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Description
"In this programme, which is an illustrated talk, Angus Calder points out that the eighteenth century was a heyday of literary irony, and he asks why this should be so. His answer is that, alt...hough the century appeared stable, there were tensions under the surface or as Voltaire put it, "A civil war in every soul". Fielding wrote during a crisis in European culture. Old hierarchical notions about the Universe and about society were facing drastic challenge from a new class of successful and thrusting merchants and urban bourgeoisie with their own values of democracy, thrift, hard work, domesticity. Dr. Calder suggests that Henry Fielding stands at this watershed and looks back at the old, classical, heroic values and at the same time is aware of the new trends. The use of irony is a natural recourse for a man not quite sure where he stands in an age of crisis and indecision. Dr. Calder illustrates this with quotations from Tom Jones."
"In this programme, which is an illustrated talk, Angus Calder points out that the eighteenth century was a heyday of literary irony, and he asks why this should be so. His answer is that, alt...hough the century appeared stable, there were tensions under the surface or as Voltaire put it, "A civil war in every soul". Fielding wrote during a crisis in European culture. Old hierarchical notions about the Universe and about society were facing drastic challenge from a new class of successful and thrusting merchants and urban bourgeoisie with their own values of democracy, thrift, hard work, domesticity. Dr. Calder suggests that Henry Fielding stands at this watershed and looks back at the old, classical, heroic values and at the same time is aware of the new trends. The use of irony is a natural recourse for a man not quite sure where he stands in an age of crisis and indecision. Dr. Calder illustrates this with quotations from Tom Jones."
| Module code and title: | A204, The Enlightenment |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A204; 04 |
| Recording date: | 1979-01-15 |
| First transmission date: | 04-03-1980 |
| Published: | 1980 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OUDA web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:18:41 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Helen Rapp |
| Contributors: | Angus Calder; Gabriel Woolf |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | 18th Century; European Culture |
| Footage description: | In this programme, which is an illustrated talk, Angus Calder points out that the eighteenth century was a heyday of literary irony, and he asks why this should be so. His answer is that, although the century appeared stable, there were tensions under the surface or as Voltaire put it, "A civil war in every soul". Fielding wrote during a crisis in European culture. Old hierarchical notions about the Universe and about society were facing drastic challenge from a new class of successful and thrusting merchants and urban bourgeoisie with their own values of democracy, thrift, hard work, domesticity. Dr. Calder suggests that Henry Fielding stands at this watershed and looks back at the old, classical, heroic values and at the same time is aware of the new trends. The use of irony is a natural recourse for a man not quite sure where he stands in an age of crisis and indecision. Dr. Calder illustrates this with quotations from Tom Jones. |
| Master spool number: | TLN03950H815 |
| Production number: | TLN03950H815 |
| Available to public: | no |
