The Value of Culture R4 Melvyn Bragg

[ardcarp]

Is there another thread somewhere on this topic? If not, there's a slot at 9am every day this week discussing 'culture', including the writings of Arnold, Tylor, Snow, Hoggart, Hall and many others. Much time is inevitably devoted to defining the word 'culture' itself, and of course it has many meanings ranging from the primitive tribal sort, through haute couture to kulcher (my shorthand, not theirs!)

Of particular interest to musicians is the contribution in today's programme (Mass Culture) by Roger Scruton, where he champions the values of 'classical' music as opposed to the popular:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01phkt6

Scruton begins almost exactly 32 minutes in.

[amateur51]

Is there another thread somewhere on this topic? If not, there's a slot at 9am every day this week discussing 'culture', including the writings of Arnold, Tylor, Snow, Hoggart, Hall and many others. Much time is inevitably devoted to defining the word 'culture' itself, and of course it has many meanings ranging from the primitive tribal sort, through haute couture to kulcher (my shorthand, not theirs!)

Of particular interest to musicians is the contribution in today's programme (Mass Culture) by Roger Scruton, where he champions the values of 'classical' music as opposed to the popular:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01phkt6

Scruton begins almost exactly 32 minutes in.

I saw this and thought "what a damned silly time for 45-minute programme of this type each day for a week" but now I see that each of them is re-broadcast at 21:30 the following evening (this presumably requiring a cut in the original broadcast to allow for the News at 22:00 :yikes)

Why does the BBC have to faff about like this with what appears to be an interesting series? I'll be listening on iPlayer any time over the next 12 months, I'm afraid

[ardcarp]

Such a damn silly time..I mean, surely mere housewives wouldn't be interested?

[amateur51]

Such a damn silly time..I mean, surely mere housewives wouldn't be interested?

Speaking as a bachelor gay who does his own domestic chores, I repeat that this is a damn silly time

[gingerjon]

I saw this and thought "what a damned silly time for 45-minute programme of this type each day for a week" but now I see that each of them is re-broadcast at 21:30 the following evening (this presumably requiring a cut in the original broadcast to allow for the News at 22:00 :yikes)

They do this with In Our Time and Start the Week as well, don't they?

(Not that I know, I get IOT via podcast and STW is too dumbed down these days).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Speaking as a bachelor gay who does his own domestic chores, I repeat that this is a damn silly time

It's the usual In Our Time time-slot; the entire archive of which is available via the i-Player to enjoy after all dusting!

[Serial_Apologist]

An interesting series for me, self-edicated to the extent I am in these matters. Programme 2 in particular tried to shoehorn too much information into its 40-45 minutes; I'm going to have to listen again - agree with Ams about the time for morning broadcast; and, like many others no doubt, I'm preparing supper at the time of the evening re-broadcast.

[ardcarp]

...can't eat supper that late without my digestion playing up. That sentence was meant to be ironic, by the way.

[jean]

It's the usual In Our Time time-slot...

That's what I was thinking - don't any of the rest of you listen to that?

All he's done is commandeered the rest of the week as well.

[Flosshilde]

All he's done is commandeered the rest of the week as well.

As if once a week isn't enough for Melvyn Smug (the thinking man's Stephen Fry).


(& as for the time of broadcast - surely most people here are listening to Breakfast then?)

[Paul Sherratt]

Slightly, OT
I'm taking advantage of this specialist discussion to ask if anyone knows how many copies of Mark Lawson the BBC
has made ?

[amateur51]

As if once a week isn't enough for Melvyn Smug (the thinking man's Stephen Fry).


(& as for the time of broadcast - surely most people here are listening to Breakfast then?)

Ouch!

[Serial_Apologist]

Ouch!

I agree, Ams - the original name was good enough.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

this non gay pensioner, living alone, is at the cusp of a great transformation ... i no longer do mornings and i hate R4; so this grumpy old nose will be cut to spite its face

.... first thing on in the day is Isabelle Faust Bach Sonatas and Partitas by J S Bach Vol 2 ... that'll do me for an an analysis of culture on awakening ....

[Simon]

[Maybe better not to dignify the silly jibes from the usual with the obvious repudiation!]

I wonder if anyone heard the latest programme just now? IMO it was fairly interesting discussion, anyway.

One comment, that the loss made by the ROH on one production would make a massive difference were that money to be spent elsewhere in the country was telling. But I don't suppose the Londoncentricity of the UK will change anytime soon, and it isn't the fault of the ROH anyway.

The idea of the hierarchy of cultures isn't new, as we know, but I wasn't aware that what we'd now mostly see as "higher" was once quite so popular with all and sundry. Did every male in London really see at least one Shakespeare play at the era during which they were being written?

Is a culture's value the way in which it speaks to a depth of feeling, and how it can raise aspirations? Seems a good starting point at least, to me. How would one, then, now assess the amazing Adele?


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Be selective, Calum - there's some very good stuff on R4!