Friday, August 1, 2008
Niall Ferguson and the War of the World
One of the highlights for me this summer was viewing the three parts of Scottish historian's film Niall Ferguson. Apparently, it has been highly edited from its six part format that was broadcast in 2006. PBS more or less buried the film at 10 pm or later in late June and early July. The film has caused some controversy, partly because it asks questions about atrocities on the Allied side during WWII.
A basic premise of the film is that the 20th century has been basically one big war. And he asks why is the 20th Century so violent. He considers both west and east as a part of this concept. He looks at the 20th century as a time where the Western hegemony is in decline. Ethnic related conflict is another track he follows. And he talks about the tectonic plates of shifting empires as being the impetuous of leading to some of the most violent periods of last century.
This is dense, text based nonfiction filmmaking, probably made more dense by it being an edited version. Historical images are often projected on historical objects. And Ferguson is front and center in the tradition of Sir Kenneth Clark or Alistar Cooke in their landmark public television documentaries of the seventies. But the content of War of the World is in contrast to the objective and generally accepted view of history of Civilization or America. Those series and the World of War opened up history for me in a way that text alone did not. Ferguson's documentary is filled with a currency of ideas. It has made and impact on me to first wish to view his series again with the hope the long form version will be released someday soon. But more so, it returned me to the notion that history matters, it should always be a forum for reevaluation and pattern seeking. And it is a fine and rewarding place to spend some time.
Some links: Some interviews with Ferguson in 2006 when the book the documentary was released and
An interesting essay that considers Ferguson's approach.
And this intro of the film found on You Tube:
posted by well-executed buffet at 6:28 PM
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