Re: ANYT THOUGHTS ON AMERICAN PBS SERIES "THE PEOPLES CENTURY" ?

I have found the series rather good as such things go -- including  a
fine (though not original) roundup of the postwar period and the 60s
(which fits right in with -- for instance -- Wallerstein's periodization
and characterization of the times). As for letting off harmless steam...
well, the last episode included Mao, Che, and Khomeini, who really did
change the world. Even the American and French "rebellions"  had great
cultural impact. I wouldn't expect PBS to go further than that.     
Cheers - KPM

On Sun, 20 Jun 1999 12:42:10 -0600 "RANDALL BURTON"
<rcburton@worldnet.att.net> writes:
>Well, as hopelessly interesting as the yugo mess may be, are there any 
>thoughts about the American PBS series "The People's Century".
> 
>The global scope of the programs seems to be some sort of feel good 
>revisionism about how popular movements have positively altered the 
>course of WS pathology.  I can envision history and social studies 
>teachers everywhere programming VCR's to entomb this stuff for future 
>student indoctrination.  After all PBS says it's true.
> 
>My conjecture is that popular movements of this century (largely a 
>zero sum game of the politics of identity) have in the main provided a 
>relief valve that has reduced the power elite's costs/efforts to 
>maintain social control.
> 
>Any observations would be most appreciated.
>
>Randall Burton