Why do movies value political correctness over historical accuracy?

Question

Why is it that movies, particullarly newer movies, cast women into roles that are completely historically inaccurate? Movies such as Pirates of the Carribean and King Arthur come to mind. There were no "tough girl" women back in those time periods. Any historian will tell you it was considered horrible luck to have a woman aboard a pirate ship. Why does political correctness trump historical accuracy?

Answer 1

The fact is movies, historically accurate or not, are meant for pure entertainment purposes. If you want something accurate go watch a documentary.

I hear so many men complain women not being able to take out multiple people at once but no one looks at the fact that most men couldn't either, especially us modern men. Sure we like to act tough and talk tough but in a true, honest to god brawl with no weapons but our hands almost no one (man or woman) could take out more than a couple of people before being overpowered. It's definitely possible for someone to(men or woman) but it's highly unlikely.

I don't know if I'll be able to find the article but when I was younger there was a case of a young woman who was attacked by 6 men. She was beaten and gang raped but during the attack she was able to physically disable enough of those men(4 I believe) long enough for her to escape and make it to safety.

Most women may physically be weaker than men but too many men have taken a woman's weakness for granted and suffered the consequences in return.

Answer 2

Women are sick of seeing movies with females cast as the victims with no real storyline other than being a g/f or w***e.  Why can't women be portrayed as having some substance other than what's between their legs?

Answer 3

Movies are not about historical accuracy. They are about entertainment.

But what does "there were no 'tough girl' women in those times" mean?

Answer 4

Because when women are casted to act the way they REALLY act in REAL life... feminists set off bombs and start yelling "sexism".

Feminists want to live in a dream world and refuse to accept reality. *shrugs*

Answer 5

Actually, there were many pirate wenches. And they were tough in some cases.

I know about the rule and women but I guess pirates broke a lot of those rules.

I guess without knowing EXACTLY what you feel is out of whack, it's hard to guess.

Political Correctness gets you the censors nod. They don't want truth ...they want everone HAPPY!

I love it when you lie to me?!

Answer 6

They do this for the same reasons they value adventure or entertainment in general over historical accuracy.

Answer 7

Mooonnniiiees and to spin a modern story the viewers can relate to using an nostaligic, fantastic background.

Answer 8

Yes, there were no "tough women" before the 1970s, I totally agree. Joan of Arc, Mulan, Deborah Samson-- none of them existed.

EDIT: Did giant kraken come up from the depths of the ocean and eat Johnny Depp? It was a fantasy move; there's bound to be hyperbole.

It's not a matter of them being women, it's a matter of one person taking on 7; there were plenty of female pirates. And it's not about political correctness, it's about what people want to see. If political correctness bothers you, Disney has produced plenty of politically incorrect movies, too :) Look at Pocahontas, for instance-- equally historically inaccurate, but certainly not constricted by political correctness in the least.

People make movies that they think will sell. Pirates of the Caribbean sold.

Answer 9

Movies are entertainment, not historical documentaries.

You do know that King Arthur is mythological, right? You do know that Pirates of the Caribbean is a fantasy, right?

"Political correctness". ROFL

They're just movies, Sparky. Why do you expect them to conform to YOUR sexist preconceptions?

Answer 10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_pi...

But I agree that that pouting idiot Knightly should not be potrayed a s being able to deck big men when she must weigh about 7 stone!