White Heat (8 Parts)

Synopsis

Series charting the history of technology.
1 (producer, director Chris Durlacher): Examines whether future generations will learn as much about modern society from the objects we leave behind as archaeologists can discover from the tools and artefacts left behind by ancient civilisations. Reveals the hidden complexity behind even the simplest stone blades, and plots human technological progress through guns, tools, cars and even the way people work together.
2 (producer Hugh Mason): Looks at the complex relationship between inventors and the society they serve. The disposable nappy, the parking meter, the clock and the telephone were only ‘invented’ when there was a demand for them. Suggests that inventions seldom end up serving their original purpose; for example, the laser, once thought of as the ultimate ‘death ray’ weapon, is now in everyday use.
3 (producer, director Adam Levy): Referring to the quotation ‘One small step for mankind..., the programme intertwines art and technology to reveal the way in which a basic technological device, the step, has meaning both as a tool and as a cultural metaphor, and plays a central role in our world.
4 (producer, director Chris Durlacher): Relates how standards have been central to the technological development of the last 200 years. In 1830 Charles Babbage could not complete his design for a mechanical computer because of lack of standardised parts. Standardisation has reduced technology to parts so simple and repeatable that they mimic fundamental natural elements such as atoms and molecules. Asks if the temptation to standardise humans through genetic engineering will be resisted.
5 (producer, director Henry Singer): Asks whether mass production has freed or enslaved us. Looks at the work of Henry Ford and the people who influenced his ideas.
6 (producer, director Henry Singer): Looks at the changing perception of technology. Suggests that thousands of technologies have been developed to deal with dirt and disorder in the natural world: for example, the Paris sewers sweeping away human waste, Tupperware to protect food, NASA’s moon voyages seen as an escape from a messy earth, and tower blocks designed to remove poor people from run-down city areas. Contrasts these ideas with the modern perception that nature is ‘clean’ and technology ‘dirty’.
7 (producer, director Adam Levy): Explores the developing affinity between the military establishment and war technology. Asks whether we have allowed ourselves to hand over the responsibility for life and death to war machines.
8 (director Hugh Mason): Asks why we believe that technology has the power to improve or destroy the earth. At the start of the 20th century faith in technology was greatly boosted by the development of mechanical flights. Shows how technology has delivered the futuristic fantasy of Disney’s Epcot Centre. Asks whether belief in our imagined future is misplaced (broadcast as FUTURE: PERFECT?)

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 6 x 50 min.

Year of production

1994

Availability

Sale; 1999 sale: £99.00 (+VAT +p&p) each 1999 sale: £280.00 (+VAT +p&p) series

Notes

Broadcast on BBC2 from 5/9/94.

Credits

Director

Adam Levy; Chris Durlacher; Henry Singer; Hugh Mason

Producer

Adam Levy; Chris Durlacher; Henry Singer; Hugh Mason

Sections

Title

Butcher’s blade, The

Synopsis

1 (producer, director Chris Durlacher): Examines whether future generations will learn as much about modern society from the objects we leave behind as archaeologists can discover from the tools and artefacts left behind by ancient civilisations. Reveals

Title

Mothers of invention

Synopsis

2 (producer Hugh Mason): Looks at the complex relationship between inventors and the society they serve. The disposable nappy, the parking meter, the clock and the telephone were only 'invented' when there was a demand for them. Suggests that inventions s

Title

Step right up

Synopsis

3 (producer, director Adam Levy): Referring to the quotation 'One small step for mankind..., the programme intertwines art and technology to reveal the way in which a basic technological device, the step, has meaning both as a tool and as a cultural metap

Title

Repeat after me 1

Synopsis

4 (producer, director Chris Durlacher): Relates how standards have been central to the technological development of the last 200 years. In 1830 Charles Babbage could not complete his design for a mechanical computer because of lack of standardised parts.

Title

Beat of the system, The

Synopsis

5 (producer, director Henry Singer): Asks whether mass production has freed or enslaved us. Looks at the work of Henry Ford and the people who influenced his ideas.

Title

Dirt and disorder

Synopsis

6 (producer, director Henry Singer): Looks at the changing perception of technology. Suggests that thousands of technologies have been developed to deal with dirt and disorder in the natural world: for example, the Paris sewers sweeping away human waste,

Title

War machine

Synopsis

7 (producer, director Adam Levy): Explores the developing affinity between the military establishment and war technology. Asks whether we have allowed ourselves to hand over the responsibility for life and death to war machines.

Title

Gee whiz! the future

Synopsis

8 (director Hugh Mason): Asks why we believe that technology has the power to improve or destroy the earth. At the start of the 20th century faith in technology was greatly boosted by the development of mechanical flights. Shows how technology has deliver

Production Company

Name

Uden Associates

Sponsor

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’