Should we call it, “black washing” of history?
I can see it now- a new musical, “CLEOPATRA”, starring Whoopi Goldberg….
well, there are different “levels” - if something claims to be a documentary, then it should be true to history.
Portraying a known historical figure to be of a recognizable physical difference as a “documentary”? NO, that’s wrong.
Portraying a known historical figure to be of a recognizable physical difference as a “drama based on historical figures”? Like “the Crown” — or “William Wallace” — well, MAYBE (the Crown’s casting of middle-aged and older Prince Phillip went against my sensibilities) — as an amateur historian I say no — I dislike the fact that people think “Braveheart” shows any resemblance to historical reality.
Portraying a historical figure on an explicitly stated fiction? Sure, why not — like Idris Elba as Heimdall (he was great) or Tilda Swinton as the ancient one (again, I thought she was great in that role)
“Should we call it, “black washing” of history?”
Good one! Blackwashing is a great term and very applicable to many things going on now.