Passions { sunday debate } The Crown’s blurred lines
When fact turns to fiction, when real life meets reel life, is creative licence necessary, or does one need to be told?
“Former UK Prime Minister, John Major, too, has called the show factually incorrect” AAKANKSHA SINGH DEVI
“While watching a show, we assume that it’s fictional”
“The show must come with a clause”
Dame Judi Dench has claimed that the latest season of The Crown is “cruelly unjust” and must come with a disclaimer. Former UK Prime Minister, John Major, too, called it factually incorrect. I agree! The past seasons have proved that while research has been done into the royal family’s history, where fact ends and fiction begins, is left ambiguous. How can one ensure the lines aren’t blurred? Add a disclaimer.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved watching the show. But I’ve caught myself wondering on more than one occasion, “Surely that is untrue!” And if it seems even the tiniest bit
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misleading, then it must come with a clause. Especially when the show is about an institution that has existed for centuries, is still in existence, and any “artistic portrayal” can easily alter the understanding of reality.
It seems like the creators of The Crown were not perturbed by their art and creativity, in many ways, distorting reality. And if they mean for the viewer to pause and do a quick fact check, that’s misusing that artistic licence. And if a show, film or even a written piece of work is not entirely factual, then surely a disclaimer isn’t too much to ask for!
Aakanksha Singh Devi, 35, is a lifestyle content creator and strategist, who may write parttime but is a full-time dreamer
Vidushii Shrivastava
“N ot based on true events”. As a viewer, a statement like that would read ridiculous. When watching a new show, we run with the assumption that it’s fictional, unless it’s specified that it’s based on true events. The Crown is an intimate family drama show that has presented a romanticised story of a family which we have only known of from curated articles and what the news has showcased. Show writers have taken inspiration from those and given to us a wonderful show that fictionally and creatively depicts a family with its own internal dialogue and interpersonal
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“Show writers give us a show that fictionally and creatively depicts a family”
VIDUSHII SHRIVASTAVA
relationships. The opening ceremony sequence of the 2012 Olympics in London had James Bond escorting the late Queen Elizabeth to the arena in a helicopter, and they then skydived to their entrance. There was artistic fictional writing executed there. No one had to specify to the viewers that the Queen didn’t actually jump off a helicopter.
Just like The Passion of the Christ (2004) was an evocative movie for Pope John Paul, The Crown has a similar effect on viewers. But, neither may reflect the truth, they are just great artistic works.
Vidushii, 33, is a creative supervisor who is interested in everything that falls under design and ideation