Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film
As tools to establish collective memory, historical fiction films either connect or don’t connect with audiences depending on the historical context in which they are seen. It also makes sense, however, to account for their function psychologically as prompts for experience. In that regard, at least...
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| Language: | English |
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Michigan Publishing
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Global Storytelling |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/gs/article/id/855/ |
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| author | Carl Plantinga |
| author_facet | Carl Plantinga |
| author_sort | Carl Plantinga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As tools to establish collective memory, historical fiction films either connect or don’t connect with audiences depending on the historical context in which they are seen. It also makes sense, however, to account for their function psychologically as prompts for experience. In that regard, at least the following three sources account for their rhetorical power. First, for most viewers, they have an ambiguous reference to historical reality that puts into play the “sleeper effect,” which inhibits counterarguing and thus promotes the establishment of historical memory. Second, historical fiction films are mass media disseminated widely to millions of viewers. They also possess medium characteristics that foster viewer immersion and a sense of “presentness.” Third, the ritualized use of conventional narrative schemas elicits emotions that assist memory formation. To make these points, I draw on both media theory and social science research. I give examples and analyze scenes from films such as Selma (2014), Lincoln (2012), and BlacKkKlansman (2018) to illustrate my points. Finally, I conclude with a discussion of the ethics of the historical fiction film, arguing that a blanket dismissal of mainstream historical fictions would be wrong, for it would deny the possibility of establishing beneficial collective memories that have to do, for example, with antiracism or other values that should be widely embraced. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e57cba1492534bda98293bdef1cc54f4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2769-4941 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Michigan Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Storytelling |
| spelling | doaj-art-e57cba1492534bda98293bdef1cc54f42025-08-20T03:47:28ZengMichigan PublishingGlobal Storytelling2769-49412021-07-011110.3998/gs.855Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction FilmCarl Plantinga0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1770-0591Calvin UniversityAs tools to establish collective memory, historical fiction films either connect or don’t connect with audiences depending on the historical context in which they are seen. It also makes sense, however, to account for their function psychologically as prompts for experience. In that regard, at least the following three sources account for their rhetorical power. First, for most viewers, they have an ambiguous reference to historical reality that puts into play the “sleeper effect,” which inhibits counterarguing and thus promotes the establishment of historical memory. Second, historical fiction films are mass media disseminated widely to millions of viewers. They also possess medium characteristics that foster viewer immersion and a sense of “presentness.” Third, the ritualized use of conventional narrative schemas elicits emotions that assist memory formation. To make these points, I draw on both media theory and social science research. I give examples and analyze scenes from films such as Selma (2014), Lincoln (2012), and BlacKkKlansman (2018) to illustrate my points. Finally, I conclude with a discussion of the ethics of the historical fiction film, arguing that a blanket dismissal of mainstream historical fictions would be wrong, for it would deny the possibility of establishing beneficial collective memories that have to do, for example, with antiracism or other values that should be widely embraced.https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/gs/article/id/855/historical fiction filmdocudramacollective memorysleeper effectmainstream narrative |
| spellingShingle | Carl Plantinga Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film Global Storytelling historical fiction film docudrama collective memory sleeper effect mainstream narrative |
| title | Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film |
| title_full | Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film |
| title_fullStr | Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film |
| title_short | Collective Memory and the Rhetorical Power of the Historical Fiction Film |
| title_sort | collective memory and the rhetorical power of the historical fiction film |
| topic | historical fiction film docudrama collective memory sleeper effect mainstream narrative |
| url | https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/gs/article/id/855/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carlplantinga collectivememoryandtherhetoricalpowerofthehistoricalfictionfilm |