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Kryuchkova A.S. The role of medieval military costume in the formation of visual image and fantasy aesthetics in cinema. Journal of Clothing Science. 2025; 10(3). Available at: https://kostumologiya.ru/PDF/21IVKL325.pdf (in Russian).

The role of medieval military costume in the formation of visual image and fantasy aesthetics in cinema

Kryuchkova Anna Sergeevna
Russian State University of Cinematography named after S.А. Gerasimov, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: any.dub@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8688-3177
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=1239850

Abstract. The article analyzes the role of historical costumes and armor in shaping the visual image of the Middle Ages on screen, as well as examining their influence on the formation of the visual aesthetics of the fantasy genre. In cinema, armor is studied as a means of creating a unified artistic concept, becoming a marker of its era and a recognizable symbol of medieval culture. Using films such as «A Knight’s Tale» (2001), «The Green Knight» (2021), and «King Arthur: Legend of the Sword» (2017) as examples, the methods of stylization and adaptation of historical material for cinematic purposes are explored. The analysis shows that in depicting the material culture of the medieval period, creators of popular films often consciously replace authentic details with more expressive and symbolically charged elements that are visually comprehensible and meet the expectations of a modern audience. The article also notes the influence of other spheres of media culture on the formation of the image of Medieval aesthetics in cinema. The analysis of the artistic design of costumes in films about the Middle Ages concludes that the degree of stylization of armor in cinema is not only determined by the specifics of the production process and the authors’ concept but is also linked to the audience’s perception of certain armor forms and costume details. In this context, the article analyzes how the use of modern digital technologies not only expands the range of visual solutions but also creates fundamentally new opportunities for constructing fantasy worlds, the origins of which lie in a historically inspired image.

Keywords: film costume; historical costume; stylization; historical reconstruction; fantasy aesthetics; Middle Ages

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