Ollie Brady, a medieval enthusiast, and Sarah Ifft Decker, a medieval historian, talk about how movies, tv, and books depict the medieval world. What did they get right? What did they get wrong? And what do they tell us about how modern people think about the medieval past?
Media-eval: A Medieval Pop Culture Podcast
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Its finally here folks- the last regular episode of Media-eval! Join Sarah one last time as she tells us why Princess Bride manages to be one of the most accurate movies ever on the show as it goes out on a really happy note. One last thing from me as I just want to say that it has been a pleasure guesting and listening to this podcast over the last 7 years and a great joy to be able to call Sarah my friend.
This episode is being released on Easter Sunday and Sarah thought what better way to celebrate this most holy of days than discussing whether or not Jesus got it w...on with Mary Magdalene. Ollie returns to discuss the 2006 movie The Davinci Code featuring one of the worst haircuts in history and more mansplaining than you can shake a stick at! Join us for a fun chat about a movie that is based on a book Im fairly sure you can read in less time than the movie seems to last! Disclaimer: Ollie was sick during this recording so if he appears quiet at times its not because the movie sent him to sleep, he was trying not to cough!
We're back where the Podcast began- Medieval Scotland! You'll never guess but some of the English nobles are being a bit dickish so its time for a Scottish hero to step up and deal with the situation. Sarah is joined by Ollie to talk about a movie that seems to be about Honour but is really a protracted contract negotiation. And its great! (in the eyes of one of the hosts!)
A slightly differnt episode as Sarah is joined by Ollie to break down the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. 6 Movies, 20+ hours and one episode to rule on them all! Some of these are masterpieces. Some of them are The Hobbit trilogy.
Tracey Tanoff is back but this time Chris Pine's Peen(R) is not on the table as we dissect a couple of beloved animated classics. We may not have liked them but we appreciate the work!
The holy Grail! Maeve Doyle returns to help us find the most holy of artefacts as we discuss academic representation on screen, Harrison Fords illegal attractive levels and whether a Nazi who reads is a "good" Nazi.
CW: Discussions of historical and modern transphobia Join Sarah and her mom, Beth Greenfield, for their last episode of the podcast together as they discuss 1992 film Orlando, based on the novel by Virginia Woolf. We explore the Little Ice Age, English-Ottoman diplomacy, and trans lives and narratives from the medieval and early modern world. Trans people have a history! Learn more: Trans Historical, edited by Greta LaFleur, Masha Raskolnikov, and Anna Klosowska: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501759505/trans-historical/ Byzantine Intersectionality by Roland Betancourt: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691179452/byzantine-intersectionality Silence: A Thirteenth-Century French Romance, translated by Sarah Roche-Mahdi: https://bookshop.org/p/books/silence-a-thirteenth-century-french-romance-sarah-roche-mahdi/12696746 Social Media: Join our Facebook group! E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com
Sarah is joined by fellow historian Maeve Doyle and fan of people getting stabbed Ollie to talk about the seminal 1981 classic Excalibur. Directed by John Boorman and seemingly filmed in a fog of coke dust and horniness this movie is one of the most famous medieval movies of all time. As Maeve says- this movie is a rich text.
Join Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales - back for her final appearance on the podcast - as these two curly-haired historians tackle the top curl representation of 2012: Pixar film Brave. We delve into tartans, tapestries, and folklore, all while making the argument that Brave is WAY better than Braveheart. Social Media: Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Morgan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgansaysohballs/ Find Morgan on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/morganrmorales.bsky.social
Ridley Scott has released a new movie and that mans Sarah has another chance to take him down! Ollie is back to talk about Zombie baboons and the logistics of having two kids that are the same age but also born 21 months apart! Join us as we have a lot of fun discussing one of the most baffling movies of 2024 at the end of the year!
Ollie is back and failing to be objective as we cover one of his childhood faves. Is the movie a little too long? Yes. Does it get the history wrong? Yes! Is it still a wildly entertaining romp? YES!! Strap in for a wild ride of brothers caging brothers, possible regicide and an honourable man who allows honour to be a sideline to getting some action. Strong recommend.
Peter Konieczny returns for his last episode as Media-eval's anime correspondent to discuss 2023 series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Join Sarah and Peter as we explore forgeries, change over time, and historical memory in this beautiful series. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Peter at www.medievalists.net
It's a movie set in 1986 but its heart is medieval. Ollie is back and he introduces Sarah to one of his all time favourite movies- Highlander! Is it good? some would say no but sometimes being wildly entertaining is more important than being good!
It's just past Halloween, and Media-eval has an episode with an unusual take on the thriller genre! Join Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales for a discussion of Firebrand, a 2023 film about the harrowing end to the relationship between Henry VIII and Katherine Parr - or a version of it, at least. We get into Tudor portraiture, religion and politics in early modern England, and of course the real story of Katherine Parr. CWs: sexual assault; miscarriage Social Media: Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Morgan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgansaysohballs/
Its 2004 and you are the biggest movie star on the planet but you can't get no respect, so what do you do? Easy! make a historical epic that stars an incredible cast and you will surely win an oscar! Just make sure there is no way anyone thinks your character is gay. Join Sarah and Ollie as they breakdown a movie that is somewhat hated by the common people in the world but one of the hosts actually loves...we wont tell you which.
Is this truly an episode of Media-eval? Yes! Sarah and fellow medieval historian Mireille Pardon delve into identity, legal culture, and microhistories in the 1982 film The Return of Martin Guerre. Social Media: Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Mireille on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@pardon_mi?lang=en) and Twitter (https://x.com/pardon_mi?lang=en)
Sarah is back with a big announcement and a new episode about the movie that is oft requested- 2004's King Arthur starring Clive Owen and Kiera Knightley. A movie that questions whether all historians can agree on one thing and if its possible to tell the "true" story of something if your version is also made up! Ollie is back too.
Media-eval is back with a bonus episode inspired by our discussion of 1935 film The Crusades! Did you want to hear more about Berengaria of Navarre and why she matters? Sarah brings on expert Dr. Gabrielle Storey, author of a new biography about Berengaria, to tell us more. We'll be back with regular episodes every other week starting September 22nd! Social Media: Twitter: x.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Gabrielle Storey on Twitter: https://x.com/gabbystorey And check out the book! https://www.routledge.com/Berengaria-of-Navarre-Queen-of-England-Lord-of-Le-Mans/Storey/p/book/9781032121475?srsltid=AfmBOorGx-nLZgf4jIO77HqtiF74BIJ13TxavHKGyZ0HToZSgOfDovQP
Media-eval is going on a summer hiatus! New episodes will resume in September. In the meantime, check out our back catalog and the Media-eval facebook group!
Join Sarah and returning guest - and classic film correspondent - Morgan Morales for the 1935 film The Crusades. Is it kind of offensive? Yes. Is it good? Not particularly. Should you watch it? Probably not. But should you listen to this episode? Yes! CW: We discuss both actor Loretta Young's reported experience of sexual assault and sexual harassment/assault played for comedy in the film. We also discuss the film's rampant Islamophobia. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Morgan on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/morganrmorales.bsky.social
This week, Media-eval explores premodern China with anime series The Apothecary Diaries! Join Sarah and returning guest (and Media-eval anime correspondent) Peter Konieczny as we explore the lived experiences of women in medieval China, from servants to courtesans, concubines to apothecaries. CW: The series includes depictions of suicide/suicidal ideation and sexual harassment and assault, which we discuss in the episode. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Peter at www.medievalists.net
Magic and mystery are part of their history … and now they're featured on Media-eval! Join Sarah and returning guest Mabel Slattery as we tackle Disney animated series Adventures of the Gummi Bears. What you might expect: discussions about knightly culture and medievalism for children. What you might not expect: discussions about expulsions and refugee crises in the medieval world. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Mabel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteroo/ and stream her comedy, featured on: https://www.twitch.tv/blizzardcomedy Buy Sarah's award-winning book The Fruit of Her Hands: https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-09330-7.html. Use promo code KZO24 for a 40% discount!
Happy Passover! Media-eval celebrates by once again dunking on Ridley Scott. Join Sarah and her mother, Beth Greenfeld, as we talk about the biblical and historical inspirations behind 2014 film Exodus: Gods and Kings, and attempt to answer such questions as: Why is Moses now a military leader? What's up with all the brownface? What happened to the women in the Exodus story? And how did medieval Jews celebrate Passover? Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Beth on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethg20904 Learn more about medieval haggadot in Marc Michael Epstein's excellent book: https://www.academia.edu/2439145/The_Medieval_Haggadah_Art_Narrative_and_Religious_Imagination
If a movie is released and no-one is there to see it, does it make a sound....and lots of historical errors? James Purefoy is back and he is once again making a movie that is fun but not necessarily...good? Ollie has a good time and Sarah has a mild breakdown at just how many things this movie gets wrong!
Join Sarah and returning Media-eval Doctor Who correspondent Lily Bonnemann for a trip into the late 17th century with New Series season 6 episode, The Curse of the Black Spot. We get to talk Mughal emperors, sirens, and, of course, pirates! Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Lily on Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/shadow-academic
Media-eval this week is transported back to (sort of) Ancien Regime France. Join Sarah and returning guest Peter Konieczny for a discussion of anime series I'm in Love with the Villainess! We get into how we distinguish medieval from early modern (and whether we should), food history (ever wondered when they first invented crème brûlée?), and class dynamics in the late medieval and early modern world. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Peter at http://www.medievalists.net
Ollie returns to talk about a season of a tv show he enjoyed and simultaneously got really annoyed at. Sarah is very patient with him and they also have a really interesting discussion on what makes an adaptation good and what mistakes adaptations often make.
Sarah and returning Media-eval Doctor Who correspondent Lily Bonnemann return for New Series season 5 episode, The Vampires of Venice! Join us as we explore vampire lore, the history of Venice, and the real lives of powerful wealthy women (most of whom are NOT fish-aliens) in early modern Venice. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Lily on Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/shadow-academic
Media-eval this week goes from 1500 to 2000 to 2500 in Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain. Join Sarah and guest Marisa Macias as we attempt (with moderate success) to make sense of this movie. Are all the Hugh Jackman's and Rachel Weiszes the same person? What was Isabella I of Castile really like? And why on earth are filmmakers so dedicated to not knowing what the Spanish Inquisition is? Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Marisa on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@madmodworld
This week, Media-eval ventures a bit outside its usual chronology … as after all, Sarah can't resist an opportunity to dunk on Ridley Scott. Join Sarah and guest Miranda Sachs, a historian of modern France, as we discuss Ridley Scott's 2023 film Napoleon. What about Napoleon got left out of the film, and why does it matter? Was the French Revolution quite as bad as the film implies? (Hint: No). And why is the film's central thesis that Napoleon was bad at sex? Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Miranda Sachs at her faculty page: https://www.txst.edu/history/people/faculty-staff/sachs.html, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MirandaSachs, and on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mirandasachs.bsky.social
This week we have something a little different, as medievalists Lucy Barnhouse and Winston Black join Sarah to talk about how medieval medicine is represented in popular culture. Lucy and Winston are the editors of the new volume Beyond Cadfael: Medieval Medicine and Medical Medievalism. Join us as we explore the most common tropes of medical medievalism, from leeches to orientalism. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Purchase Beyond Cadfael here: https://trivent-publishing.eu/home/160-232-beyond-cadfael.html Find Lucy on social media: https://twitter.com/singingscholar Find Winston on social media: https://mastodon.world/@winstoneblack and https://bsky.app/profile/winstonblack.bsky.social
Sarah and Media-eval's Netflix Christmas Correspondent Meghan Griffin return to the Netflix Extended Christmas Universe to talk about medievalism in A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby. Yes, the film features a medieval treaty - and a medieval curse! - but more importantly, it raises all sorts of questions about the medieval past of these fake kingdoms whose entire personality is Christmas and that have apparently taken over most of Central-Eastern Europe. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Meghan on social media at @MeggGriffin (including but not limited to: https://twitter.com/MeggGriffin)
He may be in decline but he still knows a good movie when he sees it so Ollie returns to argue with Sarah on the merits or lack thereof in the movie Apocalypto(2006). Is it hi-octane action? Yes! Does it have a paper thin plot? Absolutely! Does the politics it represents leave a bad taste in your mouth? Possibly! Sit back and enjoy as two friends discuss a movie one loves and the other doesn't while both agreeing that the director is a POS.
Sarah and returning Media-eval Doctor Who correspondent Lily Bonnemann are back to tackle their first episode of the New Series, in honor of the 60th Anniversary! Join us for our discussion of The Shakespeare Code, where we explore race, medical practices, and architecture in Elizabethan England. Further Reading: April Fool's! Love's Labour's Won at the Globe: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discover/blogs-and-features/2021/04/01/shakespeares-globe-uncovers-long-lost-shakespeare-play/ Deborah Harkness, “A View from the Streets: Women and Medical Work in Elizabethan London,” Bulletin of the History of Medicine 82:1 (2008): 52-85 Olivette Otele, African Europeans: An Untold History: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/olivette-otele/african-europeans/9781541619937/?lens=basic-books Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Lily on Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/shadow-academic
Sarah and returning guest Peter Konieczny return to the world of the Three Kingdoms with 2022 anime series Ya Boy Kongming! Join us as we discuss the life story of Zhuge Liang Kongming, premodern Chinese concepts of hell, and the challenges of time travel narratives. CW for reference to suicide attempt Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Peter at medievalists.net
It's the spookiest time of the year and I'm not talking about Tax Season. Sarah want's to talk about a modern "Horror" movie that on the surface doesn't seem to be from the medieval period but when one of the major plot points is about the Spanish Inquisition and the movie seems to absolve certain people of guilt, you can bet they are going to have thoughts!
Sarah and returning guest Tracy Tanoff delve into the everyday lives of nuns in our conversation on Lauren Groff's novel Matrix. Join us as we explore the work of Marie de France, illness and disability in monasteries, faith and mysticism, and the real stories of queer nuns through a discussion of Groff's 2021 novel. CW for reference to sexual assault (not graphic) Read the novel Matrix by Lauren Groff: https://bookshop.org/p/books/matrix-lauren-groff/16278801?ean=9781594634505 Check out a take from another medievalist, past guest Lucy Barnhouse, on this book: https://nursingclio.org/2021/12/09/matrix-lauren-groffs-visions-of-the-medieval/ Learn more about medieval women's and gender history in Judith Bennett's book History Matters: Patriarchy and the Challenge of Feminism: https://bookshop.org/p/books/history-matters-patriarchy-and-the-challenge-of-feminism-judith-m-bennett/12488103?ean=9780812220049 Learn more about lesbians in the Middle Ages: Jacqueline Murray, “Twice Marginal and Twice Invisible: Lesbians in the Middle Ages,” in The Handbook of Medieval Sexuality, ed. by Vern L. Bullough and James A. Brundage. Garland Publishing, 1996, pp. 191-222. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Tracy on BlueSky: haveloved
Sarah and fellow medievalist Ryan Szpiech take the podcast to Spain with 2012 Spanish-language miniseries Toledo, Cruce de Destinos. Join us as we explore the life of Alfonso X and his sons, the lived experience of Jews, Christians, and Muslims living in medieval Castile, and the popular understanding of the idea of convivencia in this soap opera-style take on the 13th century. CW for sexual assault, violence Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Prof. Ryan Szpiech and learn more about his work: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ryanszpiech/ Rate, review, and subscribe!
Media-eval is back and this time we are tackling one of the most famous movies that can come under our remit- Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott. This movie won all the oscars and is a beloved fan favourite BUT did Sarah like it? She has brought Ollie back to argue the merits or lack thereof for this popular movie. Is Russel Crowe any good? Does Joaquin Phoenix eat enough ham? Is Kingdom of Heaven really better than this? Is it a fridging if they arent even a character? This might be the closest to a real argument the podcast has ever seen between Host and traitor...I mean guest.
The podcast will be going on hiatus til September so Sarah can spend the summer focusing on research for her new book project! See you in a few months!
Sarah brings Ollie back to the pod to talk about the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina. At the end of the first season our heroes seemed to be in a lot of peril so join us as we see if they can escape and defy the odds yet again to win the day and save the realm. One thing we do know is that if they do they'll have a great sweary time doing it!
Sarah and fellow medievalist Dr. Raissa von Doetinchem de Rande explore medieval al-Andalus and the life of philosopher ibn Rushd in 1997 film Destiny! Join us as we discuss medieval philosophy, translation, and why this film is inexplicably about how the caliph's son just wants to dance. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Dr. Raissa von Doetinchem de Rande and learn more about her work: https://www.rhodes.edu/bio/raissa-von-doetinchem-de-rande Rate, review, and subscribe!
Sarah and returning guest Lily Bonnemann are back at Doctor Who with 2002 audio drama - and loose Three Musketeers adaptation - The Church and the Crown. Join us as we explore the Paris sewage system and do a deep dive into George Villiers, the First Duke of Buckingham! Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Lily on Twitter: twitter.com/LizzieStrider and on Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/shadow-academic Rate, review, and subscribe!
Chris Pine has a new movie out that is inside our wheelhouse so that means our special Pine Correspondent, Tracy Tanoff, is back to talk about her favourite guy. And she brought Ollie with her! Join us as we discuss this new movie that is currently in cinemas. Is it good? Yes. Does it make us happy? YES!
Sarah and guest Erika Harlitz-Kern turn to Bohemia and the life of Jan Žižka as we tackle the 2022 film that is, generically, just called Medieval. Join us as we explore the doctrine of Jan Hus, the complex politics of the Holy Roman Empire, and how modern Czech nationalism uses the medieval past - and as Sarah literally splutters with rage over the portrayal of women in this film. CW for suicide and fridging. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Erika on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EH_Kern), on Mastodon (https://historians.social/@eharlitzkern), and on her blog The Boomerang (https://ehkern.com/author/ehkern/) Rate, review, and subscribe!
Sarah and returning guest Peter Koniezcny of Medievalists.net explore medievalism in the anime Naruto! Join us as we discuss how Masashi Kishimoto blends medieval and modern elements in his world-building. We get into the history and legend surrounding ninja, the folkloric history of the nine-tailed fox, the use of technology, and whether ramen would have been available in pre-modern Japan. Just as a note: this episode focuses only on the first arc of a (very long!) series. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com See more of Peter's work with public medievalism on https://www.medievalists.net/ Rate, review, and subscribe!
Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales delve into 2021 film The Tragedy of Macbeth - and award Ralph Ineson the official Media-eval MVP. Join us as we explore magic, gender, why Shakespeare is bad at history, and the historical Macbeth and Gruoch, aka Lady Macbeth. By the way, Macbeth does NOT pass the Ifft Decker. CW: we make several mentions of suicide in the context of the film. We also discuss sexual assault in the film The Last Duel at around the 1hr44min mark. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Morgan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/morganrmorales Rate, review, and subscribe!
Media-eval tackles another book this week! Join Sarah and guest Ben Paul as we discuss Lapvona, a 2022 novel by Ottessa Moshfegh. This intense and wide-ranging novel allows us to explore medieval disability studies, miraculous lactation, and why everyone is so insistent on making medieval people eat potatoes. CW: the novel includes depictions of sexual assault, child abuse, and cannibalism, which we discuss on the episode. To learn more about medieval disability studies: Wendy Turner's remarks: https://massmedieval.com/2016/02/29/past-present-and-future-of-medieval-disability-studies-wendy-j-turner/ Open Access Medieval Disability Sourcebook: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/22299 Ephraim Shoham-Steiner, On the Margins of a Minority: https://www.wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/margins-minority Steven Bednarski, A Poisoned Past: https://utorontopress.com/9781442604773/a-poisoned-past/ Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Rate, review, and subscribe!
Media-eval is back this week with another new (ish) release as Sarah and returning guest Lily Bonnemann tackle the first season of the Willow TV series. We've definitely got a difference of opinion on this one, so whether you loved the show, hated it, or haven't watched it (but don't mind being spoiled!) come and check out our conversation. Join us as we get into books bound in human (or satyr) skin, possums, and the biblical and medieval associations between evil, temptation, women, and serpents. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Lily on Twitter: twitter.com/LizzieStrider and on Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/shadow-academic Rate, review, and subscribe!
Join Sarah and fellow medieval historian Abbey Agresta as we tackle 2022 release Catherine Called Birdy! We talk about our own history with the book as young wannabe medievalists, menageries for exotic animals, the 1290 expulsion of the Jews from England, and medieval European marriage practices. Spoiler alert: we're ... not that into Lena Dunham's take on this. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Abbey on Twitter: twitter.com/AbigailAgresta Rate, review, and subscribe!
Sarah brings Ollie back from exile to talk about the Amazon series "Rings of Power". Did the show nail the feeling of Tolkien? Did the actors make you believe in them? Should an elf be thinking about making love to a perfectly normal human man? Find out all of this and more in the latest episode of Media-eval!
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