Historical fiction depicting the painful, discriminatory and unpleasant reality of history can help people learn from the uncomfortable moments of the past and contextualize the present.
History is not neutral and has continued to influence current social realities. More historical fiction unveiling the dark side of history must be produced to understand society’s past and ongoing responsibilities.
The 2022 film All Quiet on the Western Front exemplifies the cruciality of depicting uncomfortable histories. Through unrelenting bloodshed and a bleak ending, the historical fiction depicting the First World War illustrates the deadliness of patriotism and breaks away from the genre’s tendency to glamourize war. Romanticizing war—along with other historical events—is damaging because the audience could easily fall victim to a false narrative.
Knowing our history is essential. Through it, we gain perspective on the social, political and cultural realities of our past and present. As the age-old saying goes, “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Through being informed of our history, however uncomfortable, we can commit to breaking cycles and nourishing better futures.
Historical fiction should be a tool for understanding the events and institutions that influence lived experiences, such as those of racialized and LGBT+ communities. With calls from Indigenous leaders to understand our pasts and ongoing duties, historical fiction has a timely opportunity to contribute to restorative change and reimagined futures.
There must be mindfulness in historical fiction’s depictions of lives. Marginalized communities whose histories are being imaginatively retold deserve to guide the creation of historical fiction. In doing this, we can ensure narratives are thoughtfully accurate and the humanity or dignity of these communities is not set aside for entertainment purposes.
Creators of historical fiction must commit to intentionally depicting all elements of history—the good and the bad. This way, we can informatively reflect, learn and progress together.
Feature image from file
