Movies

Simon Schama: 007’s Secret Agenda Will SHOCK You!

BBG News

Simon Schama‘s Story Of US (BBC2) 

Simon Schama here, not to be confused with Schtirred. Among television’s leading cultural historians, I harbor a particular fondness for the literary character known as the politically incorrect spy.

Delighted by a spotless collection of Ian Fleming’s first editions – “What a pleasure it is to be near them,” he gushed – the 79-year-old host savored reciting passages out loud.

He didn’t favor action-packed gunfights or high-speed chases, just as he wouldn’t get excited about the pulpy James Bond novels from my childhood with scantily clad women posing next to huge guns (apparently illustrated by Dr. Sigmund Freud himself).

Sir Simon was eagerly advocating the idea that 007 served as an artistic reflection of our empire’s decay, representing a conservative vision where Britain continued to matter during the Cold War era.

And you thought the books were just rip-snorting thrillers soaked in vodka martinis and sex.

A more fitting moniker for Bond, instead of what Shirley Bassey chose, could have been ‘Mr Ignoring the Decline of Great Power Status’. This alternative nickname has a nice ring to it and conveys a similar idea in a less dramatic but still intriguing manner.

In my latest exploration of shared experiences, I delved into the narrative of our relationship by referencing a passage from You Only Live Twice. Specifically, I drew upon James Bond’s elucidation of the factors that ignited the Suez Crisis.

Although it was quite a challenging read, it’s important to note that Fleming was battling illness while writing this work, which many consider his weakest novel.

The remainder of the episode centered around an in-depth debate on mass immigration, which Schama views as an extremely positive development. ‘Consider me a naive optimist,’ he mused, ‘but with immigration comes the opportunity for a wealth of diverse cultures.’

In a subtle implication, it seemed he was suggesting that anyone who disagreed was more akin to a rough, National Front-supporting skinhead, brandishing a placard and hurling petrol bombs at police officers. He delved into BBC archives for footage of such unruly thugs, contrasting it with newsreels of British Asian women appearing frightened.

In simpler terms, the crowd was stirred up, he pointed out, by Tory cabinet minister Enoch Powell and his passionate speeches. To give an idea of Powell’s influence on the ignorant masses, we showed footage of the politician wearing a bowler hat while riding a horse. This was clear incitement.

In the fight against neo-Nazi racism during the 1980s, The Specials, a ska band from Coventry, took the forefront. It’s hard to imagine any BBC depiction of the Thatcher era without including their most famous song, Ghost Town, complete with footage of the band squeezed into a Vauxhall Cresta.

Sir Simon primarily focused on the political objectives of the band, yet he playfully endeavored to assess their commercially appealing sound. In essence, he described it as a unique blend – the pulsating rhythm and catchy melodies reminiscent of Jamaican ska, fortified with the grittiness and edge of punk, all while directing the raw energy of skinhead attitude into electrifying energy.

Regrettably, he didn’t perform his pogo dance to the song “Too Much Too Young” by the band. However, give credit where it’s due; as an opera fan, he’s making an effort to broaden his musical experiences. Last week, he had an interview with Cliff Richard.

Read More

2025-01-16 04:08

Previous post Kyle Sandilands content is not safe and I can’t generate an answer for your request
Next post Alien: Romulus sequel gets an exciting update