Other titles:WAR AND SOCIETY : a third level arts course [Series Title]
Summary: Illustrative film made as part of an Open University arts course.
Description: The programme first presents various simplistic, national views of the origin of the war-German ambition, Balkan agitation, etc. - before showing film which suggests additional factors - imperial and economic rivalries, popular enthusiasm for the arms race, and the development of a new technology of war "where you must get your blow in first." The presenter, Arthur Marwick, then talks about the theory of a general "will to war", a great upsurge of violence in European societies resulting from the strains of rapid urbanisation, static living standards, mass nationalisation, etc. Film of violent strikes and Irish and suffragette militancy is presented as visual evidence of extreme violence which portended war. Political events are hardly represented, and Marwick dismisses film as "pretty useless when it comes to the complexities of international diplomacy." He concludes by emphasising the limitations of the film medium, which provides no central evidence but only some additional insights into certain aspects of causation. However, Marwick reiterates his belief in a general will to war and suggest that the film evidence does reveal symptoms of social unrest and incipient violence.
Alternative Title:WAR AND SOCIETY : a third level arts course [Series Title]
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:MGH 614
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1973
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Open University (Production sponsor)
BBC Television (Production company)
Hayward, Edward (Production individual)
Marwick, Arthur John Brereton (Production individual)
Murphy, Des (Production individual)
Pontecorvo, Lisa (Production individual)
De Jong, Florence (Production individual)
Marwick, Arthur John Brereton (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 918 ft; Running time: 25 mins
