Part 2 - The Ascent Of Man (1973) Pace Adjusted For "Modern" Audiences

[@DoctorAlex1]

I have "adjusted" the pace of this fascinating old documentary series by J. Bronowski to perhaps better suite "modern" audiences. This does mean J. Bronowski ends up sounding more like Patrick Moore :D Not necessarily a terrible thing 🙂 This film does date from 1973 and so the science in many areas is quite obviously out of date. Also obviously, these programmes reflect the time they were made in. No adjustments have made to the content for certain "modern" audiences. Anyone who has a problem with this I refer to the pre-title card at the start of this video 🙂 Above all, I hope you enjoy this snapshot of what we knew, both that which has been superseded through subsequent discoveries and that which has remained. Dr Alex Please support via Patreon: www.patreon.com/leithes Substack: doctoralex.substack.com/ Paypal: www.paypal.me/AlexLeithes Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DWJNJ1D

[@DoctorAlex1]

Thus far the comments seem to have a fairly even split between those who understand the concept of a joke, and pompous asses ;) :D :D

[@MichaelEdelman1954]

How annoyingly and egotistically presumptuous to speed up Bronowski’s carefully composed diction, and to assume that “modern” listeners cant deal with something written fifty years ago.

[@DoctorAlex1]

And so the pattern continues ;) Comments from those who clearly never read comments ;) :)

[@tonylaycock]

Avoid this dreadful vulgarisation, dumbing down, pure vandalism. To modify Bronowski's beautiful, carefully enunciated speech is a Philistine abomination.

[@billporter6808]

@@tonylaycock thanks.. saved me some typing there.

[@NuTfielDRobErT]

It's utterly awful at this speed, the beauty of the series was in how he presented it that you don't get that says more about you and modern audiences.

[@nicksutton2964]

I am watching at 0.75x speed and it seems to have regained its magic.

[@DoctorAlex1]

:D :D Brilliant :)

[@pocket83squared]

_The Ascent of Man_ is just as relevant as ever. There is a very real pressure to both placate and patronize "modern audiences." Bronowski was thoughtful and deliberate, and most people no longer have the patience to absorb his slowly-building arguments, because they now believe themselves already capable of arriving there on their own. We've grown so arrogant that we now think one can have a legitimate worldview without it requiring any work, scrutiny, or personal development. This video pretends, in irony, to do just that; it claims to pick pick up the pace for us, because we think we can handle it. Coffee isn't good enough in this age: we're _espresso_ people! The real irony is, we're not as fast as we think we are. Immediately following Bronowki's death, the age of the computer began. Technological development became increasingly rapid, and along with it, a new culture emerged. Had he lived to see it, surely he would have regarded it as a new revolution, a paradigm shift. But attached to this new culture was a new set of erroneous beliefs. By the turn of the millennium, now assisted by better intellectual tools than ever, we began to think of ourselves as 'multitaskers' who could pride themselves on the ability to handle (more) information more rapidly than previous people had. It wasn't true. Statistical information began to reveal a different picture; our comprehension & retention had become no better, and in fact, it has been made in some ways worse. Slow digestion is key to insight. Why? Because real insight is conceptual, and deep-down; it is when the apparently simple gradually begins to take on the light of true, elegant profundity. If you want to benefit from Bronowsi's wisdom, watch at actual speed, and absorb it slowly. Personally, I've watched the series dozens of times, and despite its pace, it still captivates and amazes me more than any other program ever has. It's also lovely to fall asleep to! ~~~ One more thing, uploader-there's a quote from your description that I'm compelled to poke at: "...the science in many areas is quite obviously out of date." You're trying to _have_ your cake and _eat_ it too. Though modern Anthropology-which is now woke to Relativism-will find minor quibbles with some of Bronowski's generalizing, there is NOTHING about _The Ascent of Man_ that has crumbled under scientific scrutiny. The program is a timeless snapshot of a pivotal, pragmatic age, and every single assessment it contains remains respectable. Let the modern viewers squirm in discomfort; don't bother trying to please or appease them. Man's history has been too hard, her path too respectable, for us to now begin to smooth history's edges for the sake of easier digestion.

[@DoctorAlex1]

I am glad you understand :)

[@JoeOMalley-py8wq]

This series should be essential viewing for young people in it's unmodified format. I wish there was more of this today. A vain thought I know ....

[@paulflaherty2011]

just why?

[@bortstanson2034]

"modern audiences" can get stuffed and piss off back to sh!tok instead of debasing such a monumental intelligent, humane program.

[@Camille_Anderson]

"is you disrespecting me??" would love the response of those too lazy to appreciate this series, or indeed anything that dares to challenge their fragile view of the world - most of them think we are all spinning around them in awe at their greatness.

[@ikmarchini]

For all your haters - on KZbin hit the settings button and find playback speed. Set it to O.5 for the original, if you need to. Thanks for posting anyway, Dr. Alex. This series shouldn't be so hard to find but it is.

[@ianhuckle]

Unwatchable at this speed

[@bollywoodscenesandudayansh5947]

O.75x is good

[@badger4397]

Just started watching at 0.75x and it’s watchable. Click the “cog” at the top to change the speed

[@LeandroGomez-r6z]

I adjusted it ...thank you very much

[@johnnewton4461]

Thanks, but no this is a really stupid idea, total misfire

[@tcarney57]

I don't get the "modern" reference. Bronowski spoke in a deliberate and considered pace. There are people today (i.e., "modern") who speak likewise. Those who can't adjust themselves to other people's way of speaking should *NOT* be accommodated by the sort of repackaging employed on this channel. moreover, There's nothing in Bronowski's original presentation that is out of date, including whatever is meant here by "ideas and opinions commonly held when it was made." The absurd, supercilious, and sanctimonious assumption that "modern" understandings and assumptions are automatically superior to those of the past is not only astoundingly offensive but it's arrogant--even grandiose--in the extreme. If you (i.e. "Doctor Alex") have specific objections or comments to make on Bronowski's points, then present them yourself in your own video rather than arrogantly allude to them in the most vague terms. Sorry, but I'm calling bullshit on this whole project.

[@Camille_Anderson]

Try it at .75 speed, or less.

[@goballroom1285]

Next, Bach's St Matthew Passion at twice the tempo for those in a hurry. The text includes outdated language and attitudes applicable at the time.

[@thepub245]

Pace adjusted to reflect the declining attention span of man?

[@DoctorAlex1]

Indeed ;)

[@Banzairun]

This is pt3, pt2 should be “The Harvest of the Seasons”

[@DoctorAlex1]

Yep. And eps 1 and 3 were the only eps the Beeb would allow past their bots unfortunately :(

[@freddydal2226]

Playback speed at.75 seems to be ok

[@matthewakian2]

Excellent series.

[@williambayer6987]

50+ minutes DUMBED DOWN to less than 40 minutes is like playing Beethoven's 9th recorded for 45rpm at 78rpm. It might make for good comedy, but not good history or science. God save us from woke idiots.

[@DoctorAlex1]

Unlike so many, many, pompous asses in the comments at least you realised the point of this video ;) :)

[@williambayer6987]

@@DoctorAlex1 I watched the entire series when it first aired --- yes, I'm that old --- and consider it to be as close to a bible of the history of science as there's been (not to be confused with general history, which is often just political history), and have re-consulted Bronowski's presentation many times over the decades since then --- most often regarding mathematics as mentioned in episode 5 (I think it is) that begins with Pythagoras. Therein, Bronowski notes that his explanation of the Pythagorean Theorem is NOT the explanation generally taught in schools. Being a mathematician, I think Bronowski's explanation weighs more than that of junior high school algebra teachers. Anyway, I was having a discussion with someone concerning the purpose of ancient cave paintings, and recalled that as with Bronowski's explanation of the Pythagorean Theorem, his explanation of the intent of the cave paintings is markedly different than the explanations generally taught. I went looking for what Bronowski said about the cave paintings, in order to send a link to the person I was arguing with --- a strange discussion that evolved out of a disagreement concerning what Shakespeare meant when he had Hamlet mention this "mortal coil" --- the word "coil" having many archaic definitions --- but for some reason, I clicked on your tampered-with version of this episode. I'm not sure I ascertained that satire was the intended point, and I appreciate your clarification very much. I was afraid you were acting like a Dadaist painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

[@hellskitchenmusic]

Dumb idea, terrible. You need to adjust yourself to the intellectual arena you are awkward and uncomfortable in. That arena is timeless. Or you could go to the Louvre and try to convince people that some bright colors or video enhancement might help improve the beauty and interest in the Mona Lisa

[@Known-unknowns]

I recall when this was first aired on the BBC in the UK. It was sooo boring, nobody used to watch it. Clever guy, but you could fall asleep at the speed he spoke (my father did). I don’t know what the viewing figures were for it, but most people were either asleep or in the kitchen. 😂 Today KZbin are able to monitor their viewers better. It’s shocking how many people quit viewing after a short while. To the extent that content providers will often promise you juicy info at the end in an attempt to get you to watch it all. 😂

[@stevehead365]

completely fucked

[@colinmagnier1232]

Ruined it