The sorry state of 'science' programming on TV

[carlosMM]

Recall though how harassed Pontius Pilate was by the Jewish religous leaders such that he feared revolution? Part of their whole reasoning was to get Jesus out of the way before the Passover; before Jesus could be given some decent legal defense, and so that they wouldn't have to delay it till after the Passover was over.

well, since we have no sources whatsoever on that but the (much later written) accounts of religiously or politically motivated PARTIAL members of a religious sect oppressed, along with the rest of the people, by the Romans - why are you so sure there even was any pressure?

 

[Charles 22]

well, since we have no sources whatsoever on that but the (much later written) accounts of religiously or politically motivated PARTIAL members of a religious sect oppressed, along with the rest of the people, by the Romans - why are you so sure there even was any pressure?

Just working off the Biblical texts. I don't know of any other in such detail. People can choose to believe that or not. The Roman occupation of Israel was well known for insurrections of one sort or another, which of course was probably what motivated the Roman razing of Jerusalem in 70AD.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

If this is the same one that I saw on the History channel a week ago, then it's actually very good. The entire show debunks every point in the book, and not just at the end, but every 5 minutes. At the end, there's a coup de grace that basically makes everyone who believed even 1 word of the book look utterly stupid.

Must be the same one yes. My point though is why spend a million $ producing a program to disprove this stuff. Its like putting together a show debunking Santa Claus, and calling it journalism.

Disagree about Hitler. The Holy Lance does come up a lot with regards to him.

In any event, you're arguing that history shows on TV should never move beyond History 101, never focus in on one particular thing, and I must strongly disagree.

When I said this was comic book level stuff, I meant it literally. The only places Ive ever heard about the 'Spear of Destiny' were an ancient issue of Weird War Tales when I was a kid, and this program. I dont think that a book about WW2 or the Third Reich that highlights this nonsense can be considered serious scholarship.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Longinus was converted by the Blood of Jesus. There was nothing "magical" as far as I know. Mystical yes, magical no (although contemporary society typcially misapplies grace for magic).

No offense Charles, but one mans mysticism is another mans mumbo-jumbo.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Discovery is simple science entertainment, and has been since the beginning. Science is generally too boring or too specific to sell to a mass audience. But I don't think it's a failure, TV by itself cannot substitute written text.

And I do enjoy Myth Busters

 

[betazed]

sucky sucky stuff he's been doing lately: e.g. the totally absurd 'walking with..' "future" bit! What BS - presenting idle speculation about what animal might or might not evolve how as FACT!!!!!

Really? I have not seen his most recent stuff.

For that matter i have not seen anything else apart from the Living Planet series by him. I was thinking of buying his other stuff.

On a side note: I would love to get his job. The guy has been to every nook and cranny of this planet seeing wildlife.

 

[Che Guava]

And I do enjoy Myth Busters

I do too, but Adam and Jamie are the first to admit, thiers is not a science show owing to a non-scientific approach to solving thier problems. Still entertaining, however, and a lot better than the other garbage discovery puts on.

What I would like to see is the ressurection of Junkyard Wars: more engineering than science, but so entertaining!!

 

[El_Machinae]

Yeah, it's engineering and problem solving. But it certainly gets kids' minds working. I've seen them rapt with watching Spongebob and I've seen them rapt with watching Mythbusters.

After Mythbusters, they're happy, inquistive, and they know a bit more about the world (the second attribute being the most important, IMHO, but the other two ain't bad)

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I dont think that a book about WW2 or the Third Reich that highlights this nonsense can be considered serious scholarship.

So we shouldn't study the methods used by Hitler to legitimize himself, propagandize his government, link himself to the First Reich, etc? Interesting. I'm glad your not head of a History department.

Hitler took the Holy Lance seriously. It was a serious political symbol for him.

 

[carlosMM]

So we shouldn't study the methods used by Hitler to legitimize himself, propagandize his government, link himself to the First Reich, etc? Interesting. I'm glad your not head of a History department.

Hitler took the Holy Lance seriously. It was a serious political symbol for him.

as before, I am asking for proof.

 

[Perfection]

Too true! When I was 15 and we got free cable for a month, I spent every spare moment I had watching the history channel! I was a history junkie and THC (heh heh, that's funny, I never realized that before) had the purest stuff! Nowadays, I'll watch a doc on there maybe once a month, and it's usually because I'm bored or waiting for something else to come on.

On the subject of the history channel
http://www.stanford.edu/~scodary/ipn.htm

The BBC produces the best science programming by far. Theres an excellent show called 'Connections' iirc, hosted by James Burke, that deals with the history of science, and how seemingly unrelated scientific discoveries actually are all tied together. That ones one of my favorites.

I've heard of this (my father claimed to having liked it), I wonder if there's means in which I could procure some samples.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

@Perfection
1 minute of Googling revealed this: http://greylodge.org/gpc/?m=200506 (scroll down ~ 2/3 ways)

 

[Perfection]

@Perfection
1 minute of Googling revealed this: http://greylodge.org/gpc/?m=200506 (scroll down ~ 2/3 ways)

I'm not seeing it.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Eventhough televison has degrade education to the lowest denominator[or demographics]i remember a televison PBS show other that Sagan Cosmos,Western Tradition by UCLA professor Eugene Weber,not science but a really interesting brief illustration of the history of the western world from the ancient times to modern day era.Quite funny and enlightening story if you ask me.

Western Tradition is an excellent program. Around here they run it at odd hours, so I dont get to catch it as often as Id like. Its a great example of the fact you dont need bad actors in tacky reenactments, or computer graphics, when viewer and producer have equal respect for the subject matter.

That was the best show ever. Is it still played? or has there been a remake of the series.

Its still out there, they continue to run it occasionally. Its the kind of program that doesnt get dated.

I've heard of this (my father claimed to having liked it), I wonder if there's means in which I could procure some samples.

Here you go:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...ps-1_stripbooks_9684399_2/104-3656181-5021543

If he doesnt already have them, some of the books here might be good additions to Dads Christmas stocking I wouldnt mind finding them in my own stocking.


edit: Ive been trying to remember the name of this show, and it finally came to me: "The Secret Life of Machines". Excellent, first rate science program.

edit 2: SN, if I wasted my students time talking about magic spears, I dont think Id last very long as head of the History department. A magic spear didnt legitimize Hitler, the democratic process did.

 

[Charles 22]

So we shouldn't study the methods used by Hitler to legitimize himself, propagandize his government, link himself to the First Reich, etc? Interesting. I'm glad your not head of a History department.

Hitler took the Holy Lance seriously. It was a serious political symbol for him.

Yeah, the things one could find out in the "Occult History of the Third Reich" series would be quite shocking for them. It was in fact for me. To think an entire government and a great many of the people were going along with that garbage. In my younger days I read a great deal about WWII, Hitler, and the Germans, and still that series sent shock waves. I think they grasped onto occultism not only because Hitler happened to like it, but also because with Hitler brutally suppressing much religious thought, he felt he had to replace it with a substitute religiousity.

I don't think the USSR was as much into occultism, but they had such a long reign that they certainly came up with plenty of unbelievable things they did.

 

[Esckey]

If you want bargin bin "science" programing then look no farther then Monster Garage and American Hotrod. How that coulda made it onto the programming schedual of the Discovery Channel totally blows my mind. I have a problem with some of the "history" shows on the discovery channel(mostly the theological stuff), but some like that "Worst Jobs in History" series(with Baldrick again) are very good shows and should be on the discovery channel.

As for Mythbusters, they use to do alot of science in the first season. Remember they would recreate the myth to the letter then find out what it would take to actually do the myth, and in the process we would learn just what it would take to send a crash test dumming fly 30+ feet out of a drainage pipe

 

[Leonel]

I agree about the sorry state of 'science' programming! I'm watching Discovery channel and the only thing there is on it is American Chopper or some contest show about putting together junk! I want to see that show about the future evolution of animals and the one where the people travel back in time and do like a wildlife documentary except with the dinosaurs as the focus.

I'm being totally serious here.

 

[Abaddon]

the problem is- they had a hour slot to fill, and only a rusty of spear to do it with. They knew it was a fake before editing, so they had to flesh it out with rubbish.

Science is in a sorry state on T.V.... but real science people dont really want to watch.

 

[Perfection]

If he doesnt already have them, some of the books here might be good additions to Dads Christmas stocking I wouldnt mind finding them in my own stocking.

Actually, I think this will be his birthday present.

 

[carlosMM]

as before, I am asking for proof.

please? Seleucus Nicator? any proof?