Why Murdoch really matters

[Serial_Apologist]

Well here we have John Lehmann, poet, literary editor, publisher interviewing Aldous Huxley for Monitor in 1962, introduced by Huw Wheldon as 'Mister John Lehmann'. Note how he adresses Mr Huxley ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/writers/12233.shtml

whereas here is Malcolm Muggeridge interviewing (or fawning over as it might be termed more accurately )
Somerset Maugham in 1954

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/writers/12234.shtml

Just how Muggeridge manages to articulate anything, given how far his tongue is apparently located up Maugham's person, is a bit of a miracle

But maybe this is not the sort of respect that Caliban means either

Thanks, Ams, for finding these Monitor interviews - especially Aldous Huxley's. To see him talking about his final novel "Island" as work in progress is wonderful. If only I'd been a bit older, back in 1958!!!

[amateur51]

Thanks, Ams, for finding these Monitor interviews - especially Aldous Huxley's. To see him talking about his final novel "Island" as work in progress is wonderful. If only I'd been a bit older, back in 1958!!!

He has a great 'presence' doesn't he S_A - the way it just rolls out of him, freshly-minted.

Can you imagine those celebrity interviews done by Richard E Grant on Sky being viewed as national treasure in 2062?

[teamsaint]

the whole SKY/BBC debate reminds me rather of the choice between Labour and conservative at election time........it looks like a choice, but ends up costing you either way.
I have a deep mistrust of a vast amount of "content" in all the mainstream news media......they are all driven by other peoples agendas, and not usually people I would care to take tea with.

Anyway, Its Friday night, the one night of the week I can hope for something decent on the telly.........lets hope BBC4 are playing ball tonight.


Oh.........

[gradus]

At grammar school in the 1950's, surnames were always used, I wonder if similar establishments still do the same?

[amateur51]

At grammar school in the 1950's, surnames were always used, I wonder if similar establishments still do the same?

In the first year (1968) of my North Wales Grammar School for Boys, the class numbered 32 and there were 16 boys with the surname Jones.

Our English teacher, Mr Blackwell from London, was appalled that none of us had ever heard of the Isle of Dogs. Mind you, he created nicknames for all 16 Joneses - Tall Jones, Fat Jones, Stupid Jones, Terminally Stupid Jones - so he got his revenge

[Mr Pee]

Oh right, you're happy with guesswork & speculation then - no change there then

You're referring to Polly Toynbee, presumably, since 95% of the article under discussion seems to consist of precisely those two things.

[Mandryka]

Calling people by their surnames is a deeply recidivist practice. The main reason I have no interest or aptitude in metalwork or woodwork is because the teachers of those subjects insisted on calling us all by our surnames, which I found both insulting and patronising.

Fascinating clip of Muggeridge and Maugham, there, ams: two of the greatest men of the 20th century in front of one camera.

[amateur51]

You're referring to Polly Toynbee, presumably, since 95% of the article under discussion seems to consist of precisely those two things.

You know that I'm referring to you, Mr Pee

[Nick Armstrong]

Calling people by their surnames is a deeply recidivist practice. The main reason I have no interest or aptitude in metalwork or woodwork is because the teachers of those subjects insisted on calling us all by our surnames, which I found both insulting and patronising.

Fascinating clip of Muggeridge and Maugham, there, ams: two of the greatest men of the 20th century in front of one camera.

Good to see you back in these parts, Mr M

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

it is not the one v the other in some fecking talent contest or consumer choice marathon ... i do not give a hoot for what you and your mum watch on Saturday night ... it is about killing off all public enterprise or collective endeavour ... the BBC and the NHS are the last bastions of collective provision and they want to kill them Dave & George and Rupert & RebekAH and wee jamie that is what they wanted to do and they have just about failed but try and stay healthy for a year or two if you can't afford health insurance ...

[Mr Pee]

it is not... consumer choice....

Actually, although you may not like the fact, that is exactly what it is.

[Beef Oven]

At grammar school in the 1950's, surnames were always used, I wonder if similar establishments still do the same?

I went to Rushmore Road School, a shite junior school in Lower Clapton (South Hackney) and even then, in the late 60s, a certain Mr Mills called us all by our surnames. I didn't like it it. It wasn't just posh schools that went in for this practice. I was the dog's danglies at metalwork though

[Mandryka]

I went to Rushmore Road School, a shite junior school in Lower Clapton (South Hackney) and even then, in the late 60s, a certain Mr Mills called us all by our surnames. I didn't like it it. It wasn't just posh schools that went in for this practice. I was the dog's danglies at metalwork though

Well, my experience dated from the late seventies, which is even more shocking. The school was a secondary modern that had just become a comprehensive and I think a lot of the teachers tended to operate in a military way.

[Mandryka]

Interesting that Murdoch apparently attacked 'right-wingers' in one of his recent 'tweets' (and does anyone believe that that REALLY RM pummelling the keys of his blackberry?). Evidently, Keith Rupert thinks of himself as some sort of neo-liberal.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

er no guv i was not doing a deal with a tax dodging blackmailing bully who hacked phones and bribed officials ... we was just having a light snack ... the cut in the bbc license fees the restraint of ofcom and the supporting the bskyb thing are all just the purest of coincidences innit guv honest ... i am a good bloke would i do that i ask you ..... mind you i am getting an itch about my mate George .... seems he has fingers in pies if yer knows what i mean and i might have to reconsider his position after we do the deal on that nonce boy Hunt .... er no one told me about Andy C, bit unfortunate that .... expect he will go down and all ... what's it coming to when yer can't trust yer mates i asks yer