You've probably heard from time to time the Middle Ages being referred to as the Dark Ages. This is a biased misnomer that arises in the Romantic period, which favoured ancient Rome and Greece over the contributions of the Medieval Period. In fact, there was nothing "dark" about the Middle Ages at all; it was incredibly vibrant, colourful, and rich in a variety of cultures that produced some of the most magnificent pieces of architecture in human history! Check out this reconstruction of the front portal of Amiens Gothic cathedral in France, showing the original colours you would have seen in the 13th-14th centuries:
I thought that the medieval period was called "the dark age" before this class. I had no idea that it was actually incorrect. But if you've never studied it, you wouldn't know. I love that we are able to reconstruct different pieces of art from that time period. Like the Gothic Cathedral photo you posted, it is beautiful with all of the colours re-done.
Yes, I find most students have been taught the "Dark Ages" moniker throughout high school. I was taught this too, until I studied the period!
The "Dark Ages" thing always did seem off to me, myself. I play a lot of Dungeons and Dragons, which carries many medieval themes in it! I think a lot of people like to see the Dark Ages as some kind of horrible, brutal time where everything is miserable and horrible. However, many forget there was amazing colours in clothing, tapestries, and so on. I heard somewhere that even peasant clothing had vibrant colours, and is not the tattered rags film normally portrays them in! I find it fascinating, and make sure to stay away from the more "grim-dark" aspects of Medieval culture when I do my D&D sessions. It's not that those things didn't exist, but there was a lot of beauty there too that many seem to forget about.
Gaming is great for inspiring historical research! You are totally right about the vibrant colours, etc. Also, the music, and...let's not forget...the entire system of law we have in the west, rooted in the Magna Carta of the 13-14th centuries. Church cannon law is in fact the oldest extant legal system in the world!
I also thought for most of my educational upbringing that the Middle Ages and the Dark Ages were the same thing - maybe because when I think of the Middle Ages I think about what you see in films/movies where those who do not agree with the king are beheaded, the aspect of serfs, and citizens seemed as though they had to tiptoe around higher power in their society (everything that seems metaphorically "dark"). Even after a quick google search, the Middle Ages and the Dark Ages are explained as the same thing; it is very interesting that these two are not in correlation or connected in anyway. There is so much beauty that was created during the Middle Ages (such as the photo of the church you provided) and the Middle Ages are not given enough credit in films that fully portray their true colours.
I totally agree with you, especially about the way in which movies portray the middle ages. To be honest with you, I was really p****d off with Mel Gibson's Braveheart, for the way it portrayed medieval villages and towns as ramshackle sticks and mud. Compare Hollywood's concept of a medieval town with the reality. Here's a picture of a 13th-14th century building in Lavenham, England:
More great medieval towns and architecture:
https://www.bigboytravel.com/europe/topmedievalcities/