Comedy
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ is a fitting sequel series to Disney’s ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ And that can be a good or a bad thing.
The Renaissance was, to put it mildly, a very messy time.
What started as a small cultural movement in the Republic of Florence quickly spread across Italy, and then through all of Europe. Literature, philosophy, politics, science and more were all turned on their heads as ancient ideas were rediscovered and revived (the word Renaissance comes from the Italian rinascita, which very appropriately means “rebirth”).
Most famously, however, the Renaissance gave us some of the greatest artists in human history. Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci all found success during this time, and they produced works of art that are still renowned today.
But not everyone appreciated these works for their sheer beauty. Politicians looked at da Vinci’s sculptures and saw the perfect opportunity for propaganda. Corrupt church leaders used Michelangelo’s religious art to gain power. From the 15th to the 17th century, being a famous artist meant much more than producing great art: It meant becoming a pawn in a grand political game.
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty is part documentary, part drama, and it aims to show the real stories behind some of history’s greatest works of art. While experts narrate in classic documentary fashion, a fictionalized, aging Michelangelo talks directly to the viewer and reflects upon his life (in fact, much of his dialogue is taken directly from Michelangelo’s writings).
It’s a unique format to be sure—but when we’re talking about this period of history, “unique” is pretty on theme.
If you know anything about the Renaissance, it shouldn’t be a surprise that questionable themes are all but guaranteed.
Male and female nudity are on full display in paintings and sculptures. While this nudity isn’t inherently sexual, we do see male models pose suggestively, and the camera captures them from the waist up.
Michelangelo’s sexuality is also a topic of discussion. While most experts can only speculate on his sexual leanings based on his writings and work, one historian confidently exclaims “Michelangelo is gay!” While it’s impossible to know for certain if the artist experienced same-sex attraction, to her, the matter is as set in stone as Pietá.
Because religion was so central to the Renaissance, it’s naturally a key theme in The Blood and the Beauty. Many of the works discussed are based on biblical events and characters (da Vinci’s The Last Supper and Michelangelo’s David, to name a few). The fictionalized Michelangelo also speaks repeatedly about his devotion to God.
It’s not all uplifting and encouraging, though. During this period of history, many believe that the Church became more focused on money and power than following God, which is shown in full display here. For the most part, these events are presented as simple historical fact, but it’s hard to totally avoid a biased comment or two slipping through the cracks — and it’s not exactly fun to see church leaders torture and kill in the name of God.
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty is a unique and fascinating look at a tumultuous period of time. Still, the Renaissance is the Renaissance, and you may stumble across a few uncomfortable moments on your journey through history.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
As political turmoil reigns across Europe, a young Michelangelo struggles for recognition in Florence.
The historians narrating the documentary explain that renewed interest in Greek and Roman ideals caused renewed interest in the human form, which is reflected in the art of the time. Many of the paintings and sculptures shown are of nude men and women. This nudity is purely in an artistic context; however, when the experts discuss the prevalence of homosexuality at the time, we see shirtless male models posing in a suggestive way.
Michelangelo’s sexuality is also a topic of discussion. One expert (labeled as a “historian of sexuality”) confidently states that he was gay and calls his sexual attraction “beautiful.” The same historian claims that the male form was idealized in Renaissance art because the Bible teaches only men, not women, were made in God’s image. It’s assumed that if Michelangelo experienced same-sex attraction, he would have struggled to reconcile it with his devout faith. One historian describes his statue Bacchus as “homoerotic.”
Michelangelo remembers an attack on the powerful Medici family that occurred when he was young. We see vague flashes of a riot and a closeup of a woman with a bloody mouth. The assassin is caught and hanged, which viewers get a glimpse of. While at school, Michelangelo is punched in the face by another student and gets a bloody nose. A story is told about Michelangelo’s father beating him when he was a child for drawing on the wall. While Florence is under the control of a corrupt church leader and people are beaten in the streets. We’re shown this vaguely and not in detail.
While describing Leonardo da Vinci’s brilliance, one historian says he had the mind of “a magpie on speed.”
Lauren Cook is serving as a 2021 summer intern for the Parenting and Youth department at Focus on the Family. She is studying film and screenwriting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. You can get her talking for hours about anything from Star Wars to her family to how Inception was the best movie of the 2010s. But more than anything, she’s passionate about showing how every form of art in some way reflects the Gospel. Coffee is a close second.
‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ is a fitting sequel series to Disney’s ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ And that can be a good or a bad thing.
Shape Island may charm little viewers and won’t bend their parents out of shape. But the show can also feel surprisingly flat.
Max’s newest release, Task, takes audiences to task with a slow-burn storyline involving graphic violence, nudity and crude language.
It’s fun, but the show is guilty of lack of restraint in the second degree—a senseless crime if ever there was one.
