Revisionism & Representation

Come join us for some informal philisophical discussion. No prior knowledge or research is needed, but an open mind is.

Many modern art forms (films, video games, etc) have representation of women and minorities that place them as strong, central roles that are normal to modern audiences, but are very ahistorical to the time/place depicted. Is this a problem, a sign of moral progress, or just an artistic preference?

Discussion questions:

1. How does casting women and minorities in strong, central roles in historically inaccurate contexts affect the audience's perception of the depicted time period?
2. Does prioritizing modern sensibilities over historical accuracy in media representation enhance or detract from the storytelling experience?
3. In what ways might ahistorical representation in films and video games serve as a tool to connect with diverse modern audiences?
4. Can ahistorical portrayals of women and minorities in media be seen as erasing historical injustices, or do they highlight progress by reimagining the past?
5. Are there other ways that modern mediums distort history to appeal to modern expectations, and what are the reasons and effects?