Dark queens of the Dark Ages. Constructing a new identity in historical series

Abstract

 Serial today is a popular and dynamically developing form of audiovisual text, presenting the viewer with a full-fledged narrative. Serials representing the historical past are particularly important. Due to the peculiarities of production and distribution, historical serials create an extensive and frequently updated pool of representations of historical epochs in the media space. The tendency towards increasing racial diversity in film and television has recently led to the active involvement of non-European actors in TV-projects representing the European Middle Ages. Their appearance on the screens led to a number of effects. They not only revived the audience’s interest in history, but also activated protective tendencies in society, forcing them to wage a discursive struggle for cultural heritage and historical authenticity. Operating with such concepts as race, heritage and authenticity in a single context requires scientific reflection and theoretical comprehension. This research focuses on the problem of reassembling the image of the past by incorporating racial and national minorities into audiovisual historical representations. Based on a research of a range of serials from the first quarter of the 21st century we concluded that the origins of this tendency date back in the late 2000s. The constructing of representations of the Middle Ages under the influence of the inclusive trend went through three successive stages: from the using of symbolism of dark skin color to the constructing of a racially diverse society. At the last stage, there is a wide presence of actors of different races and nationalities in roles of all plans, including as the main characters, whose historical prototypes were Europeans. This trend is aimed at constructing a new European identity, by “ancientizing” the presence and increasing the cultural contribution of ethnic minorities in European history. The new image of the past, consistently creating on the screen, is meant to remove the blame for the colonial legacy and reduce the degree of social tension.