With the release of Star Wars, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, the nine-part narrative that George Lucas began in 1977 has come to an end. That does not mean an end to Star Wars stories, but it does bring a conclusion to the main story arc. Like many other episodic narratives, more Star Wars … Continue reading Medievalism in The Rise of Skywalker
Apparently old books in pop culture media are becoming increasingly cool, or I'm just noticing them more lately. I get fired up every time I see manuscripts and early printed books in movies and television shows. A few recent examples include Athelstan's Insular gospel-book in the Vikings television show, a book written in runes in Disney's Frozen, … Continue reading That Serbian Book in Santa Clarita Diet
Since seeing Star Wars, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, I can't stop thinking about the books we see in the Jedi library on Ahch-To. To be honest, my mind was already going before seeing the movie, since the books stood out in the trailer. I wrote about them over on Forces of Geek based on what we see … Continue reading The Last Jedi Scriptures and Medieval Manuscripts
This post is meant as a follow-up to my previous thoughts about medievalists telling medieval stories. In that piece, I begin by considering a video game and end with reflections on the larger implications for storytelling about the Middle Ages. After writing it, I got to thinking about other medieval video games, so decided to … Continue reading Bonus Round: “Medieval” Games on Steam
Some of my readers might have seen when I took to Twitter yesterday for a rant about representations of the medieval period in pop culture. It began with a video game and ended with some arguments about needing more medievalists telling better stories for more audiences. I want to offer an extended version of my … Continue reading Telling Medieval Stories: Prolegomenon
Commemorating events that occurred #OnThisDay (or #OTD) in history has become increasingly popular on social media. This practice can also bring appropriate reminders of how that past intersects with our present. Historical events that occurred around the week of July 18th are particularly linked with acts of violence against Jewish people throughout history. Of course, … Continue reading Anti-Judaism, Histories of Diversity, & the Present
This week we'll witness the release of yet another movie about perhaps the most famous ruler from the medieval period, King Arthur. The film, directed by Guy Ritchie, is titled King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. From what is shown in the trailer, the story depicts the rise of Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) from nobody orphan to leader of the people pitted against tyrannical … Continue reading Will the Real King Arthur Please Rise?
This week, one of the most highly anticipated pop culture events hit theaters everywhere: Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens. I saw the film as early as I could, and have a lot to say about it. Most specifically, as a medievalist, I was struck by a certain amount of medievalism built into this movie. I'm … Continue reading Medievalism in The Force Awakens
Brandon W. Hawk 