Two documentaries it`s NOT wise to miss out on

Yes, my beloved and loyal blog followers (as I am sure there are many of you out there, listening to this voice of mine that thus does not resound like an empty echo!) I know I have kept you waiting for such a loooooooong time, post-less, seduced and abandoned by my enlightening, life-saving (if not giving) musings. BUT, fear no more...because your benefactor is back, and she has brought you (by the mercy of....herself...praises be unto her!) two documentary series you SHOULD NOT miss out on (at least, not those of you in the geek segment, which I`m sure you are plenty).

So, I bring you our old trusted friend and chosen practitioner for the SPP essay: James Burke (we`ll have a post on another project of his, Knowledge Web, soon). The Day the Universe Changed and After the Warming deal with Mr. Burke`s main theme (or obsession...but the good kind of obsession): how technology is influenced by changes (societal, climate) and how in turn, it triggers changes that act as feedback and here we are going round and round in an ever expanding circle of madness (but the good king of...hmm...).

What I would like to point out, is that in The Day the Universe Changed, although Burke seems to adopt one of postmodernity`s most ill-used concepts, i.e., that of no view of the world (whether mythical, religious or scientific) is better than the other, in that they are all equal and do the same, he does highlight in the concluding episode of the series the basic difference between them (one that is soooo often overlooked INTENTIONALLY ): if you admit that you are creating the universe according to the frame set you have developed any given time, and that it is a version of the truth you are presenting, and not a portion of a yet-to-be-discovered incontestable truth, sooner or later you will come across the holes in your cheddar...I mean, your Weltanschauung. And when the plot thickens, you can either change the storyline (as has been the case with science) or you put some cotton balls in your ear and hope it will go away. Now, whether one or another of these methods is more beneficial to man, it is in itself a long and heated debate...point is, the difference between these views had to be highlighted, so kudos for James!

The Laughing (Brig)stock(e) of History

Did I mention I wouldn`t mind being a writer for this guy? Or just working on some of his projects, shows...whatever! Throwing ideas, word plays and jokes around. Marcus Brigstocke is, I believe, Britain`s version of a Bill Maher and Bill Hicks mash-up. With Maher`s  sharp wit and Hick`s fearless delivery, none of his material that I`ve come across so far has disappointed me. The following video is part of a 2000-2001 BBC mockumentary series (shame we cannot do that for our documentary project...altough...) and for anyone familiar with some of the major themes in Brigstocke`s routine, the vitriolic critique of British prejudices and mannerism is there to savour and enjoy.

When I grow up...

...I want to be a bit like these people:

Terry Jones

Bill Maher

James Burke

All three are what one would call geeks (or, if you happen to be French, intellectuals) with a comedy zang to them (or, in the case of the first two, you could argue vice versa). I`ve been familiar with Jones and Burke since my teenage days, being a big fan of their documentaries and most of all, of their delivery of their program`s material. To this day, I can watch Connections or Crusades, Medieval Lives of The Day the Universe Changed and still be captivated by the style and the elegance through which often complex and controversial material is being delivered. Of course, when it comes to pointing out a guy who doesn`t pull a punch, Maher is the man for you. Although he has produced a film, Religulous, which has made him known to a wider public than your small group of politics geeks, I think the best of the comedian is to be found in his scattered material in TV shows, interviews, books and stand-up routines.

Sure, they are not really the most obvious choice for a moving image/audio-visual student. Although Jones has directed several films, it is not their directorial skill that puts them in the spotlight. And I suppose that would be the case for me too. Considering my background and my interests besides the actual course, I have always been drawn to ideas, more than stories, to language and the power of word plays in comedy, the ability of laughter and of irony to generate a response for change within people. I love the fact that these are people who are interested in different things, make connections, are irreverent without being (c)rude. So, I believe I have my practitioners for the essay, now I`ll have to start researching properly...