Definition

Noun: 1. A work of art (such as a film, novel, or play) that is set in and accurately depicts a specific historical era: The primary value of a "period piece" is its successful recreation and evocation of a past time period, often through detailed attention to costumes, settings, manners, and language.

Usage

The term is used to categorize and describe creative works that are intentionally set in a time period earlier than when they were created. It emphasizes the work's dedication to historical authenticity and its function as a window into the past. * It is commonly used as a countable noun (e.g., a period piece, several period pieces). * It often carries a neutral or descriptive tone but can sometimes imply that the work feels dated or is more valued for its historical depiction than for its contemporary relevance.

Examples

• Film & Television:
  • The film is a lavish period piece set in 19th-century England.
  • She specializes in directing period pieces about the Victorian era.
• Literature & Theater:
  • The novel is not just a romance; it's a meticulously researched period piece.
  • The theater company's latest production is a period piece from the 1920s.
• General:
  • While some critics found the plot slow, all praised the film's qualities as a period piece.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be applied more broadly to objects or styles that are characteristic of a past era, though this is less common.
  • That car is a real period piece from the 1950s.
• In critical discussion, calling a work "merely a period piece" can suggest it is aesthetically or thematically bound to its depicted era and lacks timeless qualities.

Variants and Related Words

• Historical drama (n): A genre of film, television, or theater that dramatizes historical events and figures. (This is a closely related genre, but a "period piece" may focus on fictional stories within a historical setting rather than major events.)
• Costume drama (n): A work, especially a film or TV show, characterized by elaborate period costumes. (This term is often used interchangeably with "period piece," though it can place more emphasis on the visual spectacle of the costumes.)

Synonyms

• Historical work
• Costume drama

Antonyms

• Contemporary piece (a work set in the present time)
• Futuristic/Sci-fi work (a work set in the future)

Noun

1. any work of art whose special value lies in its evocation of a historical period