RU/18?

There is something that modern-day consumers of the entertainment industry COMPLETELY overlook 99% of the time - historical context.

We're not completely oblivious, our barely-remembered history classes let us realize when films are being absurdly anachronistic (Think "Knight's Tale".) or are sacrificing realism for sexiness. (Think almost all the costuming in period pieces)

However, you'd be surprised by some of the implications of a story taking place in a different country and/or different time period. Often, unless you really, really, REALLY think hard about it, the historical details will elude you. Usually, they're unimportant to the story as a whole. Why should you care then? BECAUSE THE FACTS, IF YOU REALIZE THEM, WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.

There is no better example of this than the age of characters. How often do we actually know the exact age of characters in any given story? It's very rare that it comes up if it's not a relevant plot point. However, even if it's not relevant to the plot, it can be relevant to how you view the message of the story.

In the literary world, my favorite example is Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". It is a perfect example because it is possibly the most well-known and the most poorly-interpreted story of all time.

Here's why: It's not a love story. Not really. Or it is, but the romance isn't the point. It's right there in the first lines.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, 
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, 
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, 
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

If the play were a research paper, this would be the thesis. The family feud is clearly the focus. As for the romance…well…

There are two major problems I have with the "romance" in Romeo and Juliet. First, Shakespeare makes it a point to show you that Romeo is fickle. At the beginning of the play, he's talking about how he's completely in love...with a girl named Rosalyn. He has a beautiful speech about how amazing she is, and then completely forgets about her when he meets Juliet. Second, given the time period...Juliet is most likely around 13 years old.

Do you know any 13 year olds? Talked to any Middle Schoolers lately? What would you say if they told you they had fallen in love and they couldn't live without their boyfriend/girlfriend?

Yeah, I'd laugh too.

The point is that it changes the meaning of the story. Drastically.

Ok, enough Shakespeare.

Disney movies are a particular love of mine. I love children's movies. They're bright and happy, full of color and music. Plus, I become amused at how grim tales become happily-ever-after Disney moments. Anyone who's read a real fairy tale has to find amusement in seeing how Disney skims past the less kid-friendly parts.

Historical context can tell us that Jasmine is likely around 13. She's pre-pubescent certainly, given her outfit. Yet she certainly has way more curves than a girl that age should. Disney makes their characters look older to ease the minds of the viewing audience.

Sure, this could just be a case of Disney not really caring for accuracy. One movie, however, makes me think otherwise. One movie has a character whose age is actually stated, although the implications are buried carefully, and is shown to look much older than he should.

The Beast, of "Beauty and the Beast", is 20 years old during the film. We know this. His enchanted rose is supposed to die on his 21st birthday, which is apparently at the end of the film. However, there is one more solid mention of time in the film.

One day, I was looking up the lyrics to "Be Our Guest" when I noticed a line I'd never paid attention to before. Lumiere is talking about how miserable they've been while under the curse and about how bored and how lonely they had been before she arrived.

During his dramatic little monologue, he tells Belle how long they'd been under the curse. "Ten years we have been rusting!" he claims.

Ten years. Ten years?! That would make the Beast ten or eleven when that enchantress cursed him. Ten! EVERYONE is selfish at ten years old. Kinda harsh. I thought maybe he wasn't aging or something, but the rose is set to die on his 21st birthday.

So he was ten. That's for certain. The portrait in his wing and the stained glass prologue don't show a ten year old though. They show him as he appears at the age of 21, when he transforms back from the Beast. Obviously, they couldn't show a ten year old being cursed...so they show a young man being cursed and hope nobody notices.

And be honest, did you?