clear Lines Between Good and Bad
This leads us to the question of why medieval themes are currently so popular in different forms of entertainment. This period offers a huge amount of potential for battles between knights, corrupt kings, and other interesting characters.
An obvious distinction between good and bad is one of the defining aspects of many medieval movies and TV shows, although this look at the main characters in such series reveals more complexity than has long been associated with medieval stories.
Robin Hood and King Arthur are among the instantly recognizable medieval characters who tend to appear in movies where good and bad characters are more clearly defined. This makes it easy for viewers to work out who to support and who they want to see lose. It also allows filmmakers to romanticize this historical period for modern tastes.
Understanding Current Global Issues
The current popularity of the medieval age is sometimes described as neomedieval. This is an area that has been widely studied, as experts seek to discover why modern audiences enjoy this period so much.
One theory is that they give a gentler and easier-to-understand version of world history and how we got to where we are today. El Cid is included in this list of the best historical Spanish movies that help viewers understand the country. It’s easy to understand why so many people learn about history in this way.
Another theory suggests that this type of entertainment provides us with a better way of understanding the current world around us, which can often be confusing. No matter what the reasons are for this ongoing popularity, it looks as though the medieval period will continue to entertain and educate us for many years to come.
