Networks of nature: stories of natural history film-making from the BBC. A great read for anyone interested in the BBC Natural History Unit and a must for all aspiring BBC NHU researchers...
In May 1953 the first natural history television programme was broadcast from Bristol by naturalist Peter Scott and radio producer Desmond Hawkins. By 1997 the BBC's Natural History Unit has established a global reputation for wildlife films, providing a keystone of the BBC's public service broadcasting charter, playing an important strategic role in television scheduling and occupying a prominent position in a competitive world film market.
The BBC's blue-chip natural history programmes regularly bring images of wildlife from all over the globe to British audiences of over 10 million.
In her PhD thesis Gail Davies traces the changing world of the BBC natural history unit. Using archive material, interviews and through close observation of the film-makers at work she explores the ever changing relationships between broadcasting values and scientific and film-making practices.
This research puts the BBCs popular representations of wildlife within the context of post-war British attitudes to nature and explores the importance of technology, animals and public conceptions as additional factors influencing the relationships between nature and culture.
University College London PhD Eprints
No comments:
Post a Comment