Past Right Now: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

This is where something is much like the past, either preserved through [[Hidden Elf Village|isolation]] or deliberately re-created, but definitely existing in the present day. No time machines here! Many real-life and fictional theme parks will play on this trope. Some take it to greater extents than others. In fiction, you can expect an [[Adventurer Archaeologist]] to discover a [[Lost World]] with supposedly extinct species still living. See also [[Retro Universe]], where the whole world is like this, although somewhat more likely to incorporate history-flavored versions of present-day technology or sensibilities.

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

== [[Film]] ==

* [[Austin Powers]] is a 1960s spy, frozen and then thawed, bringing his "mod" lifestyle and fashion sense with him.

* ''[[Ong Bak]]'': A small traditional village has its statue stolen, and sends its resident warrior into the city to get it back.

* ''{{spoiler|[[The Village]]}}'' was founded by people who wanted to "get away" from modern evils, by reverting to a simpler life with [[Just a Stupid Accent|accents]].

* In ''[[Up]]'', Carl dreamed of adventuring to Paradise Falls as a child. About 60 years later, he manages to get there... and it looks exactly the same as when he was a kid.

* [[Older Than Feudalism]]: The ''Peach Blossom Spring'', a short story written by famed Chinese poet Táo​ Yuān​míng, a.k.a. Táo Qián (365–427), in which a fisherman gets lost and finds an idyllic [[Mary Suetopia]] founded before the Warring States Period.

 

* The [[X-Files]] episode "Gender Bender" had a group called the "Kindred" that were Amish-type throwbacks. Except they had super powers of seduction, and changed genders after sex, and might have been aliens. But not like the other aliens on the show. At all.

 

* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' has an episode where they visit "Colonial Springfield," based on Colonial Williamsburg.

* On ''[[Futurama]]'', Past-O-Rama is a historical theme park [[Future Imperfect|that gets everything wrong]].

* ''[[South Park]]'' parodied the theme park version, with the performers refusing to break character even in the midst of a hostage crisis.

* The ''[[Kim Possible]]'' episode "Cap'n Drakken" started with a class trip to a historical-recreation village, and concluded with a sail-and-cutlass battle against a [[Ghost Pirate]] crew (led by Drakken, who was possessed by the ghost captain).

== [[Real Life]] ==

* The Amish deliberately choose to lead a simple life that avoids most modern technologies.

* Greenfield Village in Michigan, created by Henry Ford, consists of historical buildings from around the United States disassembled, shipped and then reassembled in the village. It is a functioning town representing life somewhere between 1776 and 1910.

* "Living Fossils" are organisms that, genetically, have changed very little for eons. Occasionally scientists may find a species that they thought was extinct for millions of years...

[[Category:Time Travel Tropes]]

[[Category:Past Right Now]]