I suspect it's for practical reasons. Things that are loose, like sword sheaths on belts and shawls, move. When things move, they will inevitably be in different positions between takes. It's why the sword sheaths on back is done so frequently on film/tv. On the back it can be put nice and secure with minimal movement. Reportedly, it's why Moiraine also doesn't wear the kesiera in other scenes, because it would move about.Katherine wrote: ↑Sat Dec 11, 2021 11:21 pmThe shawl is a great device to distinguish Aes Sedai for several reasons, at least in my mind. The most important characteristic is that it rests across the shoulders. This is generally known as the "mantle of authority", something that Accepted and nobody else in the world can attain without becoming an Aes Sedai. The Amyrlin Seat trades her shawl for a stole which serves a similar symbolic purpose, showing her authority over all Aes Sedai. Even in RL, women of wealth and power sometimes wear a shawl to formal events. Depending your taste in style and fashion and how its worn and cut, a shawl could represent sophistication and power. Rings also have this purpose, but its not nearly as visible, especially a rock inside of a ring so that its barely even visible at all.
The screenwriters are reading the books and they are supposed to be advised by Sanderson, but there is definitely a lot of needless modifications to RJ's design that I think reflects the writers' vanity more than anything that adds value on screen. That's just my opinion anyways.
Unless you were to sew/ pin the shawls in place in several places*, they would be up at the neck and slowly move down. In a scene like the Hall, you would potentially see them up, down, halfway up and everywhere in between on the same person, when left loose like book shawls. There is a continuity person they hire, who used to keep track of how far a cigarette was smoked etc. But, with 20 shawls (one Green seat was empty, presumably Kerene's) on Sitters, several on the other Aes Sedai and a stole... I can see why that would be a pain. Unless you incorporate them into the clothing, e.g. the Amyrlin's stole.
I still wish they had included it somehow, but I can also see why they may not have.
*I once sewed a coat with a double decorative collar. It's attached from literally the front buttons, all the way across the neckline and back to the front again. Those two things move like no tomorrow even with interfacing to keep them somewhat the same shape. I always need to take time to position them.
At best, I think it would work if it worked like those shoulder capes on wax coats, which means they're attached on the collar/ neckline and then under the arms. You'd likely still have issues with draping on the edges in case of fringes.