|
''In Search of the Dark Ages'' is a BBC television documentary series, written and presented by historian Michael Wood, first shown between 1979 and 1981. It is also the title of a book〔(In Search of the Dark Ages (Revised Edition) )〕 written by Wood to support the series, published in 1981.〔(Michael Wood biography )〕 The series comprises eight films, each focussing on a particular character from the history of England prior to the Norman Conquest, the period popularly known as the Dark Ages. The series made the reputation of Michael Wood, and launched his broadcasting career.〔(''The Routledge Companion to British Media History'' (Routledge, 2014), p 487 )〕 Its success has been attributed in part to his "down-to-earth and friendly style" (at the time of its first broadcast, Wood was not yet a practising academic),〔("Interview with public historian Michael Wood", ''Manchester Historian'', 21 October 2013 ). Accessed 16 January 2015〕 and in part to the romantic subject matter of the chosen historical figures, many of whom were legendary, even semi-mythical, such as Boadicea and King Arthur (about whom few real facts were known). Wood attempted to penetrate beyond the myths surrounding the chosen figure, to uncover the real historical character. ==Television Series== The television series consists of a number of separate programmes, hence the collective title is often written as ''In Search of... The Dark Ages'' (originally it was known simply as ''In Search of...''). Each programme, except the extra-length final one, ran between 35 and 45 minutes. The series was made by BBC Manchester, Michael Wood being a lecturer (and, eventually, Professor of History) at Manchester University. The producer was Derek Towers. It began with ''In Search of Offa'', filmed in 1978, first shown on 2 January 1979.〔(In Search of Offa )〕 This was a one-off programme, testing the audience response. When that response was adjudged favourable, three further programmes were filmed, in 1979; the three subjects were Boadicea, King Arthur, and Alfred the Great. The series first aired on BBC Two over successive nights in March 1980, beginning with ''Boadicea'' and including a repeat showing of the original programme about ''Offa''. The series was such a success in its BBC2 mid-evening slot that a second series was commissioned, to air in 1981, and was broadcast in prime-time and on the main BBC channel, BBC1. The subjects were Athelstan, Eric Bloodaxe, Ethelred the Unready, and William the Conqueror. Repeats of the two series continued to air until 1984, bridging the gap until Wood's next major BBC series, ''In Search of the Trojan War'' (commissioned on the strength of the ratings success of the 1981 series), was ready for transmission in 1985. However, it was not possible to include the first programme, about ''Offa'', in the re-runs which aired in 1984, as that programme had already had two repeats by then (which was, at the time, the most that was permitted under the BBC's contractual arrangements with the broadcasting unions). This was a film series; the programmes were made entirely on film, and entirely on location. There were no studio-based scenes whatsoever. The essence of the programmes was that Michael Wood should film the entire production in the actual places associated with the historical events on which he was reporting. This "popular and serious style of history programming" became increasingly prevalent.〔(''The Routledge Companion to British Media History'', ed. Martin Conboy & John Steel. Routledge, 2015 ). Accessed 7 October 2015〕 The effect was enhanced by the presenter appearing in-vision, instead of being (as so many documentary presenters had been before) merely a voice-over, thereby giving the viewer an impression of journalistic immediacy. Many viewers would not even have been aware that he was consciously emulating the style of that most famous of television academics, A.J.P. Taylor, yet going one step beyond. As ''The Times'' television reviewer remarked, Wood is "never at a loss for a striking analogy".〔("Personal Choice." Times (London, England) 13 Mar. 1980: 29. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. )〕 At a time when documentaries of this type were the exclusive preserve of stuffy academics, Michael Wood's good looks, pleasant speaking voice, and infectious enthusiasm 〔(New Statesman )〕 (together with his conscious effort to come across as an everyman figure, rather than an ivory tower academic—an approach typified by his casual dress) were regarded as being the key to the success of the series, which made his reputation and launched him on a successful broadcasting career. Whilst remaining an Anglo-Saxon specialist, he subsequently branched out into series on other aspects of history, often presented under similar titles, including ''In Search of the Trojan War'' (1985), ''In Search of Shakespeare'' (2003), and ''In Search of Myths and Heroes'' (2005), returning to his Anglo-Saxon roots in 2009 with ''In Search of Beowulf''. For many years the BBC chose not to release this series, perhaps because the passage of time since 1978 meant the programmes do not reflect the discoveries made in this field in the 35 years since they were originally shown, but a double DVD set was eventually released on 2 February 2015.〔(Radio Times website for product EAN 5-019322-392538 )〕 Although much additional academic research into the Dark Ages has taken place since the programmes were filmed, and there are bound to be points on which academic opinion is different today, there has been little change in the English landscape. These films are mostly about touring the battlefields and Cathedrals of England to view the actual places where the great events of history occurred. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「In Search of the Dark Ages」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|