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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJames Burke's "Connections Approach to History"..Anyone Remember That?
Last edited Sat Aug 24, 2013, 07:26 PM - Edit history (3)
It was so Cool when I watched that on PBS...way, way back. At that time I thought every school kid in America needed to watch it I was so fascinated with his Connections between SCIENCE and HISTORY.
I just discovered it's on ROKU and Free View Online View if you Search. I'm going to sit down tonight and start it over again...after all these years. Like finding a "lost friend" in these times...
Anyone Remember It? It opened my mind to New Connections...between Science and History. But, I don't know if it's been Debunked as CT or something since then.
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Connections[/b is a ten-episode documentary television series and 1978 book ("Connections" based on the series) created, written and presented by science historian James Burke. The series was produced and directed by Mick Jackson of the BBC Science & Features Department and first aired in 1978 (UK) and 1979 (USA). It took an interdisciplinary approach to the history of science and invention and demonstrated how various discoveries, scientific achievements, and historical world events were built from one another successively in an interconnected way to bring about particular aspects of modern technology. The series was noted for Burke's crisp and enthusiastic presentation (and dry humour), historical reenactments, and intricate working models.
Connections approach to history
Connections explores an "Alternative View of Change" (the subtitle of the series) that rejects the conventional linear and teleological view of historical progress. Burke contends that one cannot consider the development of any particular piece of the modern world in isolation. Rather, the entire gestalt of the modern world is the result of a web of interconnected events, each one consisting of a person or group acting for reasons of their own motivations (e.g., profit, curiosity, religious) with no concept of the final, modern result to which the actions of either them or their contemporaries would lead. The interplay of the results of these isolated events is what drives history and innovation, and is also the main focus of the series and its sequels.[citation needed]
To demonstrate this view, Burke begins each episode with a particular event or innovation in the past (usually Ancient or Medieval times) and traces the path from that event through a series of seemingly unrelated connections to a fundamental and essential aspect of the modern world. For example, the episode "The Long Chain" traces the invention of plastics from the development of the fluyt, a type of Dutch cargo ship.[citation needed]
Burke also explores three corollaries to his initial thesis. The first is that, if history is driven by individuals who act only on what they know at the time, and not because of any idea as to where their actions will eventually lead, then predicting the future course of technological progress is merely conjecture. Therefore, if we are astonished by the connections Burke is able to weave among past events, then we will be equally surprised to what the events of today eventually will lead, especially events we weren't even aware of at the time.
The second and third corollaries are explored most in the introductory and concluding episodes, and they represent the downside of an interconnected history. If history progresses because of the synergistic interaction of past events and innovations, then as history does progress, the number of these events and innovations increases. This increase in possible connections causes the process of innovation to not only continue, but to accelerate. Burke poses the question of what happens when this rate of innovation, or more importantly change itself, becomes too much for the average person to handle, and what this means for individual power, liberty, and privacy.[citation needed]
Lastly, if the entire modern world is built from these interconnected innovations, all increasingly maintained and improved by specialists who required years of training to gain their expertise, what chance does the average citizen without this extensive training have in making an informed decision on practical technological issues, such as the building of nuclear power plants or the funding of controversial projects such as stem cell research? Furthermore, if the modern world is increasingly interconnected, what happens when one of those nodes collapses? Does the entire system follow suit?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connections_%28TV_series%29
BeyondGeography
(39,370 posts)Which starts out at the then very new World Trade Center; some incredible shots, including him at the top of Tower 2. I love listening to anyone who can run through the broad narrative of civilizational progress clearly and convincingly. The Egyptians were stunningly modern in his telling and in fact; he's so good at illustrating the forces of change that have been and continue to drive us. Happy viewing.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)But we still have our VHS/DVD Combo. We are Dinosaurs.
Archae
(46,327 posts)And his "Day The Universe Changed."
eShirl
(18,490 posts)(as was Carl Sagan's Cosmos series).
I viewed it again a few years ago, and in retrospect it was much better when viewed as a stoned teen. It's kind of gimicky in an attempt to pique deeper interest, IMHO (but still interesting nonetheless).
KoKo
(84,711 posts)That would be so good to know if they were.
There was a movement back in the Middle 80's to incorporate History/Science into curriculum. Some Catholic Schools had already done it and parents were pushing it on Public Schools...but, it seemed to die out. I don't know why.
On Edit: I meant trying to combine Historical Invention with Timeline of Scientific Discovery to be taught in a Liberal Arts Format to encourage a melding of interests that students could have "cross-over" course to put the two together. I thought it was an incredibly good idea...because I was always terrible at Math...but History and Science were my loves. But, they were always taught so separately that it was hard for students to do the "melding" of thought. It might have been a good experiment...whether it worked out or not. After all Michell Rhee now has her turn at experimentation...and is getting it pushed through. The other seemed to not get traction in Public Schools at that time.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)and they loved it.
They also "got to" ( had to, in my opinion) watch Sagan and any other "how stuff works" shows I could find.
I remember watching Mr. Wizard when I was young, and loving it.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Connections 1, 2, and 3 and "The Day the Universe Changed".
OMG I love him.
Most of it, IIRC, can be found on youtube. Lemme check...
http://www.youtube.com/user/JamesBurkeConnection
BAM!
KoKo
(84,711 posts)killbotfactory
(13,566 posts)Watched all the time when I was in high school.
It looks like they are all up on youtube:
KoKo
(84,711 posts)I've been so down about "Stuff" lately...when I discovered this it was like a GIFT.
Whatever...I'm weird and like Science/History...Perspectives. And in these times "CONNECTIONS" is what I'm looking for to ground me after the CRAP we are living through. Just my own humble opinion. But...did think others might have missed the series and want to take a look at something "Old" that could be "NEW."
Brother Buzz
(36,423 posts)Burke went from power textile looms to computers; I was gobsmacked and totally sold on the series. These days, I embrace technology as long as I'm in control of it, a concept James Burke often touched on; are we in control or are we just holding the tiger by the tail? I often wonder what the idiot Ned Ludd would have to say of today's innovations.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)in my mind. Actually the Museum of Technology and Science in DC used to have an incredible exhibit of that ..from the Looms to Computer Cards to IBM ...back in the 80's. I wonder if they added "Microsoft's Win '95" since then as the next innovation and then the Internet as the current. It's been a long while since I've been back to DC to check.
Don't know if it's still displayed that way...but, it was fascinating!
RainDog
(28,784 posts)I let this play through, sometimes, when I'm working on other stuff online. I've seen the series and sometimes I just listen to it.
great stuff.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)RainDog
(28,784 posts)juajen
(8,515 posts)It combined his love of science and history so well. It is a marvelous series.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Loved the show. That was before TLC turned to crap.
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)...or parts of them in a World History class I taught in HS.
Burke was amazing. Heard him speak, and you could have heard a pin drop in a large lecture hall... hanging on his every word.
He's 77, I think, and one of the most brilliant people alive.
KG
(28,751 posts)Taitertots
(7,745 posts)I took a course in college called history of technology. The whole course was about studying how/why new ideas changed the way people lived. It was like a 2 hour episode of connections that was so in-depth that it required 50+ pages of pre-reading. You could ask questions and he had a multimedia presentation for every class period.
reusrename
(1,716 posts)I'd tell you, but it's definitely worth the watch. It's one that I won't forget.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Used to watch it long ago. Back when The Learning Channel was educational.
Julie
Adsos Letter
(19,459 posts)...in order to give some perspective on medieval warfare.
The Blue Flower
(5,442 posts)One of the best shows ever. I wish he was still doing them.
progressoid
(49,988 posts)He was a nice guy in person too.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)they acknowledge that bigger and/or better theories come from (fabulous) new equipment more than "a new way of looking at things"
this is why Mary Midgley and MAGNUS PYKE are so important
it does offend the Whiggish ideologues of science (but they're all Gellerites now a century after this, so whatevs)
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Amazing. Thanks!
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)That show was the reason we first got cable...so we could have the Learning Channel... what a joke it is now
rrneck
(17,671 posts)Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)to my students in my Physics classes and Earth Science classes.
I know some of them could have cared less, but many of them learned something. I thought it was well worth the time.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)It's incredible how current and timely it seems. His overview of "Technology" in the first Episode sets it up...as to how forward thinking this man was.
It flows from there and seems as fresh in the First Three Episodes ...as if it was produced with "Our Times" in mind. And this is what? 30 or 40 years ago?
Definitely worth the watch if you want a Break from Politics and the NOISE...and love Science and History.
I'm just leaving now to go through the next parts I can get through before it's time to go to bed to get to work tomorrow...
I appreciate replies of all who appreciated this series when it was first aired who've replied!
Edited: for Quotation Marks...I often get carried away with enthusiasm...My Bad.