Some frustrations with ahistoricity

[sleeplesspotato]

I 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.

Comments

[mistressofmuses]

I mean, the castle canonically has all kinds of modern tech - I kinda like how a lot of the "mysterious magical shit" going down in Dracula's castle is just... future tech. Because that's probably how a lot of it would come across.

But it's true, that makes it really hard to really pin anything down for historical accuracy! I'd be inclined to say not to worry too much - if anyone is bothered by anachronism, then I figure they probably wouldn't watch the show, so aren't going to be reading fic. Oooor that's just because I'm too lazy to do much research for things like that, haha.

At the same time, it IS fun to get to find out some interesting historical facts. There's stuff like that that isn't always widely known, but is really neat to find out more about.

[sleeplesspotato]

When I think about it now, Dracula is like one of those immortal aliens who've got an entire spaceship (okay, moving castle, but it's kinda like a spaceship on land) full of futuristic tech that's indistinguishable from magic. It's a nice stylistic choice in hindsight, though the historical setting keeps throwing me off; it's like I keep expecting a historical fantasy but actually it's closer to science-fantasy. Which is totally okay -- it works -- I just have a hard time with the cognitive dissonance that I can't easily dismiss.

Hahaha yeah, it'd be interesting if the show actually has viewers who can pinpoint the historical inaccuracies and still stick around long enough to watch the whole thing (I'm reminded of articles and blog posts by historians who have All the Complaints about historical shows and movies; they're fun to read). I'm just fond of looking stuff up and following research rabbit holes on the internet; part of the frustration is that I keep finding all these interesting tidbits but I can't use them because the anime went "Nope, we don't do that here." The other frustrating part is figuring out how to extrapolate from the anime when it clearly deviates from history but doesn't have enough worldbuilding for me to use; it's hard for me to come up with that stuff on the fly, so I inevitably fall back on what actually happens in the real world as a starting point. It's work, but I do enjoy it somewhat, so it's not completely tedious lol.

[mistressofmuses]

I love when science fiction and fantasy intersect (almost especially when it's a story that purports to be one, and then surprise-introduces the other.)
But that DOES create a strange intersection with the historical setting. I *like* that mix of genres, so I don't really find I struggle with it too much... but it does require a pretty decent suspension of disbelief, which is easier (imo) when watching than when trying to write the setting!

It is fun to read those types of nitpicking posts! People who are SO into something, especially some niche field, can have just so much info about things that I might never have even known about.
Research rabbit holes are fun - again, I definitely wind up learning stuff that I would never have known about, or sometimes even known to look for the info about.

But the show's worldbuilding is definitely incomplete - so much of the show's plot focuses solely on the most magic (and sci-fi) heavy elements that there isn't much info to extrapolate from when it comes to what the "normal" world outside of that would be. So I think you do have a lot of freedom with what you want to do (it's an AU, and your plot also converges on areas of the magic and sci-fi influence.) But still! Real world research is a really strong foundation for believability. As long as you're still having fun with it!

[sleeplesspotato]

Haha yeah, I didn't really have trouble with the things I'm nitpicking about while I was watching -- too distracted by all the fast-paced action, probably. ^^;; It was only after I'd started writing a fic based on the setting that I started having all these questions, which multiplied the more research I did.

I guess the main thing that trips me up while writing is that I keep reaching for details, like what they're wearing or eating or drinking or what the spaces they inhabit look like, and I don't always have a reference in the show (or it makes no sense without some healthy suspension of disbelief, which I don't have any more when I'm not watching the show). I *do* have a lot of leeway, though that also means I have to do the worldbuilding work; I feel like I'm learning a lot about writing an original novel. Which is probably a good thing in the long-run.

[mistressofmuses]

Yeah, I think that watching/reading vs writing gives you a very different perspective on things like that. I'm usually pretty willing to suspend my disbelief and accept when weird/anachronistic/ahistorical stuff happens in something I'm consuming. I like stuff like that, especially when done deliberately. But trying to write it, and figure out the "rules", when there sort of aren't any? Definitely shows the cracks.
Then again, my fandom has bonkers bullshit worldbuilding that I don't even pretend to really care about, so I do a lot of "eh, I'm going to disregard that and make up my OWN bullshit, thank you" lol.

I can see what you mean though, aiming for details that don't have a concrete answer, because the show either didn't go into it, or didn't really give a coherent answer. I feel like that DOES give you a lot of leeway - there's no reason you can't play by the same rules that the show does, and bring in deliberately anachronistic things purely because they'd be cool or because you want to include them. And/or you can incorporate an explanation for the anchronistic things into the worldbuilding itself, explaining more about the castle and how it impacts the flow of time/how it can have things within it that don't yet exist. Or how it could have inspired inventions or fashions that don't yet exist. (Though that could open up a new can of worms, lol.)

Personally, I think writing AUs can be VERY valuable practice for worldbuilding an original work!

You could also do something like include end notes about aspects that aren't historically accurate/pointing out decisions you made regarding something you included. I find that kind of thing really interesting as context for a fic.

[sleeplesspotato]

Figuring out mechanics like time and dimensional travel is pretty tricky; I keep thinking that the castle is overpowered and I ought to dial it back a bit. It would probably help to have a list of what is and isn't possible just to remind myself of decisions I've made.

Yeah, this is definitely good practice. I kinda want to work on one of my originals after this, though I dunno yet when that will be; I'd have way more work to do, for one.

I can see myself adding chapter notes mentioning things like people and places that inspired things in the fic (eg, there's multiple villages in Romania named Danesti, the village in season 3), so yeah, I'm probably gonna do that. ^^

[mistressofmuses]

The castle is pretty overpowered, lol. A list of what it can and can't do would be a very good idea! I'm terrible about remembering details like that while writing... I spend way too much time going back to previous chapters, digging for exactly what I said previously about something. (I DO try to keep track of things as I go, I just seem to pick the wrong things to include on those lists, ha.)

Definitely take some time to work on an original thing next! Do you have any ideas you're choosing between, or still just at the figuring them out stage? (I have a ton of original stuff, but haven't seriously worked on much recently. I did gt 50k into one for NaNo last year, but wasn't completely satisfied with it.)

I think the chapter note thing is a good idea! I always like those when I read.

[sleeplesspotato]

I've got a couple of novel ideas that I've had simmering for a while; one is more fleshed out than the other, except I was a bit torn over which particular time period I wanted to set it in. I can probably get back to it once I've gotten most of my fic written down.

I'd love to see your original stuff if you ever decide to post it. :D