Paul Bettany’s Chaucer Isn’t Too Pop Culture, Or Why A Knight’s Tale Deserves Academic Love

Breaking my own rule of never watching a film adaptation before reading its source text, I watched Brian Helgeland’s A Knight’s Tale long before I read Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale.  In my defence, I had forgotten much of the film’s content by the time I got around to reading the Canterbury Tales, and I hope to demonstrate that it would not have mattered if I did.  Now that I have re-watched the 2001 motion picture as a medieval literature student and a screenwriter with a particular penchant for adaptations, I have recognised an unexpected medieval-ness behind Helgeland’s boldly modern text, and I have re-weighed the efficacy of transmission of medieval literature through popular culture.
If you have not heard of or deigned to watch A Knight’s Tale, here is the official trailer:
Either way, I hope you will read on as I grapple with a) Helgeland’s anachronistic and “generic translation [that turns] high culture into popular culture” (Forni 254); b) the accepted view of popular culture as low culture; and c) our tradition and authority complex when it comes to medieval and medievalist texts.

From The Knight’s Tale to A Knight’s Tale

What makes a modern adaptation or reinterpretation text scholastically and artistically valid in the realm of medievalism (defined here)?  In working toward an answer, I am indebted to Louise D’Arcens and her 2008 article titled “Deconstruction and the Medieval Indefinite Article: The Undecidable Medievalism of Brian Helgeland’s A Knight’s Tale.”  She points out the significance of Helgeland’s indefinite “A” as opposed to Chaucer’s definite “The” and explains, among other things, that the film’s “undecidable medievalism” places it in a different category from, say, Peter Jackson’s strict adaptation of Lord of the Rings.  It is tempting, as a history buff or a Chaucerian or a medievalist, to watch, study, and criticise A Knight’s Tale as an adaptation of The Knight’s Tale, which almost necessarily leads one to view it as an American / capitalist / individualist / [insert any modern ideology with negative valence here] warping of the medieval period.  But these judgments rely on the a priori notion that the film’s sole intention was to create a visual adaptation of a medieval story, a medieval sport, a medieval society.  What I have gathered reading interviews with writer/director Brian Helgeland and watching the film as an admittedly childish (read: unassuming) medievalist leads me to reject that idea in favour of a more forgiving reading of the film as a medievalist text.

A Knight’s Tale is less a visual translation of and more a response to the modern that can be found in the medieval (or the medieval that can be found in the modern); it was first conceived by Brian Helgeland as a medieval sports film, and his inspiration for the film’s story stemmed from the fact that only nobles could compete in jousting tournaments (Reel 6 Interview).  Based on this tidbit, the primary “source text” for A Knight’s Tale is not, in fact, The Knight’s Tale.  The film is not an adaptation of Chaucer’s text at all (which is, by the way, a rendering of Boccaccio’s Teseida, not an original story, at least in the modern sense of the term).  Its inspiration stems from Helgeland’s fascination with the medieval sport of jousting, and its construction is based more on an ideology of cultural transmission than a strictly historical or literary tradition.  Helgeland explains Chaucer’s presence in the text, which clearly goes beyond the film’s title:

“One of the dangers of a period movie is that everything gets kind of put up on a pedestal and covered in varnish…I was an English major, and when we studied Chaucer he seemed like a guy who stepped out of a museum with dust all over him. But he had to be a more kind of out-there guy to write all that stuff. So having no idea, I’m hoping Paul [Bettany]’s version of Chaucer is closer to who Chaucer probably was…” (Contact Music)

Helgeland wanted Geoffrey “Geoff” Chaucer in his film to subvert the museum quality of the medieval period.  And for those of you who are still hoping for faithful adaptation, Helgeland did intend for his film to take place during a six-month period of Chaucer’s life for which historians have no record, which means that a) he did do his research and b) our adaptation theory can be thrown out the window.  The film’s setting and story is set in a fanciful medieval neverland, really.  Helgeland gets off the hook.

Furthermore, Brian Helgeland’s interviews reveal that a dialogue with, rather than a translation of, the medieval period was in his head for the making of A Knight’s Tale.  One interviewer remarks that “it seemed the movie was about youth and identity in some ways, and also questioning the powers that be” (Contact Music).  I would argue that this film’s subversive questioning is what makes it so delightfully medieval.  Even if you disagree, it is clear that Helgeland’s aim was to coax to the surface those medieval aspects of modern society, or to tease out the modern-seeming aspects of medieval society.  In short, the film really is easier to appreciate if one’s critical viewing considers Helgeland’s vision for the film:

“We have computers and cell phones and cars, and all that. But they had all that too, they had horses, they wrote things down — I really believe that people have never changed, really. They laugh, they fall in love, they go to war, they never change” (Interview with Marty Mapes).


Of the people, By the people, For the people 

Perhaps it’s the American in me that delighted in William, Watt, and Roland’s quest to stick it (jousting!) to the (noble)man.  Don’t we all love an underdog story?  The short answer: not if it gets too close to beloved literature and literary figures.  The long answer: not when it propagates “the pervasive, and ostensibly insurmountable, chasm between the popular and the academic Chaucer” and “transform[s] a Boethian exploration of human happiness and divine justice into a predictable and vulgar myth of fulfilment” (Forni 254); and certainly not when it “refus[es] to acknowledge the nature and mannerisms of social customs and people in Europe at the time” (Jeffrey Badder).  In defense of the first complaint, Kathleen Forni does make an astute observation.  She argues that A Knight’s Tale denotes the modern reception of Chaucer as a figure for popular culture (as opposed to Shakespeare’s popularity with intellectuals) (Forni 262).  While I agree that Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales lends itself well to the modern storyteller who might wish to create a comic, pop culture-y text set in the medieval period, I do not necessarily think that we should lament it.  After all, even Shakespeare wrote for the masses–the foundlings occupying the standing space in theatres were part of the Bard’s carefully aimed double entendres and satire.  And the modern conception of popular culture–having much to do with mass printing–does not really fit in Chaucer’s time.  This brings me to Forni’s second point.

As I noted earlier, Brian Helgeland clearly did not have an adaptation of Chaucer’s Knight’s Tale in mind when he set out to write A Knight’s Tale. He had jousting, 70s rock, and the philosophy that a man can change his stars guiding his script.  He was writing a tale about a knight, not the tale about the knight, as  Louise D’Arcens articulates in her argument.  He is not trying to recreate Chaucer’s “Boethian exploration of human happinessand divine justice,” so we certainly cannot hold his film to that standard.  Consequently, I cannot agree with Forni’s judgment on A Knight’s Tale on the grounds that her arguments are supported by assumptions that simply cannot be applied to Helgeland’s film.  Furthermore, she does not consider the film’s genre, or the fact that film is meant to be massively consumed and is closely bound up with “popular culture,” which she seems to think is a dismantling of Chaucer’s image as the classy father of English poetry. A Knight’s Tale is irreverent, maybe, but so is the Canterbury Tales. A Knight’s Tale is a comedy, a kind of modern tribute to the medieval sport of jousting.  (All criticism I read about the film did allow that the cinematography of the actual jousting is phenomenal.)  So why can we not appreciate A Knight’s Tale for what it is?


Our Obsession with Lineage: A Pristine Medieval Period

Brian Helgeland’s A Knight’s Tale subverts textual authority in a way that especially bother medievalists.  Whether it is with Queen’s “We Will Rock You” or Jocelyn’s failure to conform to our ideas of a medieval noblewoman, Helgeland defies expectations anyone might draw from the title of the film, its inclusion of Geoffrey Chaucer, or its medieval setting.  Is it, then, the feeling of being duped that upsets the likes of Jeffrey Badder and Kathleen Forni?

The former’s tone of disappointment as he describes the opening scene certainly points to the frustration of expectation:

“The crowd “does the wave” as at a modern baseball stadium, competitors pump their breastplates like football players, and the nobles, apparently fans of 1970’s rock-and-roll, sing along to the theme music; the guitar solo, in fact, is even timed to appear as though it comes from the trumpet players on the tournament grounds” (Jeffrey Badder).

The opening of A Knight’s Tale reminds me of scenes in Shrek where 90s pop music rules the fairytale land.  No one seems to be bothered by it, perhaps because Shrek is acknowledged as a fairytale; it is animated.  Although A Knight’s Tale does pull the rug out from under those of us who come in to the film expecting a historically accurate adaptation of Chaucer’s first Canterbury Tale, I would argue that the film is straightforward and honest about its fairytale quality from the beginning.

I am inclined also to view the medieval scholar’s discomfort with A Knight’s Tale as a manifestation of our obsession with tradition and lineage and of our tendency to view historical figures such as Chaucer and historical cultures as pristine and sacred (in that they should be preserved and studied rather than embodied, filtered, and transmitted in a modern hand).  After all, the notions of textual tradition and authority have existed at least since Chaucer’s lifetime; in Troilus and Criseyde, for example, he probably invented a classical textual source for his story, crediting a “Lollius” whose name only appears in the Chaucer’s text.  What’s more, Chaucer and other medieval writers freely borrowed, innovated, and plucked pieces from other texts while modern authors are governed by not only copyrights protecting intellectual property and reverence for the past, including its literary figures.  This creates a standard for film adaptations that is creatively restrictive.  While there is something to be said for strict adaptations, the strength of Brian Helgeland’s comic and epic tale is in its humour and its apparently modern view that “a man can change his stars.”


Conclusions

“If we are to truly grasp the significance of a medievalist text within the undecidability of medievalism, we need to accept, and not condemn, its partial truth, its blithe purloining, and most of all its fluctuating allegiances, which it directs promiscuously not only to the medieval past, but also to other…pasts, the present, and even the future” (D’Arcens 98).

Louise D’Arcens’s conclusion resonates with my experience watching A Knight’s Tale for the second time (the first time as a medievalist).  It was marked by delight and recognition of unexpected medieval elements.  I anticipated a quirky medieval-esque comedy, so I was pleasantly surprised whenever Helgeland dropped gems like the importance of pilgrimage (in Chaucer’s introductions of Will as Sir Ulrich).  And although steeped in modern ideology, I recognised Helgeland’s construction of an estates satire within the template of Hollywood’s cathartic good vs. evil plotline: The priest, for example, is shushed by the fiery Jocelyn as tries to silence her in his cathedral.  Geoff Chaucer calls attention to the class divide at tournaments and pokes fun at the noble class by addressing “everybody else here not sitting on a cushion” when he introduces Sir Ulrich.  And unredeemable baddie Count Adhemar is thoroughly shown to be as ignoble in manner as Will is in blood.

My viewing of the film was consquently enriched by my determination to watch it as a product of its time and as in dialogue with, rather than necessarily deriving from, a bygone time and culture that continues to intrigue modern society.  As scholars and film-viewers, we can learn something from such a reading of Helgeland’s text: taking a break from the traditional criticism of medievalist texts is beneficial, for both academic inquiry and cinematic pleasure.

Works Cited:
D’Arcens, Louise. “Deconstruction and the Medieval Indefinite Article: The Undecidable Medievalism of Brian Helgeland’s A Knight’s Tale” in Parergon, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 88-98. Australian and New Zealand Association of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, 2008. Article. Web. 31 March 2016.
Forni, Kathleen. “Reinventing Chaucer: Helgeland’s A Knight’s Tale” in The Chaucer Review, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 253-264. Penn State University Press, 2003. Article. Web. 31 March 2016.

 

1,788 thoughts on “Paul Bettany’s Chaucer Isn’t Too Pop Culture, Or Why A Knight’s Tale Deserves Academic Love

  1. I think this is among the most significant information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The web site style is perfect, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers alexistogel

  2. 소액대출은 주로 생활비 부족 등 긴급 자금이 필요할 때 500만원 이하의 소규모 금액을 빌리는 신용대출로, 신용회복위원회의 성실상환자 지원 제도나 서민금융진흥원의 불법사금융 예방 대출 소액대출

  3. I every time used to study article in news papers but now as I am a user of web therefore from now I am using net for posts, thanks to web.

    Feel free to visit my web page wholesale nike shoes

  4. This innovative concept blends work and wilderness perfectly. Companies pay for trail reviews, photography, or conservation monitoring. It’s not just a walk in the woods; it’s a purposeful journey that compensates you. A fantastic way to promote environmental stewardship while earning, making every step financially and personally rewarding. get paid to hike

  5. Арбитражные споры представляют собой конфликты, возникающие в процессе деятельности граждан и юридических
    лиц, связанные с правовыми вопросами.

    По российскому законодательству,
    арбитражный суд представляет собой специализированный
    орган для разрешения таких спорных вопросов.

    Классификация арбитражных споров

    Споры, возникающие из договорных обязательств.
    Споры о праве собственности.
    Споры, связанные с обязательствами по выплате долгов.
    Иные споры, возникающие в процессе коммерческой
    деятельности.

    Как проходит арбитражное разбирательство

    Первым шагом в ведении арбитражных дел является подача искового заявления в арбитражный суд.

    В соответствии со статьей 125 Арбитражного процессуального
    кодекса, иск требует наличия следующих элементов:

    Наименование суда.
    Информация о сторонах дела.
    Описание обстоятельств дела.
    Запросы истца.
    Документы, подтверждающие требования.

    Подготовка документов

    Для успешного разрешения спора необходимо подготовить и предоставить
    суду всю релевантную информацию.

    К таким документам относятся:

    Договорные документы.
    Документы в письменном виде, подтверждающие факт.
    Показания свидетелей.
    Иные документы, подтверждающие позиции сторон.

    Решения арбитражного суда

    Суд выносит решение, основываясь на предоставленных
    данных и аргументах обеих сторон.

    Суд принимает во внимание все
    нюансы дела и выносит решение, подлежащее обжалованию в вышестоящих инстанциях.

    Следует учитывать, что соблюдение сроков подачи апелляционной
    жалобы крайне важно.

    Рекомендации и заключение

    Для более эффективного
    ведения арбитражных дел рекомендуется заранее
    проконсультироваться с юристом, имеющим опыт в данной сфере.

    Это поможет избежать типичных
    ошибок и повысить вероятность положительного результата дела.

    Таким образом, арбитражные споры — это сложный процесс, требующий
    тщательной подготовки и знания законодательства, а также учета всех нюансов ведения дел в арбитражных судах. арбитраж юрист москва Заключение
    Анализ арбитражных споров показывает, что они
    значимы для системы правосудия, поскольку защищают права как граждан,
    так и юридических лиц. Арбитражные
    суда рассматривают споры, вытекающие
    из гражданских и коммерческих отношений, что позволяет эффективно решать конфликты,
    связанные с обязательствами, договорами и иными правовыми аспектами.

    Правовая база Российской Федерации
    устанавливает ясные и последовательные правила для рассмотрения подобных
    дел. Это позволяет сторонам быть уверенными в прозрачности и справедливости судебного процесса.
    Арбитражный процессуальный кодекс регулирует все этапы арбитражных разбирательств, начиная от подачи исковых требований и заканчивая вынесением решения.
    Важно учитывать следующие аспекты:

    Наличие необходимых документов, подтверждающих требования сторон.
    Следование установленным законом срокам для подачи исков.
    Важно понимать права и обязанности сторон, участвующих в процессе.
    Точное оформление исков и сопутствующих судебных
    бумаг.
    Право на подачу апелляции, если решение суда
    не устраивает.

    Арбитражные споры имеют свои особенности, и результат каждого из них определяется множеством факторов, включая доказательства, правовую позицию сторон и уровень квалификации судей.
    При этом важно помнить, что арбитражные
    суды действуют в соответствии с законодательством, что обеспечивает законность всех решений.

    В связи с вышеизложенным, можно заключить, что арбитражные
    споры являются неотъемлемой
    частью правовой системы, способствующей
    разрешению конфликтов и защите законных интересов граждан
    и организаций. Ознакомление с практическими аспектами и особенностями данного процесса позволит лучше
    подготовиться к участию в подобных делах, минимизируя риски и достигая необходимых результатов.

    В итоге, арбитражные споры требуют тщательного
    подхода и знания законодательства.

    Информация о практике арбитражных судов,
    а также квалифицированное юридическое сопровождение могут значительно повысить шансы на успешный исход дела.
    Надеемся, что данная статья поможет читателям лучше понять основные принципы и нюансы арбитражных споров.

  6. It is time to get out of the mindset that exercise is only
    meant for athletes and bodybuilders. You do warm-up exercises to get your body prepared for the physiological stress exercise can induce, and it’s best to always make
    time after your workout for cooling down. In fact, this doesn’t suggest you should not
    challenge yourself to get probably the most out of your workout; just make
    sure that to take heed to what your physique is saying as you
    achieve this. In response to the chilly temperature,
    your body will do its best to guard your inner organs,
    encouraging the blood to circulate away from the outer extremities and pores and skin. Whenever you instantly stop your exercise, blood swimming pools in your muscles
    as an alternative of flowing back to your heart. Next, do gentle,
    static stretches — no bouncing — so that you don’t strain your muscles.
    Doing only one kind of exercise each day can put excess pressure on a particular muscle group, which will increase the
    potential of harm. I already put in the work that issues,
    I will be pondering as I pack up my gear. For instance,
    if you’re utilizing a leg-extension weight machine that is not set
    properly, you possibly can put too much stress
    in your knees and trigger knee damage.

    Also visit my blog; website

  7. Heya this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors
    or if you have to manually code with HTML.
    I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to
    get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would
    be enormously appreciated!

    my page: Sonara job board (sonara-work.com)

  8. Hi mates, nice piece of writing and fastidious urging commented at this place,
    I am genuinely enjoying by these.

    my homepage … pgz888

  9. Have you ever considered publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other
    websites? I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss
    and would really like to have you share some stories/information.
    I know my audience would enjoy your work. If you’re
    even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.

    Here is my page :: кракен тор

  10. This game looks amazing! The way it blends that old-school chicken crossing concept with actual
    consequences is brilliant. Count me in!
    Okay, this sounds incredibly fun! Taking that nostalgic chicken road game download crossing gameplay
    and adding real risk? I’m totally down to try it.

    This is right up my alley! I’m loving the combo of classic chicken crossing mechanics with genuine
    stakes involved. Definitely want to check it out!
    Whoa, this game seems awesome! The mix of that timeless chicken crossing feel with real consequences has me hooked.

    I need to play this!
    This sounds like a blast! Combining that iconic chicken crossing gameplay with actual stakes?
    Sign me up!
    I’m so into this concept! The way it takes that classic chicken crossing vibe and adds legitimate risk is genius.
    Really want to give it a go!
    This game sounds ridiculously fun! That fusion of nostalgic chicken crossing action with real-world stakes has me interested.
    I’m ready to jump in!
    Holy cow, this looks great! Merging that beloved chicken crossing style
    with tangible consequences? I’ve gotta try this out!

  11. Professional Incheon mobile massage service. Certified therapists visit your home or hotel to relieve muscle fatigue, improve relaxation, and provide a safe, comfortable treatment experience.
    인천 출장마사지

  12. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
    I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting
    things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
    I desire to read even more things about it!

    Feel free to surf to my web site :: mcm998

  13. Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was
    extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly
    enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m
    still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for first-time blog writers?
    I’d certainly appreciate it.

    My page: office

  14. Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating
    it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested
    in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward
    to seeing it improve over time.

    Feel free to surf to my blog :: Continue Reading

  15. Namun karena kebijakannya, aplikasi ini tidak memperbolehkan orang-orang untuk mengunduh video tersebut karena melanggar hak cipta dan privasi.

    Also visit my page: Ssstwitter. Net

  16. Keilini Portable Heater Reviews – Does It Work?

    Persons are preparing for what may be a chilly winter as temperatures drop additional.
    Most are likely to dislike the chilly as a result of it can cause unpleasant
    signs, however the actual wrongdoer is a scarcity of
    planning. Why not appreciate the beauty of falling leaves and, in some areas,
    snow? Why not gather with family and associates while taking the mandatory preventive measures?
    If you’re wondering the place we’re going with this, you’ll be able to wager our editorial workforce has
    come across an intriguing, HeatSpace Portable heater.
    So, without additional ado, here’s all the pieces you
    could know concerning the Keilini Portable Heater.
    What is the Keilini Portable Heater? The Keilini Portable Heater is a private heater that’s designed
    to maintain an individual’s room heat whereas lowering heating costs.
    Our editorial staff was astounded to be taught that this
    unit might produce warm air in just seconds.

  17. 비상금대출은 갑작스러운 자금 필요 시 소액의 긴급 자금을 무담보, 비대면으로 빠르게 빌릴 수 있는 상품으로, 보통 신용카드 사용 실적이나 통신 등급, 소득 등을 기준으로 심사하며 비상금대출

  18. Right here is the perfect website for anybody who wishes to find
    out about this topic. You realize so much its almost
    hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa).

    You certainly put a new spin on a subject which has been discussed for
    decades. Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!

    Here is my blog … important source

  19. 비상금대출은 갑작스러운 자금 필요 시 소액의 긴급 자금을 무담보, 비대면으로 빠르게 빌릴 수 있는 상품으로, 보통 신용카드 사용 실적이나 통신 등급, 소득 등을 기준으로 심사하며

  20. 비아그라 구매(실데나필 성분)는 의사 처방이 반드시 필요한 전문의약품으로, 병원에서 진료 후 약국에서 처방전으로 구매하거나 비아그라 구매

  21. If some one wishes expert view on the topic of blogging and
    site-building afterward i recommend him/her to pay
    a quick visit this webpage, Keep up the pleasant work.

    Also visit my webpage: https://wycmyp.za.com/

  22. Hi, everything is going sound here and ofcourse every one is sharing information, that’s
    really excellent, keep up writing.

    Check out my web blog; web site

  23. I really like what you guys are usually up too.
    This kind of clever work and coverage! Keep up the fantastic works guys I’ve added you
    guys to our blogroll.

    Here is my website; manvip

  24. Howdy exceptional website! Does running a blog like this take a lot of work?
    I’ve virtually no knowledge of coding however I was hoping to
    start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off topic however I just needed to ask.
    Thanks!

    Here is my website :: mellstroy

  25. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after reading
    through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!

    Here is my blog :: offered-jobs.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Skip to toolbar