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Description
Carlyle's influence upon the social and moral reformers of the nineteenth century is outlined with quotations from his works.
Carlyle's influence upon the social and moral reformers of the nineteenth century is outlined with quotations from his works.
| Module code and title: | A100, Humanities: a foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A100; 31 |
| Series: | Industrialisation and culture |
| First transmission date: | 13-08-1972 |
| Published: | 1972 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:34 |
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| Producer: | Nuala O'Faolain |
| Contributor: | Geoffrey Best |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Carlyle; Industrial revolution; John Leech; Workhouses |
| Footage description: | Geoffrey Best outlines the state of England in the early decades of the Industrial revolution, pointing out the two schools of thought, the one 'optimistic', the other 'pessimistic'. the former seeing long term benefits but agreeing with the latter in condemning present conditions as appalling. Shots of Ledoux vista od industrial Midlands, mills (exterior and interior), schools, prison chapel, exercise yard and plan of Millbank penitentiary. Best introduces the subject of Carlyle, emphasising his originality and profundity as an analyst of the ills of his day. Best implies that much of what Carlyle had to say could not be bettered by modern historians with the benefit of hindsight. With two quotations (at the beginning and the end of the sequence) from carlyle's 'Past and Present', Best describes the conditions of the poor and unemployed. Shots of Pugin drawings of medieval and modern city, ward of Marylebone Workhouse, drawings by Dore of workhouse ward and homeless sleeping rough. Photograph of Irish community in London c.1850. Best analyses in detail John Leech's drawing 'A court for King Cholera'. Best, with quotation from 'Signs of the times', describes the prosperity of the skilled working classes, and those members of the lower classes enjoying the prosperity of a boom in their product. Best analyses John Leech's cartoon 'The pound and. the shilling', a meeting of rich and working class at the Great Exhibition. Shots of cartoon. Best reads quotations from, in this order, Carlyle' s 'Past and present ', 'Shooting Niagara', and 'Jesuitism' to describe Carlyle's disgust at the Industrial Revolution and more at the dehumanisation of society, the 'cashnexus' . Best describes the 'optimism' of the age, i.e. its faith in the measureless applications of machinery, symbolised by railways. Shots of Holborn Viaduct under construction, Dore's drawing of a viaduct; and Best analyses Punch cartoon 'The railway juggernaut', 1845. Best sums up Carlyle's remedies but suggests his greatest achievement was to awaken consciences and stimulate the struggle for the return of humane values. Photograph portrait of Carlyle as an old man. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/70635 |
| Production number: | 00525_3066 |
| Videofinder number: | 2442 |
| Available to public: | no |
