In a series of articles, I will look at the links between Games of Thrones and the Wars of the Roses, pointing to the real-life inspirations for several of the key characters in the series. For this study, I will be looking solely at how these events and characters are portrayed in the HBO series rather than... Continue Reading →
Thrones and Roses: The history behind Game of Thrones, part 1
With season 8 of HBO's Game of Thrones underway I thought I'd take a look at some of the historical events and figures that inspired the series. Although Game of Thrones is set in a distinctly fictional fantasy sphere, many aspects of the world portrayed in the series are reminiscent of medieval Europe. George R.R. Martin, the author of... Continue Reading →
Picnic at Hanging Rock: “Purity and refinement, the Appleyard promise.” Part Two, conduct and confinement
In the late summer of 2018, RTÉ 2 aired the Australian set period drama Picnic at Hanging Rock. An adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel of the same name, the six-part series tells the story of the disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher in 1900 Australia. This is the second major screen adaptation of... Continue Reading →
Picnic at Hanging Rock: “Purity and refinement, the Appleyard promise.” Part One, clothing and identity
In the late summer of 2018, RTÉ 2 aired the Australian set period drama Picnic at Hanging Rock. An adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel of the same name, the six-part series tells the story of the disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher in 1900 Australia. This is the second major screen adaptation of... Continue Reading →
Picnic at Hanging Rock: “The arse end of the world.” Colonialism and escape in the Australian wilderness
In the late summer of 2018, RTÉ 2 aired the Australian set period drama Picnic at Hanging Rock. An adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel of the same name, the six-part series tells the story of the disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher in 1900 Australia. This is the second major screen adaptation of... Continue Reading →
Five Daughters and Murdered By My Boyfriend: Giving a human face to the victims of crime
The following article looks at two BBC productions that recounted true incidents of violence against women. The three-part drama Five Daughters aired on BBC One in April 2010. Written by Stephen Butchard, the mini-series revolves around the Ipswich serial killer case, when Steve Wright murdered five young women during the winter of 2006. The BAFTA... Continue Reading →
Solidarity Forever: Bridging the divide in Pride and Good Vibrations
Matthew Warchus's critically acclaimed 2014 film Pride opens with the trade union anthem 'Solidarity Forever'. A recurring theme throughout the film is that there is strength in solidarity, particularly when people from different communities unite. In a key scene striking Welsh miner Dai tells young Northern Irish gay activist Mark: "That's what the labour movement means, should mean.... Continue Reading →