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Some frustrations with ahistoricity
Apr. 8th, 2022 04:52 pmI know the Castlevania anime wasn't trying to be historically accurate, and I know I shouldn't expect much, but nevertheless I keep thinking things like "Alucard is having breakfast in this chapter, what did they eat in 15th century Wallachia" then getting lost in internet rabbit holes before remembering that the anime just went "Fuck it, let's have him steam a fish and eat it with fresh tomatoes." Tomatoes that wouldn't have been eaten during that time period because there were toxic and inedible varieties. (Though I suppose Alucard would have some resistance to toxins because he's a dhampir?) Then there's the castle's kitchen complete with a modern stove and oven and even a bamboo steamer from who knows where, and...I can't. I just can't. There's dimension-hopping shenanigans in the plot -- maybe the castle can pop into the future for a bit so Alucard can grab some stuff before heading back to the 15th century because reasons? I mean, why not at this point?
All the same, I enjoy learning about the various historical tidbits that I come across, such as physicians forbidding people from eating breakfast for health reasons (see this paper and this article) and wine bottles (or decent ways of preserving wine, for that matter) not being a thing in the Middle Ages. The castle cellar full of wine bottles is another ahistoric thing, though Alucard being drunk a lot towards the end of season 3 apparently isn't, since wine was safer to drink than water during that period. Come to think of it, rewatching the anime while thinking that everyone is probably at least a bit drunk would make certain plot points a lot more interesting.
Anyway, it's been weird trying to balance what I've found out through casual research with what I remember from the anime while writing an AU fanfic; I don't want to disappoint any readers who actually know their history, but at the same time the source material itself is already anachronistic to begin with. I've mostly been trying not to pressure myself too much -- I just want to finish this and get it out there -- while enjoying the things that I learn along the way.
All the same, I enjoy learning about the various historical tidbits that I come across, such as physicians forbidding people from eating breakfast for health reasons (see this paper and this article) and wine bottles (or decent ways of preserving wine, for that matter) not being a thing in the Middle Ages. The castle cellar full of wine bottles is another ahistoric thing, though Alucard being drunk a lot towards the end of season 3 apparently isn't, since wine was safer to drink than water during that period. Come to think of it, rewatching the anime while thinking that everyone is probably at least a bit drunk would make certain plot points a lot more interesting.
Anyway, it's been weird trying to balance what I've found out through casual research with what I remember from the anime while writing an AU fanfic; I don't want to disappoint any readers who actually know their history, but at the same time the source material itself is already anachronistic to begin with. I've mostly been trying not to pressure myself too much -- I just want to finish this and get it out there -- while enjoying the things that I learn along the way.
