Worlds of Fantasy

[steepholm]

I saw most of the first Worlds of Fantasy programme, but was interrupted a few times and missed the last 20 minutes altogether. Never mind - I'm having it recorded, so I'll get to see it all at a later date.

It was frustrating, as all such programmes must be, for its bittiness, omissions, and the occasional silliness of the talking heads (including Philip Pullman saying for the umpteenth time that Susan Pevensie is sent to hell at the end of The Last Battle - a book he clearly hasn't read too recently). There were some odd mistakes from the narrator as well, such as the statement that the woman in the Mabinogion myth on which The Owl Service drew is named Blodwen. (Presumably Blodeuwedd was too hard to pronounce?) And did my ears deceive me, or did he say in the same breath that there were nine Narnia books and then that there were seven?* And of course they had to say that the myth of childhood innocence was blown to pieces by the Great War, and of course they had to illustrate the Great War (for those who might have forgotten what it looked like) with some archive footage of soldiers going over the top... didn't they?

On the plus side, China Mieville was good value, as were Francis Spufford and Will Self - and there was some lovely footage, including a generous amount from the 1969/70 Granada Owl Service. And - well, it's great they're making three hour-long documentaries on fantasy at all, so I shall carp no longer (though I reserve the right to quibble).

* ETA: Now I've gone back and checked, I can confirm that on this occasion my ears did deceive me - particularly my left one, which was full of wax that evening.

Comments

[fjm.livejournal.com]

Any women interviewed *at all*?

I think this may be the series I was interviewed for, but who knows? They never do let one know if one's ended up on the cutting room floor.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Yes, there were a few! A. S. Byatt gave reasonable value, and there was someone else who appeared a lot whom I vaguely recognized but couldn't place, and since I missed her first appearance (which is the only time they show people's names in this kind of programme) I still don't know who it was! Anyway, she gave me the irrits by referring to Peter and Wendy as sickly/sentimental, or something of the kind - which is pretty inadequate even for a soundbite.

It was rather male-dominated, though, for sure. Not quite as bad as the programme on children's books a few years ago, which only had Diana Wynne Jones and Malorie Blackman amongst a sea of male children's writers - including such dubious (for different reasons) choices as G. P. Taylor and Salman Rushdie.

More unbalanced was the choice of texts. In the part I saw, the only female-authored book was Five Children and It (which Will Self goofed by referring to as starring the Bastables - though perhaps the editor just made it look as if he did). I'd be surprised if Harry Potter weren't referred to at some later date, but up to the point where I had to leave it the run of featured texts was Kingsley, Carroll, Barrie, Nesbit, Lewis, Garner, Dahl and Pullman.

Anyway, fjm, I only saw 40 minutes out of a three-hour series, so your moment may yet come.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

It began with Harry Potter; he was the introductory "why we are bothering to look at this subject" and wrapped up the programme too, with the verdict that whatever their faults, the books were clearly important (which I think is fair).

I'm disappointed that you can't identify the mystery woman; my attention must have wandered when they identified her - also the young boy. I miss the days when TV programmes allowed you to read the credits. I'd also have liked more details about the illustrations and film clips used.

I was surprised that they included Dahl rather than DWJ; also that they linked the thme of 'child hero becomes adult' to fantasy without asking whether there was a similar development in other children's books.

But it was worth it for Alan Garner, and the clips from The Owl Service (does this mean the series is still extant?).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

There's a bootleg DVD of The Owl Service, which I have a copy of. Email me if you'd like to borrow it. [charlesDOThannibalATgmailDOTcom].

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I'm disappointed that you can't identify the mystery woman; my attention must have wandered when they identified her.

Aha - it was Amanda Craig. That figures.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

That's very kind - but I see that Network DVD plan to release it in April, so don't entrust your treasures to the post!

And a quick google confirms that you're quite right, it was indeed Amanda Craig.

[gair.livejournal.com]

I'm having it recorded, so I'll get to see it all at a later date.

ooh, can we borrow it when you do? Virgin Media decided that they didn't feel like providing BBC4 last night, so we missed it (though we did have the pleasure of a 20-minute call to customer services instead.)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Certainly! I won't have it in my paw for a couple of weeks yet, but after that you're welcome to it.

[shark-hat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought the authors were the best thing about this- there were several points where I went "Um. No." at the narrator (but can't now remember what they were)
I missed the last ten minutes (because Torchwood) and wasn't that bothered. But, as you say, it was nice to have an hour-long programme on children's fantasy. And it made me want to read the books.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

As well as AS Byatt, Amanda Craig was interviewed, also Tracy Chevalier, and a few Harry Potter fans in line to purchase Deathly Hallows.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is really good news, thank you; I've wanted to see The Owl Service for a long time.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

You can catch it on iPlayer for the next six days (the BBC should be paying me for promoting this service).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Well, my offer to shewhomust applies to you too, altariel, should you not want to wait that long.

[gair.livejournal.com]

But then gerald and I will have to watch it on the tiny, dark screen of the laptop and what is point of having bought GIANT TELLY? (OTOH, it is a bit like a poor man's, um, thingy. TiVo, they say in America.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Argh, LJ has only just sent me this notification! Sorry to have been ungrateful. Like shewhomust, I would worry about a treasured DVD in the post, but if the April release gets delayed indefinitely, I may well come back to you. And thank you!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Bad LJ! No problem, anyway - just let me know.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)