Natural history/Attenborough fans - new series, "AFRICA"

[Tituscrow]

Great as he is, and as much as I love him, I think ol' Dave is preparing to hand the reins over to Brian Cox.

'Africa' is the BBC at its best, or so I thought. 'Wonders Of Life' takes TV science to a whole new level.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by elgecko

Ooh...will have to setup the DVR to record that.

On a related note, when they showed Frozen Planet stateside, it was narrated by Alec Baldwin instead of David Attenborough.

That, good sir, is what is known as heresy, punishable by burning at the stake. Alec Baldwin indeed.

[bassybill]

It was so inspiring, positive and optimistic, whilst still maintaining the all important realism - and the relationship between the guy and the fellow creatures he has spent his life studying just leapt out of the screen.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Great as he is, and as much as I love him, I think ol' Dave is preparing to hand the reins over to Brian Cox.

'Africa' is the BBC at its best, or so I thought. 'Wonders Of Life' takes TV science to a whole new level.

I respectfully disagree. I think the Brian Cox series is great, but perhaps too lofty in some ways (for the presenter and producers more so than the audience). Different aims to Attenborough's programmes, so no real comparison possible in that respect.

But Cox's presentation (written for him, I'm sure, so it's not his fault) of the 1st and 2nd Laws of TD was really, really weak, imo - especially for the latter. I have to say it was a predictable example of a physics guy thinking their way of thinking somehow trumps others, when any decent biologist could have put him straight on the purely statistical nature of the concept of entropy. Has the message from Kelvin's embarrassing cock up been forgotten?

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

That, good sir, is what is known as heresy, punishable by burning at the stake. Alec Baldwin indeed.

http://discovery.resultspage.com/dis...Alec%20Baldwin

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I respectfully disagree. I think the Brian Cox series is great, but perhaps too lofty in some ways (for the presenter and producers more so than the audience). Different aims to Attenborough's programmes, so no real comparison possible in that respect.

But Cox's presentation (written for him, I'm sure, so it's not his fault) of the 1st and 2nd Laws of TD was really, really weak, imo - especially for the latter. I have to say it was a predictable example of a physics guy thinking their way of thinking somehow trumps others, when any decent biologist could have put him straight on the purely statistical nature of the concept of entropy. Has the message from Kelvin's embarrassing cock up been forgotten?

I hear you Bill, but here's the thing. I grew up watching Attenborough. I still have the Life On Earth VHS box set somewhere, and the scene with the gorilla family is possibly my all-time greatest TV moment. His passion, warmth and enthusiasm for the natural world has inspired me and countless others to take a closer look around us at the sheer beauty of the planet and its inhabitants. I chose to forego a week in Ibiza with the lads at 18 years old in favour of a solo camping trek photographing seals off Caldy Island because I wanted to be the next David Attenborough.

But he's a presenter, not a scientist. One of the best presenters we've ever had, but a presenter nonetheless. The science content of his programs is lightweight at best.

As a physicist who has been insanely passionate about my subject since I was about 7, to see it thrust into the public eye by Brian Cox feels like a golden dawn. Yes, he's a bit marmite, and yes he can come across as a bit of a smarmy intellectual snob, but he knows his stuff, and he's making physics cool. Now you and I both know physics is cool anyway, but now so do many others.

And that has to be a good thing, right?

Yes, the style and content of their shows are very different, but in terms of a BBC face to front science in the living rooms of the viewing public, I think Cox is a perfect choice.

Even if he was in a hair metal band in 1988. (Google 'Dare'. This was before D:Ream!)

[bassybill]

I wouldn't disagree with most of that - except the bit about being "lightweight". You can't call Life On Earth lightweight, surely? It's a brilliant exposition of one of the most important scientific ideas of all - that of life's natural history and our place within it.

I think that some people's views of nature documentaries like Attenborough's often show a misunderstanding of what most science is all about. Science is carefully controlled empiricism, and nothing more philosophical. That, in itself, is enough. It's not about anything more profound - nor should it be. That's outside the remit. Science is not philosophy. That is most emphatically not "How Science Works".

Baby turtles are every bit as important as the Higgs boson to our understanding of the world. To think Attenborough is light on science where Cox is somehow "deeper" is missing the point - but you're not on your own if that is the case. Many physical scientists have similar misconceptions.

Cox is a "presenter", too, remember. He's certainly not this century's Einstein. I know he wouldn't claim that sort of insight.

Like I said, Attenborough's programmes and Cox's programmes have somewhat different objectives.

[darius8]

If you like BBC documentaries (like I do) you may be interested in "Civilization" with Kenneth Clark and the "Ascent of Man" series with Jacob Bronowski. Freakin good stuff!

[bassybill]

I will make a major concession to Titus here - I just watched the second episode of the Brian Cox series, and it was first rate. Best thing I've seen from him and his team yet, and on a par with some of my very favourite science documentaries.

I thought the first episode of "Wonders of Life" was pretty good, maybe 7 or 7.5 out of 10. This second one was easily 9.5 and I learned a lot of science from watching it. The very best science education (a topic I care passionately about, and one which has paid my bills for a number of years now) manages to address the tiny details and also the big picture without compromising either, and that was certainly true in this case. Great stuff, right up there with the best.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by darius8

If you like BBC documentaries (like I do) you may be interested in "Civilization" with Kenneth Clark and the "Ascent of Man" series with Jacob Bronowski. Freakin good stuff!

Classics both.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I will make a major concession to Titus here - I just watched the second episode of the Brian Cox series, and it was first rate. Best thing I've seen from him and his team yet, and on a par with some of my very favourite science documentaries.

I thought the first episode of "Wonders of Life" was pretty good, maybe 7 or 7.5 out of 10. This second one was easily 9.5 and I learned a lot of science from watching it. The very best science education (a topic I care passionately about, and one which has paid my bills for a number of years now) manages to address the tiny details and also the big picture without compromising either, and that was certainly true in this case. Great stuff, right up there with the best.

I thought you'd already seen episode 2 when we exchanged views earlier. Now you know why I was so gushing in my praise

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

I thought you'd already seen episode 2 when we exchanged views earlier. Now you know why I was so gushing in my praise

With the first one being concerned with energy transfer (especially by respiration) and the second one being about senses, he could almost be doing one programme each on MRS GREN.

If that was the case, I'd pass when he gets to the 'E'.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by bassybill

With the first one being concerned with energy transfer (especially by respiration) and the second one being about senses, he coiuld almost be doing one programme each on MRS GREN.

If that was the case, I'd pass when he gets to the 'E'.

Haha I haven't taught any KS3 for ten years! You're not still sending NQT's out with that old acronym are you?

Back on topic...Wonders Of Life, episode 3...more awesomeness in abundance. Any aye-aye footage is always worth the license fee.

[elgecko]

I've caught one episode of Africa, Sahara...it was narrated by Forest Whitaker.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Haha I haven't taught any KS3 for ten years! You're not still sending NQT's out with that old acronym are you?

Back on topic...Wonders Of Life, episode 3...more awesomeness in abundance. Any aye-aye footage is always worth the license fee.

I dunno how widespread the acronym is these days. I don't generally use it myself, but then again I haven't taught any KS3 for 10 years, or KS4 either. I suppose my post grads are KS7 (I sometimes kid them that their PGCE year is Year 17+).

Haven't seen epi 3 yet, will hopefully have chance to watch it later. I agree totally about the aye-aye footage. That comment of yours makes me think you have probably read "Last Chance To See" - correct? Great book. Of course, you'd expect nothing less from Douglas Adams.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by bassybill

I dunno how widespread the acronym is these days. I don't generally use it myself, but then again I haven't taught any KS3 for 10 years, or KS4 either. I suppose my post grads are KS7 (I sometimes kid them that their PGCE year is Year 17+).

Haven't seen epi 3 yet, will hopefully have chance to watch it later. I agree totally about the aye-aye footage. That comment of yours makes me think you have probably read "Last Chance To See" - correct? Great book. Of course, you'd expect nothing less from Douglas Adams.

Losing your marbles, old-timer...we have discussed Last Chance To See a few times. In a Douglas Adams thread IIRC

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by elgecko

I've caught one episode of Africa, Sahara...it was narrated by Forest Whitaker.

What??? The Big Baldwin been dumped?

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Losing your marbles, old-timer...we have discussed Last Chance To See a few times. In a Douglas Adams thread IIRC

I thought we might have. Yes, I am losing my marbles, my memory is diabolically bad these days. Mind you, I'm up to about 16,000 posts on here now, so that might explain why I don't remember them all as well as I'd like.

[funkingroovin]

Seen 'em,loved 'em..Luckily,I caught them on a Canadian station so I got the Attenborough narrated BBC version.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I don't think Cox will take Attenborough's place, maybe more apt to take the place of the late great Moore (heck, they both have/had music talents too).