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Connections was a documentary series produced for the BBC in 1978. It sought to explain human history through an “alternative view of change” in which multiple aspects of history, including technology, religion, and finance combine to bring about social change. This mode of analysis moves beyond conventional linear narrative, and as a result embraces complexity. Each episode is an essay connecting several seemingly disparate events or technologies through an extended web of logic — it’s great fun to follow.
Connections was hosted by James Burke, whose dry humor pervades each episode. The fifth episode, for example, starts with a fullscreen view of a punchcard. Burke narrates: “What you’re looking at is a bit of paper with holes in it. How’s that for a spectacular way to start a program? But this may be the most important bit of paper with holes in it since the hole was invented.” Burke goes on to explain — via a discussion of astronomy, calendaring, clockwork, Sheffield steel cutlery, sea navigation, mechanized manufacturing, guns, John Kenneth Galbraith, and much more — how computers came to be. Burke also spends some time explaining why computers will be important to the future of humanity (this was 1978, after all), and his discussion remains relevant and interesting thirty years on.
More, including a YouTube clip, after the jump.
Here’s a YouTube clip from the fourth episode, “Faith in Numbers”:
(Note: YouTube user JamesBurkeFan has posted tons of clips from various Burke series, including a few complete episodes of Connections, broken up into ten-minute segments.)
Connections is a lot of fun to watch. It’s definitely family-friendly, though your kids may find it a little slow. If you enjoyed Carl Sagan’s Cosmos or you like trips to science museums, you’ll really dig this series.
After the success of the first ten-episode Connections series, Burke created two more series: Connections² 1992 (twenty episodes) and Connections³ (ten episodes) in 1997. You can read more about the series at Wikipedia or rent the it from Netflix (link is to the original series, but the other two are also available). Your local library is also likely to have the DVD sets on the shelf — all three series are out on DVD, but are nearly $150 retail, so I’d recommend renting them. If you’re a major James Burke junkie, don’t miss the James Burke Fan Companion site, packed with content for Burke-aholics.
Comments (21)
Comment
I was a big fan of his series, “The Day the Universe Changed.”
posted by David H. on 5-13-2008 at 1:51 pm
Connections was by far one of the best documentary series I’ve ever seen. It really was a huge influence on me when I was growing up.
posted by MrBabyMan on 5-13-2008 at 2:04 pm
I agree with MrBabyMan. Best science series ever!!! I still find myself talking about this show thirty years later.
posted by Phrank Loyed on 5-13-2008 at 2:10 pm
Ah connections… I loved this show growing up in the 70’s and I had tried for years to remember the name of it, searching in vain for various terms on the net from my memory 30 years ago. And then I found it! I was so thrilled and then when netflix had it, I put all of the discs in my queue and I’ve been relishing them ever since. It really made history and science and technology really come alive and I just ate it up with a spoon. Kudos to MF for finally remembering this genius show!
posted by crispin on 5-13-2008 at 2:17 pm
James Burke has what I would consider some of the greatest hypothesis I have ever seen… And I think folks haven’t paid enough attention to them. More then the connections throughout history, his views on the “Electronic Agent” in some of his books is also amazingly perceptive. I recommend reading “The Knowledge Web”. I think some of you will be surprised.
posted by Jeff on 5-13-2008 at 3:30 pm
Yay, Connections! I’ve had my TiVo looking for that for ages but I guess none of the cable channels know the power of James Burke! Brillant show.
posted by frodopal on 5-13-2008 at 4:50 pm
There a show a few years ago on the History Channel (or one of those others) that was similar. Can’t remember the name but the narrator is on commercials and occasional tv shows and movies. Does anyone know what I’m trying to think of?
My Captcha words were ing and alluding…much like my thoughts :-) show….
posted by Lynne on 5-13-2008 at 5:30 pm
When I had jury duty last year they were actually showing the one of the seasons of Connections in the waiting room! I’m not sure if anyone else was watching it, but for me it sure made the day go by faster.
posted by kasdc on 5-13-2008 at 5:44 pm
agreed…it is by far the best science documentory on TV..how he “connected” seemingly minute points in history to arrive at his conclusions is absolutely brilliant…i’m saving my pennies to buy the DVDs…
posted by ziggy on 5-14-2008 at 7:15 am
Fascinating! Thanks for the great info - I had definitely missed out on this the first time around. It reminds me vaguely of The Secret Life of Machines…
posted by Roger on 5-14-2008 at 8:25 am
I remeber watchign these in high school chemistry class on “down” days (in 1996). I thought this was the coolest science show ever!!! [I want the hyperbole t-shirt]
thanks for thepost on this, I have been wondering on how to get to watch them again and you answered my question…
Timeless
posted by Justin L on 5-14-2008 at 9:38 am
I used to loved watching connections… burke really opened my eyes to the inter-connectivity of what can seemingly be disparate… my favorite part of the show however was how he would just always “pop up” in random spots… later on it’s made for a fun drinking game… =)
posted by iHeartConnections on 5-14-2008 at 2:14 pm
Connections is awesome! I had forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder.
posted by Heather on 5-14-2008 at 3:37 pm
I had never heard of connections… but I watched it on YouTube, and it is by far the best documentary I’ve seen.
posted by Mark on 5-14-2008 at 5:27 pm
It’s worth noting that there is a Connection PC game from the mid-90s. My dad bought it for me and I’ve probably played it 25 times. One particularly perfect moment in the game is when James Watt monologues in a cut scene about steam power. I don’t know if you can get it on EBay but it’s a must for a Connectionsphile.
posted by Christina on 5-14-2008 at 5:53 pm
I actually got to meet James Burke!
I attended a magnet school in Dallas, TX (in fact it was the _first_ magnet school anywhere). The local PBS station had brought Mr. Burke to town to promote the series, so our science cluster students trooped down to their studios to watch the first episode, introduced by Burke and followed by a Q&A with him.
I remember that he brought with him the hand-blown glass “fart gun” that appears in one of the episodes. Unfortunately, as I recall, the very first episode of the series is not one of the strongest; even though we were science nerds, it didn’t grab us a lot at the moment. I’m glad our lukewarm reception didn’t discourage him from making more!
posted by jondru on 5-15-2008 at 2:18 pm
I love this series. Still shown on Pay TV. There was also another series he did called “The Day the Universe Changed” which was just as good if not better.
Its premise was how a simple event or invention changed history. One of those “easy to digest programs” that really changed how you saw the world.
posted by Jem on 5-15-2008 at 7:49 pm
Off topic sorry. There was a French cartoon series about the world that used to be shown in India several years ago. Something called ‘Tout Le Monde’ I think. It was amazing in that it showed how mankind came about being. Does anyone have an idea about this and if it is available anywhere ?
I’ll pick up ‘Connections’ someday soon. Seems interesting.
posted by Raj on 5-18-2008 at 11:11 pm
These shows were on one of the English-language channels in Hong Kong during the past few years. My wife and I tried to catch every episode.
We never would have guessed that they were nearly 30 years old! Absolutely fantastic work - enjoyable to watch and great for trivia buffs.
posted by grover on 5-21-2008 at 5:25 am
Connections, Connections II, and anything James Burke is associated with gets big thumbs ups from me. His series, Desmond Morris’s “Naked Ape” and a bunch of good stuff from the BBC. I wish US TV would actually produce things that are this clever and informative instead of showing us the sort of junk-science that extols the virtues of crystal skulls…
posted by Larian LeQuella on 5-21-2008 at 10:01 am
Connections was awesome to watch when I was growing up! I used to watch it with my dad everytime it came on. I don’t remember which college James Burke used to teach at, but can you imagine having him for a professor? It would have been a great class! Now I’m gonna have to cue up Connections on my Netflix
posted by RivetDoobie on 5-21-2008 at 11:44 am