Curate, connect, and discover
I can’t be the only one who noticed that, since Bridgerton came out, everyone has started to believe that “any historical fashion from any time period ever” is now “Bridgerton”. Edwardian ball gown? Bridgerton. 1860s hoop skirt? Bridgerton. Billie Eilish’s 1880s inspired dress? “Regencycore” and “Goth Bridgerton” (two actual headlines I saw today)
It’s so small but it makes me want to combust
As a museum worker I can attest: it used to be Downton Abbey.
I worked at a house from the 1790s for a while, and people were forever referencing Downton Abbey. One man outright asked me "is this like the Downton Abbey era?" (I finagled it into "well, they both pulled heavily from classical influences in style and design, so that's a great connection to make!")
I don't blame the average Joe for this, to be clear. Most of them have probably never had cause to think about historical anything except when they're watching the latest trendy period piece. Which is understandable! I don't think much about robots unless I'm watching or reading sci-fi, so I'd probably make huge egregious mistakes in discussing them. Not Everything Is Everyone's Thing, and that's okay!
But.
If you're a professional writer/journalist with google at your fingertips...I have less sympathy.
(...also okay yes I freely admit that the less charitable side of me wants to shriek "HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THE DIFFERENCE?!" at even ordinary people who get these things mixed up. But we shove that side in a broom closet and lock the door except in private conversations with sympathetic friends.)
(also also, Regencycore as an actual thing WHEN)