Medieval European Fantasy by Ellie Morgan Style and meaning Theory Presentation Module: FMAP4505 Contextual Studies Module Leader: Ross Bliss

Thematic Qualities Mythology/Folklore Conflict of good against evil Allegory - hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Dark or tragic undertones in the plot

Aesthetic Qualities Colour Palette matches mood. Lord of the rings The Two towers – The elves left middle earth, an Autumnal Colour palette chosen. The Hobbit an earlier more optimistic time in middle earth, less evil and darkness, colours are more saturated. The Two Towers – Directed by Peter Jackson The Hobbit – Directed by Peter Jackson

Aesthetic Qualities Elaborate Sets – Sets the scene, makes the story believable A Knight’s Tale – Directed by Brian Helgeland Pan’s Labyrinth – Directed by Guillermo Del Toro

Aesthetic Qualities Costume – Defines the characters and their personalities, helps tell their stories Black Death – Directed by Christopher Smith The Man in the Iron mask – Directed by Randall Wallace

Aesthetic Qualities Location – The sense of place is more likely to be allegorical than literal Medieval – a time of Folklore and Mythology The Forest- Place of refuge, strange encounters, trials and adventures The Brothers Grimm – Directed by Terry Gilliam The Fellowship of the Ring Directed by Peter Jackson

Aesthetic Qualities CGI – Bringing mythology to life – Increasing the popularity of the genre

Origins - George Melies Pioneer early 1900’s Early form of special effects – “trick film” Elaborate sets Dark or tragic undertones in the plot

The Cottingley Faeries A series of 5 trick photography images taken by 16 year old Elsie Wright (1901–88) and cousin 9 year old Frances Griffiths (1907–86) in 1917. Writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about the images as example of real evidence of psychic phenomena, in the 1920 Christmas edition of Strand magazine Wasn’t until early 1980’s that the girls finally admitted the images were faked, using cardboard cutouts, though they maintained the final image was real, keeping the fantasy alive.

Origins - Tolkien Most modern fantasy has genre roots in Tolkien inspired fantasy. Created in the 1930’s, became popular in the 60’s/70’s Tolkiens inspiration: Early Medieval literature Germanic tradition of folklore hinted at in old English poem Beowulf Having set myself a task, the arrogance of which I fully recognized and trembled at: being precisely to restore to the English an epic tradition and present them with a mythology of their own: it is a wonderful thing to be told that I have succeeded, at least with those who still have the undarkened heart and mind. —J. R. R. Tolkien, in a letter from 1956 (Letters 231)

Social, Historical, political context Immensely popular as the mythology allows viewers access to something contemporary culture represses, it is an escapism from a mundane life - Adventure. Allegory – Hidden meanings, typically a moral or political one Narratives draw upon utopian folk tales – hope, liberation, justice – the very core of political debate. Showing you how the world was, gives viewers ideas of how it could be better, a yearning for simpler times Medieval settings, a time where folklore was prevalent, lost in modern society, brings those stories back to life.

Key examples - Films and Directors Lord of the Rings trilogy / The Hobbit - Directed by Peter Jackson The Brothers Grimm – Directed by Terry Gilliam Black Death – Directed by Christopher Smith A Knight’s Tale – Directed by Brian Helgeland Pan’s Labyrinth – Directed by Guillermo Del Tor Fantasy films require a high budget to incorporate the special affects now expected by an audience, to allow them to engage with plot, so the majority of films come out of Hollywood.

Adopting these Qualities in my film Thematic Aesthetic Location A medieval grotto, a place once beautiful, now reclaimed by nature. Moves in to the open forest, a place of trial, where the caged symbol of fertility is contrasted against the openness of the forest. Medieval Folklore - Mother nature awakens to find an inhabited scroll, nature has reclaimed the civilized world, its strength even greater than Mother Nature herself. Mother Nature is a symbol of fertility - her loss of control is portrayed by the eggs trapped in the cage, modelled on a medieval human torture cage. Colour Palette - Autumnal colours, representing aging and loss of control Costume - A woman of nature, autumnal leaves and dead flowers, representing aging and loss of control Allegory - Nature is challenging the strength of mortals Plot – Dark and Tragic undertones Music – Medieval inspired; Atmospheric