MovieChat Forums > Houdini and Doyle (2016) Discussion > Anachronisms and television

Anachronisms and television

posted 8 years ago by Tim-Buktu
12 replies | jump to latest

I am somewhat baffled by the criticism of the modern touches in the show.
Every show since television began tried to relate to the current audience. For some reason I keep reflecting back to the old TV show Bonanza. They all dressed like they could walk right off the set and not be noticed. And they had the morals of the time.

H&D is a show of our times. I accept that. It may be that back then "Wogs and women" knew their place, but this is now. I want to see the crew solve crimes.
I would really like to see them solve supernatural crimes.

But for crying out loud, they are not trying to be historically accurate.

I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 8 years ago

Are you talking about the inflammatory posts ranting about blacks and minorities not being historically accurate?

Those complaints have nothing to do with people upset by anachronisms. These posts always show up at the IMDB regardless of when the show is taking place. If this show was taking place 500 years from now with spaceships and robot maids everywhere, there would be at least half a dozen posts complaining that there are too many blacks and women on the show.

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Emojis=💩 Emoticons=

[–] Tim-Buktu 8 years ago

I am shocked yes SHOCKED that Victorian England had ...Negroes <gasp> and they were treated as though they were actual human beings ( I do believe I will faint.)
And Women! Women who could walk and chew gum! (Was gum invented?) How dare television portray such people?!

I'm sorry. I do believe I need to lie down.

I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police.

[–] MycroftHolmes 8 years ago

Bonanza??? I don't remember seeing anyone dressed like they were on Bonanza.

What we got here is... failure to communicate!

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[–] Tim-Buktu 8 years ago

I don't remember seeing anyone dressed like they were on Bonanza

I recall that an old time movie star, Gary Cooper -I think, but don't hold me to that, went on stage dressed in completely authentic 1870's western style. This was high style, the way cowboys dressed to impress the ladies. He was laughed off the stage. To that end, people want to see "historical" people dressed and acting the way they think is appropriate.

.
I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police.

[–] MycroftHolmes 8 years ago

I don't know what you mean? What do people find appropriate?

What we got here is... failure to communicate!

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[–] Tim-Buktu 8 years ago

What do people find appropriate?

If I knew that, I'd be much more successful in life.

I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police.

[–] MycroftHolmes 8 years ago

But you're the one who said it.

What we got here is... failure to communicate!



[–] Tim-Buktu 8 years ago

I thought I gave a fine example with Gary Cooper. But as you say:"What we got here is... failure to communicate!"

I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police.

[–] MycroftHolmes 8 years ago

I just wasn't sure what the anecdote had to do with how they dressed on Bonanza. Someone walking out on stage in a costume from the past would probably get a similar reaction today. Plus I thought this conversation was about how the guys on Bonanza dressed the same way they did at the time the show came out. Actually, the styles followed the show more than vice versa. Western styles became quite popular in the 60's.

What we got here is... failure to communicate!



[–] cosmic_surveyor 8 years ago

I understood the anecdote. Gary Cooper did some research and arrived at what he thought was legitimate wardrobe. The audience did not and found his wardrobe denigrating to their collective idea. So what we saw in Bonanza, or other westerns, might not actually be true wardrobe for the pioneers in uncivilized country. A compromise was reached to meet the audience's approval.

I think anachronisms can be compromises to bridge the period and the audience.

________

Est modus in rebus sunt certi denique fines quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum Goldilocks

[–] Tim-Buktu 8 years ago

I agree completely.

My original post was:

I am somewhat baffled by the criticism of the modern touches in the show.
Every show since television began tried to relate to the current audience

I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police.

[–] MycroftHolmes 8 years ago

I thought Cooper just dressed like that as a joke. I didn't know it was a skit. I didn't think Bonanza's wardrobe to be that anachronistic, nor modern day. I do remember fashions changing because of the show. When I was young people didn't wear jeans to school. I think the show and western shows in general made them mainstream. At one point lace up front cowboy shirts were really in style! I had one with a holstein print that was really cool!

What we got here is... failure to communicate!

