TV as Art Discussion (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 13, 14
Lesson
Minimum of 1 primary or scholarly source (from actor/director or critic – either will count as your scholarly source requirement for discussions)

Initial Post Instructions

Many people would say that the 1999 premier of The Sopranos was a turning point in the development of television as an art form. Choose a television or streaming show that you feel perpetuates the idea that television is indeed a form of art. For the initial post, address the following:

Include the name of the show and the director.
Explain why you think this program is art.
What impact does the example have on viewers’ lives?
What were some influences of this work?
Include a statement from an actor, director, or critic of the program that supports your points.

ANSWER

TV as Art

Knightfall is a TV drama created by Richard Rayner and Don Handfield. The television series features the secret lives of Knights Templars. Knight Templars were a military order and warriors of the crusades during the Middle Ages. The story follows Landry du Lauzon, the fictional leader of the Knight’s Templars, as he tries to retrieve the Christian relic: the Holy Grail, until the brotherhood organization was dissolved in 1307.

I think this program is art because it uses fiction to depict actual historical events. According to Martin and Jacobus (2019), a work of art provides insight into something important in our lives. Understanding our history is vital. Because Knightfall features actual historical events, I consider it art. Dominic Minghella, the show’s producer, said, “Much of our content is true to the historical record, and while we take some liberties for the purposes of drama and intrigue, history gives us at the least the framework (Mitchell, 2018). This show tries to replicate the destruction of Knights Templars by the King of France (King Philip IV) during the crusades (Mitchell, 2018). The crusades, which occurred between 1096 and 1492, were characterized by wars between medieval popes and Sunni and Shia Muslims. The Knight Templars fought for the medieval popes, and this show uses fiction to explore the power struggle between King Philip IV and Pope Boniface VIII and the persecution of the Knights as orchestrated by King Philip IV.

The show’s impact is enlightening viewers about some aspects of medieval history. In 2001, a document (Chinon Parchment) was discovered in the Vatican Archives. The record contained the Knights’ confession of blasphemy after their arrest by King Philip VI [check offline pages on opera mini]. By watching the show, viewers can understand what led to the Knights’ arrests and what they went through before the persecution.

The show is influenced by epic literature. It contains various dimensions of epic literature, such as dramatic traditions (e.g., marital customs and costumes worn by the Knights, royals, pope, commoners, etc.) and superhuman strength (e.g., the infinite healing power of the Holy Grail).

Image showing the costumes of Knight Templars. Courtesy of (Mitchell, 2018).

References

Martin, F. D., & Jacobus, L. (2019). Humanities through the Arts. McGraw-Hill Education

Mitchell, J. (2018, January 26). Separating fact from fiction in “Knightfall.” SBS. https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2018/01/09/separating-fact-fiction-knightfall