Beyond fact and fiction: Cultural memory and transmedia ethics in Netflix's The Crown

The aim of this study is to discuss the potential ethical implications of the fictionalization of historical events represented across multiple media platforms - under the powerful umbrella of streaming media services en general and Netflix in particular - to examine the potential impact fictionalization has on what is culturally remembered and what is forgotten. Combining theoretical approaches from transmedia studies and cultural memory, the article addresses possible ethical conundrums involved in the Netflix historical drama series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II: The Crown. Methodologically, the article is structured as a case study underpinned by the multidimensional analytical model proposed by Erll, chosen to explore how the blurred lines between fact and fiction of the flagship historical drama The Crown could have ethical implications for and impact on what is remembered and what is forgotten regarding recent memories of the British Royal Family. The research findings indicate that a deeper understanding of the conventions of the historical fiction genre, as well as the transmedial ramifications of streaming media productions, could potentially mitigate the ethical implications of The Crown, going above and beyond fact and fiction.

Automated summary

This study aims to discuss the potential ethical implications of historical events fictionalization on cultural memory and forgetting, particularly in the context of streaming media services like Netflix. Using theoretical approaches from transmedia studies and cultural memory, the article examines the ethical conundrums involved in the Netflix historical drama series The Crown, focusing on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The findings suggest that a deeper understanding of the historical fiction genre and the transmedia impact of streaming media productions can mitigate the ethical implications and blurred lines between fact and fiction in The Crown.