History from Above: Historical Biopics

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This chapter offers an analysis of the biopic, a type of historical drama where the perspective on history from above dominates—through a famous, iconic historical figure. The chapter is based on a comparative analysis of the British series The Crown (1‒3, 2011‒20) which deals with English history from 1947 onwards through a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and her family and including many other high-ranking politicians and royal characters; and the German series Die Manns. Ein Jahrhundertroman (2001) following the life of one of Germany’s and Europe’s most famous authors, Thomas Mann, and his family. The comparative analysis of the two series involves a discussion of other biopic docudrama formats and the way different narrative and generic formats involve different forms of perspective taking.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPalgrave European Film and Media Studies
Number of pages28
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
Publication date2020
Pages109-136
Chapter5
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-60495-0
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-60496-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
SeriesPalgrave European Film and Media Studies
ISSN2634-615X

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

ID: 280301136