Nation Building

I must admit that I am really looking forward to this to see their approach; if it is downright populist or aimed at architects and those with more than a passing interest.

It will be interesting to discuss the programmes on this board.

……i searched that site too….no date
so i wrote to both RTE and the email on the site before x-mas…..still no answer!!

Programmes:

Ourselves Alone – Looking at state building in Ireland from 1922 to the present day.

A Place of Worship – Will seek to appraise the quality of Irish church architecture and sacred art since the foundation of the state.

Terracotta or Plastic? – Will take a critical and challenging look at the way the visual arts has been marginalised, especially in mainstream Irish education.

On the Land – Examining the radical impact the changes in Irish agriculture have had on the architecture and built landscape of the Irish countryside.

Business or Pleasure? – Will look at the very different approaches taken to the design of the workplace compared to those for leisure and play.

Some Living Space – About domestic architecture that gives special attention to the experience of urban living in Ireland.

This Permissive Society – Will examine the history of public planning policy in modern Ireland.

Nation Building: Beyond the Millennium – Looking at issues such as conservation, government policy on design and architecture, and sustainability.

Nation Building starts on February 10th, RTÉ 1,7.30 p.m.

This programme series should be worth watching and at least you can turn off a bad programme, unlike bad architecture.

Perhaps they might be prepared to draw some conclusions concerning brown envelopes and the urban sprawl.

You know what I found surprising was the lack of promotion of the TV programme online. There is no mention of the show on the RIAI website and they’re supposedly one of the programmes advisors.

It was much better, less disjointed but I still dont like the voiceover- as it reminds me too much of documentaries made about Ireland for Irish-America.

The photography and presentation is otherwise excellent but how many people will have bene turned off by the first programme?

A pity if many have, as it was a chance of popularising architecture through the use of the most popular information medium available.

The third episode was very repetitive,
very repetitive,
very repetitive.

While we had scrolling graphics in episode one, we had talking heads in episode three. No only that but very little architecture. Only good thing was the reference to Eileen Grey ,and they could not produce even a photo of E1027

HA HA HA HAAAAAAAA

I saw it again last night. God it’s hopeless.
Is it just me or is the entire thing done in extreme close-up? Perhaps the series was shot [badly] in regular format and then they went “oh crap, it looks really boring – let’s cut off the top and bottom so it’ll be in cinescope!” And then we went “Oh crap, they’ve cut off the tops of people’s heads.”

There are [very occasional] potentially nice shots of lone corrugated steel sheds but the cameras too close and not even centered!??!? Eh? Was the crew blind?
They must have been – everytime they shoot one of the Nation’s Buildings… a bleeding great tractor rolls past it! Oh look another tractor… the grand finale was a shot of a totally dull structure with about 4 tractors obscuring it. Bravo.

Oh yes, and containers of shite trundling along the streets. I said “hey look – it’s another big load of shite” everybody laughed at the irony. The cows arses were also quite tremendous. The edit suite: “Hey, get this! Why don’t we… now stick with me on this… why don’t we put a shot of a building just here I think we’ll get a nice juxtaposition? No, to hell with it – put in another COW’S ARSE.” Genius, Mr. DeMille, sheer genius.

What on earth is that opening title supposed to be?!?!?!?

Can you imagine for one minute what the BBC could do with this subject?

I must say, RTE has a dreadful TV comedy record but no more! Let’s hope next weeks is an improvement.