Hmn it's true that China lacked a Renaissance... but it is also true that the Chinese spent a century getting picked on by Western powers who had been sleeping with pigs 3 at the same time the Chinese had invented gun powder, paper money, printing (all things that were so essential to the Renaissance and Reformation in Europe did squat for China). When China did experience Dark Ages/choatic periods, a new dynasty would come along and shake things up, often with things such as Neo-Confucianism, Chinese scholars would seek to go back to the past glories of Confucius and Mencius. Except they were turning back to the past glories of Confucius (who was inherently conservative) instead of the past glories of Socrates and Plato and Cicero (who had more liberal values
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But don’t you think it’ll ruin the atmosphere? First they have Targarien Tudors, then industrial revolution, and in some centuries they’ll have a museum in Winterfell (closed on Mondays, excursions to be booked in advance), Daenerys the Second riding her ceremonial dragon to opening of parliament, and Petyr Baelish’s grand-grand…son founding a Google or an Apple corporation. It may be good for the people, but too ‘real-lifish’ for me as a reader. Like, idk, Gimli suing the Elves for not recognizing him as an equal.
Also, emotionally I feel that applying western political history to everything and everyone happens too much in real life. Westeros as a fantasy land is there for everyone, Westeros as medieval England politely asks the 'rest of the world' readers to kindly apply for entrance permit, proving on the way that they are worthly of it.
*have to read something about 'war of the roses'. So far my knowledge is limited to Horrible Histories report.*
Hmn personally I love the idea of a modern day Westeros and the idea of Winterfell museum and Daenerys the 2nd as this oh-so-respectable constitutional monarch is awesome
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I think modern day Westeros would be great in a fic, but not the actual series. Also, a Renaissance fantasy... if an author builds it from the start through his text telling the readers: "Hi folks! I'm Umberto Borges, and I'm going to put so much history in this fantasy that your philosophy professors will grant me honorary doctorate!", it will be okay, cool, and a great way to justify one's love for fantasy. But I don't feel such underlying current in ASOIAF, so it would look (for me) as if GRRM just decided to throw in the Renaissance at the last moment.
On the other hand, GRRM manages to introduce the strangest plot twists in such a way that you not only see it as a possibility, but start believing it. Maybe if he was 30 years younger took to Renaissance, it would work out
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Also, emotionally I feel that applying western political history to everything and everyone happens too much in real life. Westeros as a fantasy land is there for everyone, Westeros as medieval England politely asks the 'rest of the world' readers to kindly apply for entrance permit, proving on the way that they are worthly of it.
*have to read something about 'war of the roses'. So far my knowledge is limited to Horrible Histories report.*
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On the other hand, GRRM manages to introduce the strangest plot twists in such a way that you not only see it as a possibility, but start believing it. Maybe if he was 30 years younger took to Renaissance, it would work out ( ... )
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