DOCSLIB.ORG

The Tables Turned the Tables Turned 1 the BSHS Strolling Players Introduce Their Latest Role-Play Drama on Science and the Victorian Séance BSHS News 4

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Tables Turned the Tables Turned 1 the BSHS Strolling Players Introduce Their Latest Role-Play Drama on Science and the Victorian Séance BSHS News 4 NO. 91: FEBRUARY 2010 ISSN: 1751-8261 Contents The Tables Turned The Tables Turned 1 The BSHS Strolling Players introduce their latest role-play drama on science and the Victorian séance BSHS News 4 Viewpoint 5 Object of the Issue 6 From PhD to Book 7 Reports of Meetings 8 Reviews 11 The Questionnaire 14 Announcements 15 BJHS, Viewpoint, BSHS info. 16 Editorial Filming for The Tables Turned at the Osler-McGovern Centre, Green College, Oxford I It is with great pleasure that I assume the In Victorian Britain, thousands of people were the Spirits’ of attending a séance in the early role of Viewpoint editor. Many thanks to turning tables. Participants at séances across 1860s, ‘The Tables Turned’ deployed the my predecessor Rosemary Wall for all of the country heard long-departed voices, appealing topic of supposed supernatural her help and advice. levitated musical instruments, and channelled activities to consider the scientific method, I hope that under my editorship View- unheard-of languages, breaching supposed and the province of the sciences. The students point will continue to bring you the latest barriers between the natural and the super- were asked to consider questions of observa- news of BSHS projects and initiatives, natural, soul and matter, the known and the tion, fact-making, objectivity and reasoning, advice for early career members, as well as unknown, the quick and the dead. Well-known as well as the relationship between expert reports and reflections on the wide range members of the scientific community, includ- scientists and the wider public. Building on of current history of science activities - ing co-discoverer of natural selection Alfred previous years’ success in using the role-play from books to exhibitions to television and Russel Wallace and chemist William Crookes, format, we decided the best way to introduce radio programmes - and on the history of were among them: active enthusiasts of these key issues would be by taking partici- science as an academic discipline. spiritualism, and regular séance-goers. Others, pants back in time. In this issue, then, we hear from the such as Michael Faraday, were more sceptical, BSHS Strolling Players about ‘The Tables and denounced this popular pastime in the Turned’, and see an exclusive extract from periodical press. Many fell somewhere in be- Dramatis personae its script; two new features are introduced: tween on a spectrum of beliefs. But how were the ‘Viewpoint’ opinion column, and the people supposed to judge what was going As in our previous play, ‘The Business of ‘object of the issue’; advice for going ‘from on, and who would be able to provide expert Bodies’, a short film is shown to open the PhD to book’ is dispensed; delegates guidance? Was the world of science able to drama, followed by a debate conducted ‘in report back from conferences at home and determine whether the events of the séance character’. ‘The Tables Turned’ begins with abroad; and ‘Steampunk’, ‘Micro Men’, and were real? supposed footage of a recent dinner-party medieval philosophy are all reviewed. For our third role-play drama, the BSHS séance, at which ‘Lizzy Lightman’, a medium, Contributions to the next issue should Strolling Players visited the world of Victo- had been subject to the investigations of be sent to [email protected] by 15th rian spiritualism and posed some of these James Wendall, a Tyndall-esque man of sci- April 2010. questions to an AS-level audience. Drawing ence. The séance participants gather, and join Melanie Keene, Editor on John Tyndall’s account in ‘Science and hands; furniture is shown to move; books to Continued on page 3 2 Viewpoint No. 91 An exclusive extract from ‘The Middleton [nodding and chuckling]: No they scientific man and corresponding member did not. They were most uncooperative! of the Royal Society, to address us. He has Tables Turned’ script, in which also conducted investigations into these so- Wendall and Brookes disagree Brookes frowns at the mocking tone. called spiritual phenomena. as to the causes of spiritual President: Apart from ‘spirit-rapping’, did you Brookes: I am most very flattered to be asked phenomena... witness anything else, Mr Wendall? to come and speak before you today. I wish to relate my findings of a year spent in the Scene: A meeting of the Guildford Literary Wendall: Later there was a large and sudden company of a medium. and Scientific Society, September 9th, 1869. movement of the table. The movement was The audience assembled are local men and real but I noticed that there were several pairs Wendall [snorting]: A year well spent, I’m women who are most interested in the latest of arms on the table and several pairs of legs sure! advancements in the arts and sciences. This under. I did not say what I thought might evening the Society will discuss a topic that really be happening. However, my request to He receives a ‘look’ from the President. has been in the periodical press for several sit beneath the table was declined. [Gesturing years and has provoked much public debate: excitedly] I did at one point grasp the table Brookes: Mr Wendall has stated that the table-turning. firmly between my knees and waited for the man of science must decide whether a thing Two distinguished men of science from the pull. When it came my knee resisted it and I is possible or impossible before examin- Royal Society will present their views on this prevailed against the spirit – an interesting ing any phenomena. I disagree. I feel it falls phenomenon. One of these men is famous in fact known only to the particular spirit and upon the scientific man to venture upon the press for his suggestion that table-turning myself until now. the enquiry with no preconceived notions is genuine. The other recently attended a whatsoever as to what can be or cannot be. séance and left with his sceptical views firmly President: I take it, then, Mr Wendall, that you I enter upon investigation with all my senses intact... were not convinced of the truth of spiritual alert and with a mind free of preconcep- communication? tions. Thus I embarked upon my own investi- Wendall: Madam President - I have re- gation of the séance room. I have concluded, ceived numerous letters from members of Wendall: I found no evidence of supernatural after numerous investigations, that the the public urging me to witness for myself spirits present in the room that evening. In ad- movement of things such as tables and the the events of the séance room. In these dition I am not at all convinced that some new production of sounds are fact. letters apparently rational people recount and previously unknown vital or motor force how they have been persuaded of the accounts for any rapping or table-turning Wendall [clearly outraged]: Fact! You claim to truth of phenomena such as table-turning effects. be a scientist and yet you vouch for the truth and spirit-rapping by the evidence of their of things that have no scientific explanation! own eyes and ears. In these letters they Brookes [good-natured if patronising]: With all ask whether in my opinion this is proof of due respect Mr Wendall, but that statement is Brookes: I have experienced them first-hand spirits from the afterlife communicating mere opinion on your part! You have placed and found no evidence of fraud. These phe- with the living. no evidence before us today to disprove the nomena are genuine in their occurrence. reality of these phenomena. If these things can be experienced then we President: And what do you reply? cannot deny them - even if they are things Wendall [a little surprised at such impertinence]: that cannot be explained by any physical Wendall [chuckling slightly]: The short [Emphatically] Look here – a scientist con- law at present known. A scientist must enter answer to this question is “no”. But I felt that sidering a question must set out beforehand into such questions with an open mind. Your as a scientist I had some duty to investigate with a clear idea of the naturally possible and prejudice has clouded your senses. You will any moving objects or unexpected noises impossible. We know, from scientific theory, not accept these phenomena as you do not for myself. So in August I attended a séance that some things are not possible - the world wish to... organised by my friend Mr Middleton. is governed by physical laws. Phenomena that cannot be explained by the laws of science, The debate continues... President: Could you relate for the benefit cannot really exist. of the Society your findings? Cloud: Oh what terrible arrogance! Wendall: Certainly. At this séance I recorded my careful observations of the room, the President: Are you suggesting that this me- demeanour of the medium and the guests. dium, Lizzy Lightman, is a fraud? When sitting around the table the medium instructed us to hold our hands together Wendall: Maybe. She may merely be deluded. whilst she [sarcastically] ‘called upon the She claimed at one point that the phenom- spirits’. ena over which she presides – table-turning A number of knocks were heard and and what not, are no more fantastic than the the medium told me this was the spirits magnetic forces I study in my laboratory. This communicating. I noticed the knocks came is patent nonsense. from one part of the room in particular so The medium ‘Lizzy Lightman’, whose sup- I requested the spirits move to a different President: Thank you Mr Wendall. I now have posed spiritualistic actions at the seance locality – they did not comply.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Millennium Technology Prize Laureate 2010 Professor Stephen
    1 (9) The Millennium Technology Prize Laureate 2010 “For his invention of the ARM microprocessor and its implementation on silicon chips. This invention has enabled the revolution in mobile electronics. To date, more than 18 billion ARM-based chips have been manufactured and are used in ubiquitous computing applications, such as mobile phones, digital photography and video, music players, fixed and wireless networking, automobiles and health care, benefitting a large number of people all over the world.” Professor Stephen Furber Professor of Computer Engineering, the University of Manchester, United Kingdom Born March 1953 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Timeline 1982 Acorn BBC Micro launched 1983 Acorn starts RISC Machine project with Furber as principal designer 1985 First ARM microprocessor produced 1987 ARM processor debuts as the first RISC processor for Acorn Archimedes desktop computer 1990 Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) spins out of Acorn and Apple Computers collaboration, Furber continues his research of low power computing as a professor at University of Manchester. 1998 ARM listed on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Over 50 million ARM powered products shipped. 2010 20 billion ARM based chips manufactured Creator of the ARM microprocessor The 2010 Millennium Technology Prize Laureate Steve Furber is the principal designer of the ARM 32- bit RISC microprocessor, an innovation that revolutionised mobile electronics. The ingeniously designed processor enabled the development of cheap, powerful handheld, battery-operated devices. In the past 25 years nearly 20 billion ARM based chips have been manufactured. You may never have heard of ARM microprocessors, but probably use at least one every day. They tick inside our mobile phones, mp3-players, video recorders and home routers.
    [Show full text]
  • GRADUATION 2014 Presentation Speech for Dr Hermann Hauser For
    GRADUATION 2014 Presentation speech for Dr Hermann Hauser for the honorary degree of Master of Arts of the University honoris causa Chancellor, When Hermann Hauser became a Fellow of the Royal Society, he was described as a Science Entrepreneur, whose ventures had been at the forefront of UK innovation. Above all he had been an inspiration for generations of entrepreneurs who had been directly involved in many companies, providing enthusiasm, mentoring and financing leading to technology based wealth creation. It sounds admirable but rather like a modernized version of the list of Ciceronian virtues carved on an 18 th century tombstone. We get a better sense of our Honorand from Micro Men, the affectionately comic drama about the British home computer boom of the early 80s in which the legendary inventor Sir Clive Sinclair battles it out with the founders of Acorn Computers – Chris Curry and Hermann Hauser. It is striking that Hauser still says that some of his best moments are when people come up to him in the street and say ‘Thanks for the BBC Micro.’ The BBC Micro, fondly known as the Beeb was indeed absolutely to educating the UK about the IT revolution. But, Chancellor, there is a great deal more to our Honorand. Under his guidance, Acorn spun out ARM, E-trade, Virata and Cambridge network. He spent some time as vice president of research at Olivetti and 1997 1 he founded Amadeus Capital Partners. I think what makes him really important is his understanding of the ways in which innovation, science clusters and venture capital should fit together.
    [Show full text]
  • OF the 1980S
    THAT MADE THE HOME COMPUTER REVOLUTION OF THE 1980s 23 THAT MADE THE HOME COMPUTER REVOLUTION OF THE 1980s First published in 2021 by Raspberry Pi Trading Ltd, Maurice Wilkes Building, St. John’s Innovation Park, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0DS Publishing Director Editors Russell Barnes Phil King, Simon Brew Sub Editor Design Nicola King Critical Media Illustrations CEO Sam Alder with Brian O Halloran Eben Upton ISBN 978-1-912047-90-1 The publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility in respect of any omissions or errors relating to goods, products or services referred to or advertised in this book. Except where otherwise noted, the content of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0). Contents Introduction. 6 Research Machines 380Z. 8 Commodore PET 2001. 18 Apple II. 36 Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81. 46 Commodore VIC-20 . 60 IBM Personal Computer (5150). 78 BBC Micro . 90 Sinclair ZX Spectrum. 114 Dragon 32. 138 Commodore 64. 150 Acorn Electron . .166 Apple Macintosh . .176 Amstrad CPC 464. 194 Sinclair QL . .210 Atari 520ST. 222 Commodore Amiga. 234 Amstrad PCW 8256. 256 Acorn Archimedes . .268 Epilogue: Whatever happened to the British PC? . .280 Acknowledgements . 281 Further reading, further viewing, and forums. 283 Index . .286 The chapters are arranged in order of each computer’s availability in the UK, as reflected by each model’s date of review in Personal Computer World magazine. Introduction The 1980s was, categorically, the best decade ever. Not just because it gave us Duran Duran and E.T., not even because of the Sony Walkman.
    [Show full text]
  • Museum-Piece Computers Programmed Into TV Show
    Haverhill Weekly News | Haverhill Jobs, Sports & Haverhill Property | Haverhill Wes ... Page 1 of 1 News Search: Advertise With Us Contact Us Login/Register News Cambridge News > Haverhill Weekly News > Museum-piece computers Print page Video/Audio programmed into TV show Picture Galleries Blogs Previous Polls Museum-piece computers programmed into TV Travel show Letters National News COMPUTERS from a Cambridge News Haverhill museum will star in a City Newmarket television show about the race to lead the Ely home computer Hunt/St Ives market. St Neots Royston In Micro Menon BBC Saffron Walden 4 tomorrow night, What's On alongside Martin Freeman of The Events Search Office, and Alexander TV Gossip Armstrong, half of TV Listings comic duo Armstrong Alexander Armstrong, left, and Martin Freeman in TV Pick and Miller, will be the BBC film 'Micro Men' Music Jason Fitzpatrick, Stage curator of the Centre for Computing History. Cinema The drama documents the rivalry between maverick visionary Sir Clive Sinclair Sport (Armstrong) and his former colleague Chris Curry (Freeman) as they go head to National Sport head to dominate the growing home computer market, with Sinclair's ZX Spectrum Business and C5 battling Curry's BBC Micro. Jobs Fitzpatrick plays David Johnson- Davies after he - and his 70s hairstyle - was an Events Diary extra at West Drayton filming the Acorn scenes. Lifestyle Messageboard Jason said: "It was a unique experience - just watch out for me dancing at a 70s- style party. On a more serious note, I also designed and built from scratch the Sudoku prototype BBC micro that is seen in the film.
    [Show full text]
  • NATIONAL LIFE STORIES an ORAL HISTORY of BRITISH SCIENCE Professor Andy Hopper Interviewed by Thomas Lean C1379/10
    NATIONAL LIFE STORIES AN ORAL HISTORY OF BRITISH SCIENCE Professor Andy Hopper Interviewed by Thomas Lean C1379/10 This interview and transcript is accessible via http://sounds.bl.uk . © The British Library Board. Please refer to the Oral History curators at the British Library prior to any publication or broadcast from this document. Oral History The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB United Kingdom +44 (0)20 7412 7404 [email protected] Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this transcript, however no transcript is an exact translation of the spoken word, and this document is intended to be a guide to the original recording, not replace it. Should you find any errors please inform the Oral History curators. The British Library National Life Stories Interview Summary Sheet Title Page Ref no: C1379/10 Collection title: An Oral History of British Science Interviewee’s surname: Hopper Title: Professor Interviewee’s forename: Andy Sex: Male Occupation: Professor of Computer Date and place of birth: Warsaw, Poland, 1953 Technology at the University of Cambridge; co-founder of Acorn Mother’s occupation: Father’s occupation: Dates of recording, Compact flash cards used, tracks (from – to): 17 th February 2010, 22 nd March 2010; 3 rd June 2010; 17 th September 2010; Location of interview: Cambridge Name of interviewer: Thomas Lean Type of recorder: Marantz PMD661 on compact flash Recording format : WAV 24 bit 48 kHz Total no. of tracks 7 Mono or stereo: Stereo Total Duration: 08:47:19 (HH:MM:SS) Additional material: Copyright/Clearance: © The British Library Board.
    [Show full text]
  • Documentary Film and the (Re)Production of the 1980S UK Game Industry
    Issue 04 – 2015 Journal –Peer Reviewed ALEX CASPER CLINE Anglia Ruskin University [email protected] Documentary flm and the (re)production of the 1980s UK game industry ABSTRACT As a medium older and more established than the digital game, flm has cer- tainly played a role in documenting its trajectories. Through audiovisual essays and narratives we can be introduced to game artifacts alongside the contexts of their creation, distribution and reception. The older medium avoids a problem of abandonware and emulation, whereby games are preserved but are devoid of the temporal specifcity and popular excitement ofen so important to their meaning. Yet there are always problems with such documentation; flm, with its limited capacity for immersion, can only represent and relate narratives about gaming. As such, it alienates viewers from the content and mechanics of such games, relegating them to the position of a passive viewer. This paper looks at three specifc attempts to explore the history of the UK game industry. Micro Men foregrounds a rivalry between two of the largest UK computer manufacturers, Sinclair Research and Acorn Computers. The flm abandons the traditional documentary format in favour of a dramatisation with some added archival footage. Of particular interest and irony is the extent to which the focus of the flm is on the competition to produce the BBC’s Micro project; while both the aforementioned companies were critical of the state broadcaster’s intervention, both competed for the contract mindful of the pub- licity and sure sales that would be associated with the project. Unlike computer development in the United States or Japan, British computer entrepreneurs relied on public funding even as they publicly denounced the concept.
    [Show full text]
  • RE-FRAMING VIDEO GAMES in the LIGHT of CINEMA Edited by Riccardo Fassone, Federico Giordano, Ivan Girina
    ISSN 2280-7705 The Italian Journal www.gamejournal.it Associazione Culturale LUDICA of Game Studies Games as Art, Media, Entertainment Issue 04, 2015 – volume 1 JOURNAL (PEER-REVIEWED) RE-FRAMING VIDEO GAMES IN THE LIGHT OF CINEMA Edited by Riccardo Fassone, Federico Giordano, Ivan Girina GAME JOURNAL – Peer-Reviewed Section Issue 04 – 2015 GAME Journal Games as Art, Media, Entertainment G|A|M|E is an international, peer-reviewed, free access games studies journal. G|A|M|E publishes one monographic issue per year A PROJECT BY SUPERVISING EDITORS Associazione Culturale LUDICA Antioco Floris (Università di Cagliari), Roy Menarini (Università di Bologna), Peppino Ortoleva (Università di Torino), Reggio Calabria IT & London UK Leonardo Quaresima (Università di Udine) HQ: Via Vittorio Veneto 33 89123 Reggio Calabria, Italy Offices: 52 Kelly Avenue, London SE15 5LH, UK EDITORS Marco Benoît Carbone (University College London), Giovanni Caruso (Università di Udine), Riccardo Fassone (Università In association with di Torino), Gabriele Ferri (Hogeschool van Amsterdam), Adam Gallimore (University of Warwick), Ivan Girina (University filmforumfestival.it of Warwick), Federico Giordano (Università per Stranieri di Perugia), Valentina Paggiarin, Justin Pickard, Paolo Ruffino (Goldsmiths, University of London / Art and Civic Media, Innovation-Incubator, Leuphana University Lüneburg), Mauro WITH THE PATRONAGE OF Salvador (Università Cattolica, Milano). Università di Cagliari Dipartimento di Storia, ASSOCIATED EDITORS Beni Culturali e Territorio Stefano
    [Show full text]
  • Steve Furber Interviewed by Thomas Lean
    IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL LIFE STORIES AN ORAL HISTORY OF BRITISH SCIENCE Professor Steve Furber Interviewed by Thomas Lean C1379/78 1 IMPORTANT © The British Library Board. Please refer to the Oral History curators at the British Library prior to any publication or broadcast from this document. Oral History The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB United Kingdom +44 (0)20 7412 7404 [email protected] Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this transcript, however no transcript is an exact translation of the spoken word, and this document is intended to be a guide to the original recording, not replace it. Should you find any errors please inform the Oral History curators. 2 British Library Sound Archive National Life Stories Interview Summary Sheet Title Page Ref no: C1379/78 Collection title: An Oral History of British Science Interviewee’s Furber Title: Prof surname: Interviewee’s Stephen Sex: Male forename: Occupation: Computer scientist Date and place of birth: March 21st 1953, Withington, Manchester. Mother’s occupation: Physiotherapist; Maths Father’s occupation: Mechanical engineer in Teacher the nuclear power industry Dates of recording, Compact flash cards used, tracks (from – to): 11 June 2012 (1), 20 August 2012 (2), 22 October 2012 (3), 9 November 2012 (4), 18 December 2012 (5). Location of interview: Interviewee's office, University of Manchester Name of interviewer: Thomas Lean Type of recorder: Marantz PMD661 on secure digital Recording format : WAV 24 bit 48 kHz Total no. of tracks 5 Mono or stereo Stereo Total Duration: 8:56:49 (HH:MM:SS) Additional material: Copyright/Clearance: Open; © The British Library Interviewer’s comments: 3 Steve Furber Page 4 C1979/78 Track 1 Track 1 To start off with I’d like you to very briefly introduce yourself, who you are, what you’ve done.
    [Show full text]