The Open University
. skip to content Listen to this page   
The Open University TV Buyers Catalogue

03: History and Culture

Page 1 of 2Next page
Precision: The Measure Of All Things
Marcus's Journeys Into Measurement
Programme run: 3 x 60 mins
Measurement has helped to define and advance civilisation, and been key to all the great leaps in science. It has taken us from stone age skymaps to the exploration of outer space. Without accurate time the internet wouldn't work, GPS would be impossible and your phone would be useless. Packed with cutting-edge science and jaw-dropping examples from the modern world, this is our journey from sundials and cubits to time lords and lasers.
Harlem Voices
Harlem Voices
Programme run: 1 x 30 mins
"Oh to be in Harlem again..." Ragtime and blues played all night, while experimental poets scribbled down new verses. Described as "a magnet for intellectuals", 1920s Harlem was a unique crucible for black poets, artists and musicians. This Manhattan neighbourhood gained a near mythical status though its depiction by the artists of the Harlem Renaissance.
The Story of Wales
Great Thinkers
Programme run: 6 x 60 mins
Beginning with the earliest known human burial in Western Europe, the 'Red Lady of Paviland', and ending with a modern nation, this is an authoritative popular history of Wales. We see the huge wealth of the country in the Bronze Age, the massive scale of the Roman presence, the rich culture of medieval Wales and the capture of the English Crown by a family with strong Welsh roots, the Tudors.
In Their Own Words: Great Thinkers
Great Thinkers
Programme run: 3 x 60 mins
The 20th century was the battleground for a war of ideas. Economists, scientists, psychologists and cultural experts smashed their way out of their ivory towers to engage with the day-to-day concerns of real life, sparking heated debates. Should market forces choose the best way to run the economy? Is culture becoming the replacement for religion?
Empire
Empire
Programme run: 5 x 60 mins
This major series tells the story of the British Empire in a new way. We travel the globe to examine how an empire takes and holds power, the cult of monarchy, the image of the gentleman explorer and the gospel of sport. Along the way we take in a pirates' treasure hunt and find out how one country convinced itself it should rule the world.
In Their Own Words: British Novelists
In Their Own Words
Programme run: 3 x 60 mins
This is the story of the 20th century novel, told by the authors themselves. Great novelists talking candidly about their life and work include Arthur Conan Doyle, HG Wells and EM Forster through to Salman Rushdie, Jeanette Winterson, Kazuo Ishiguro and Hilary Mantel. J R R Tolkien explains his obsession with plot in Lord of the Rings and Ian Fleming offers insights into James Bond.
Town with Nicholas Crane
Towns
Programme run: 4 x 60 mins
Where do people choose to make their homes and why? Neither a busting metropolis nor a rural idyll, towns have evolved an identity of their own. The buildings we construct reveal the history and psychology of our society, from city walls to market squares. Stunning aerials and enhanced 3D graphics uncover the complex geography, great histories and beautiful scenery of towns and the people who live there.
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
Programme run: 2 x 60 mins
From the torture of suspected terrorists to the death penalty, punishment is one of the most emotive and contentious issues of modern times. From Abu Ghraib in Iraq to "Death Vans" in China, this series questions whether punishment is directed more towards the body or the soul, and examines whether tabloid portrayal of specific murderers as monsters influences our attitude to punishment and vengeance.
The Code
The Code
Programme run: 3 x 60 mins
Hidden in the world around us are mysterious symbols and bizarre numbers that hold the key to understanding the universe. What do these numbers and symbols mean, why are they here and what can we learn from them? Professor Marcus du Sautoy takes us on a gripping treasure hunt to uncover the codes in the world around us.
The Story of Maths
The Story of Maths
Programme run: 4 x 60 mins
Without mathematics, there would be no architecture, no commerce, no time and no chemistry. A Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford explores the 30,000 year history of maths and offers clear, accessible explanations of the development of the key mathematical principles that underpin the science, technology and culture of our modern world.
Music of the Primes
Music of the Primes
Programme run: 3 x 30 mins
Prime numbers are the atoms of mathematics. They're also incredibly elusive. As long ago as 300 BC, Euclid proved that there must be an infinite number of them. The hunt for a pattern in the distribution of primes has been an obsession for some of the giants of maths. This is an epic 3,000 year story of mathematical joy and despair, blinding light and blind alleyways.
Saving Britain's Past
Saving Britains Past
Programme run: 7 x 30 mins
How does our attitude to the past shape who we are? As we build new shops and schools and people try to make a living, our architectural past is reshaped. Old buildings are often beautiful and are a part of our history, but they can be expensive to keep, difficult to repair and may not suit modern uses. How do local communities, planners and heritage organisations negotiate what we keep and what we lose?
Page 1 of 2Next page

Click here to download Acrobat reader

Back to top