Period pieces are a genre of movies or television shows that focuses on different time periods. They are sometimes called costume dramas.
This genre not only allows viewers to escape from the stress and worry of everyday modern life, but it also transports them to a different era, often one viewers do not know well. Period dramas do not have a specific type. They can be as dramatic and romantic as “Downton Abbey” or as violent and realistic as “Band of Brothers,” a World War II based mini-series.
“The genre enables audiences to relate to the past by taking age-old themes and weaving them in with a time period or setting that audiences know little about,” social studies teacher Wendi Vincent said. “Some of the better executed period dramas revolve around actual historical events or characters but weave in fictional characters whom audiences can connect with and therefore have an emotional investment in the material at-large.”
Period pieces are often adaptations of classic books, including “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, which have been made into movies and portray the lives of people of those times.
“I think that ‘Pride and Prejudice’ depicts the time period of the 19th century well although the book was written as satire, so there were exaggerations,” senior Sierra Fallau said.
“I really like movies set in the 19th century,” junior Alexis Fraga said. “The costumes are really elaborate, and although I would not want to wear them, I find them really pretty.”
Television shows like “Downton Abbey,” “Mad Men” and “Boardwalk Empire” focus on the issues and events that happened around a specific time period, including the turn of the century or the 1900s, and reveal social expectations.
“Downton Abbey” is a British drama that aired for two seasons on PBS. The series documents the lives of the Earl of Grantham and his family as well as the servants who serve them and the changing times of the World War I period.
“I enjoy hearing the way the characters talk,” senior Jacqueline Rodriguez said. “I also like the soundtracks of the movies because of the music from the time period.”
“Mad Men” is an American drama that is currently in its fifth season on AMC. Centered around Donald Draper, “Mad Men” exposes the lives of Draper as well as his co-workers. The characters and story lines are fictional but often are centered around important events that were happening in the 1960s, such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the civil rights movement.
“I enjoy the clothes that the characters, especially the women, wear,” junior Jillian Baxter said. “It is also interesting to observe the differences of treatment of women and minorities that ‘Mad Men’ portrays.”
AMC is also home to “Boardwalk Empire.” Set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, “Empire” focuses on Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a character based on Enoch L. Johnson, a political figure who rose to power in Atlantic City during the Prohibition Era. Thompson interacts with other characters based on historical figures and is involved in various illegal activities, including bootlegging.
“Being able to step into a world that isn’t ours,” senior Jhunette Liwanag said. “Suspension of disbelief, where you put yourself into that movie to fully surround yourself in the movie, and to step away from reality. While the time period is different, the themes and ideas are still similar to today.”
