I love to catch anachronisms in movies and television shows set in other periods. The TV version of “M*A*S*H” was notorious, not just because of references to things that hadn’t happened yet, but even in things like the men’s hair-styles -- much more 1970’s than 1950’s -- and the fact that you never saw anybody smoke a cigarette.
Linguistic anachronisms are my favorite. I’ve noticed a few in my new all-time favorite television show ever, “Downton Abbey.” One scene has a man saying of his fiancée, “She’s just sucking up, Mother.” Nobody would have said that in 1920. I admit that neither She’s just being obsequious nor She’s just fawning upon you exactly roll off the tongue, but still, a writer of Julian Fellowes’ capabilities ought to be able to come up with something more in tune with the times than “sucking up,” the first known use of which, according to Miriam-Webster, was in 1976.
What’s even more fascinating are anachronisms of attitude. “Downton Abbey” not only has a gay footman, but those who know that he is don’t seem to mind. In one episode, he tries to seduce another male servant, who rejects him and reports him to his superiors, but the police are not called nor is he even sent packing in the middle of the night -- he keeps his job. No. Not in 1920.
I have also noticed in "Downton" as well as some other period dramas, including another of my favorites, "Foyle's War,” which is set during World War II, that there is a relentless tendency to refer to young females as “women,” when, in fact, up until just about 1970, they would have been called “girls.”
It seems to me that modern writers ought not to have to forsake verisimilitude for political correctness. But I don’t imagine having much luck getting someone to produce a Civil War drama in which the slaves are constantly called -- you know.
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