At Last, A Meeting Of My Two Interests
Posted 19 November 2008 in Doctor Who by Catriona
And by two interests, I mean Doctor Who and archival research.
The BBC, it seems, is opening its Doctor Who archives and making them available on the web.
Nick, it need not be said, is neither to hold nor bind after discovering this.
The archive begins, chronologically, with an exploratory document outlining the practicality of developing a science-fiction programme for television—and the document is awesome: at one point, it suggests that “More pretentiously, far less ably, the novels of CS Lewis likewise use the apparatus of SF in the service of metaphysical ideas” (see here for that document, written in 1962).
I guess nobody in the BBC was a big fan of Lewis’s work?
That document also outlines the fact that science fiction is overwhelmingly an American genre, which I find fascinating: no-one would argue, now, that there’s a distinctly British flavour of sci-fi, but this document largely predates that time.
And the archive ends with the announcement of the new series in Radio Times.
Surely no more incentive is needed to go and rummage through this? Everyone loves archives, yes?
Well, how about this audience report on “An Unearthly Child,” the pilot episode? According to page two, “The acting throughout was considered satisfactory.”
Or this concept report from 1963, which talks about the “unsexual” nature of science fiction and emphasises the need to avoid the generic tendency against in-depth character development.
Or the image gallery, including this image of William Hartnell from the pilot episode. (What a silly hat!)
Or . . .
I’m talking to myself here, aren’t I? You all disappeared at the first link and are now happily rummaging through the archives, aren’t you?
Thought so.
Share your thoughts [2]
1
Drew wrote at Nov 19, 08:25 pm
“Amis has coined the phrase “idea as hero” which sums it up. The ideas are often fascinating, but so bizarre as to sustain conviction only with difficulity over any extended period.”
Oh for a time machine, Beeb archive access and George Lucas’ mailing address!
2
Catriona wrote at Nov 19, 08:43 pm
Ah, he wouldn’t listen, Drew. He didn’t listen when the fans were shouting, “You’re ruining it!” en masse.
There was a picture some time ago (I forget where I saw it—or where Nick found it, more likely—but I’ll link if anyone remembers) of Lucas wearing a “Han Shot First” T-shirt on set.
I looked at that and thought, “Well, of course he shot first! We all know that from a time before you went and ruined it.”
That situation never ceases to annoy me. Fabulous films; huge, vibrant fan community—and then those awful, awful prequels. Boggles the mind.