Like many history buffs, I’m a sucker for documentaries. I may even be the only idiot to actually purchase them for my own video collection. That’s why I had a riot listening to Jon Culshaw of the BBC comedy show “Dead Ringers.” In this clip, he spoofs professor Simon Schama as he does his “A History of Britain” series based on his three books. I was a fan of the series, but I can see through the spoof what I couldn’t before: how documentaries can often over-simplify something very complex, or even make connections that simply do not exist.
Either way, for those familiar with Schama’s work, this is too funny. Enjoy. NOTE: The BBC is not allowing this video to be embedded. You can click on the video to see it on another screen.
On August 16, 1822, during its first cruise, the schooner USS Grampus encountered a Puerto Rico-based pirate ship flying Spanish colors and sailing under bogus privateer papers. The American ship quickly reduced the outlaw vessel to a floating wreck.Sailmaker Charles Cassell drew this plan showing the size and shape of the schooner's sails. More about t […]
Today’s Document from the National Archives
Spoofing History: BBC Spoof of Simon Schama
Like many history buffs, I’m a sucker for documentaries. I may even be the only idiot to actually purchase them for my own video collection. That’s why I had a riot listening to Jon Culshaw of the BBC comedy show “Dead Ringers.” In this clip, he spoofs professor Simon Schama as he does his “A History of Britain” series based on his three books. I was a fan of the series, but I can see through the spoof what I couldn’t before: how documentaries can often over-simplify something very complex, or even make connections that simply do not exist.
Either way, for those familiar with Schama’s work, this is too funny. Enjoy. NOTE: The BBC is not allowing this video to be embedded. You can click on the video to see it on another screen.
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Tagged as A History of Britain, BBC, Comedy, Commentary, Cultural Literacy, Dead Ringers, Education, England, European history, Great Britain, History, Humor, Humour, Ireland, Jon Culshaw, Media, Opinion, Scotland, Simon Schama, Social studies, Wales