Inside the Medieval Mind

Robert John Bartlett is a medievalist currently holding the position of Wardlaw Professor of Mediaeval History at the University of St Andrews' School of History.

Born on November 27 in 1950, he is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, specializing in medieval colonialism, the cult of saints, and England between the 11th century and the 14th century.

In 2008 he wrote and hosted a four-part television mini-series for The Open University broadcast by the BBC Four between April 17 and May 8.

Knowledge

In the first part Robert Bartlett investigates the world view as seen by the educated people of the Middle Ages between the 9th and 16th century, and the challenges brought upon them by the discovery of the world.

Sex

In the second part Robert gives us insights into how people of its time viewed love and marriage and experienced sexuality.

Belief

The Middle Ages (in Europe) are always depicted as dominated by the Christian religion. But what were the actual believes of the people?

Power

One of the major characteristics of this period was the strict social order set up by what is often called the feudal society. Robert Bartlett shows us his insights into the way the political and other order was maintained throughout the centuries and how it was transformed at the end of the Middle Ages.

Conclusion

Inside the Medieval Mind is one of the best introductions into the world of thought of an often misunderstood period - mistunderstood because it is so foreign to our own way of thinking at the beginning of the 21st century, more than half a millennium after the Middles Ages gave way to the Modern era.

Using real-life examples from ancient accounts, Robert Bartlett illustrates the medieval everyday world and contrasts it with the development of the best of the brightest at its time.

The best minds in theology and philosophy speak out, as do historians and commoners.

In almost four hours Bartlett displays the ways the average person feels about things and the best minds of its time reasoned about ideas. He never judges but tries to help us understand the basic frame of mind.

Links

BBC Four - Inside the Medieval Mind
OU on the BBC: Inside The Medieval Mind - OpenLearn - Open University
Inside the Medieval Mind (2008) - IMDb
Inside the Medieval Mind - DocuWiki
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Professor Robert Bartlett, University of St Andrews - School of History Staff Profile
Robert Bartlett - Wikipedia

Bibliography

Gerald of Wales
1146-1223

Published on June 10 in 1982
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Trial by Fire and Water
Mediaeval Judicial Ordeal

Published on October 16 in 1986
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The Making of Europe
Conquest, Colonization and Cultural Change
950 - 1350

Published April 1993
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England under the Norman and Angevin Kings
1075-1225

Published January 27 in 2000
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The Hanged Man
A Story of Miracle, Memory and Colonialism in the Middle Ages

Published February 2 in 2004
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The Natural and the Supernatural in the Middle Ages

Published March 17 in 2008
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Revised Editions

Gerald of Wales
A Voice of the Middle Ages

Published October 15 in 2006
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Search for Robert Bartlett on Amazon UK, Amazon France or Amazon Deutschland.

Doctor Who: Blink

Doctor Who

The Doctor is a time-travelling Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey and Doctor Who (you know, as in "Doctor... who?") is one of the longest-running television franchises in science fiction.

As a huge sci-fi fan I have, of course, heard about it but never seen an episode until maybe 2010 when I have seen a few episodes late night on France 4. The first impression was rather of some silliness but after a few episodes I got into the spirit and found an universe of intriguing ideas and gripping drama with some silly goofiness thrown in. Not every idea is great but what series can not be accused of that crime.

The first episodes I've seen (in French) must have been starring David Tennant but when I started watching in earnest I naturally began with the Ninth Doctor. But you'll always remember your first Doctor and my Doctor is and probably always will be the Tenth Doctor.

Regeneration

When Doctor Who was created in 1963, the character was meant to be an older man travelling with his grand-daughter both being humanoid aliens capable of time travel. By 1966 the need of re-casting the Doctor became apparent and in any normal show that meant either one of two possibilities. One could simply take a new actor and pretend nothing ever happened. Or one could basically do what is today called a reboot - recreate everything and pretend the previous series don't exist. In a rare case you could integrate the fact that the actor has changed by saying the character has undergone plastic surgery but this seems rare indeed.

Being an alien it was suggested that the Doctor could regenerate allowing for a new actor to take on the role with different looks and attitudes while keeping the continuity intact. This way over the years the Doctor has been played by eleven differnt actors (in the official canon) with Matt Smith playing the latest incarnation since January the First, 2010.

Blink

As I have said I'm still loyal to the Tenth Doctor who appeared in three series. While I generally prefer the first and the last of these three years the Third Series still features one of the best Doctor Who episodes, ever: Blink.

A young woman gets messages from the past and needs to sort it out in order to survive the deadliest (and probably most humane) assassins of the universe and help the Doctor.

Two things stand out in this episode. First, there are these monsters whose peculiar nature makes them more frightening than your usual I-rip-your-head-off-and-feed-on-your-blood monster of the week. Second, the Doctor is hardly seen and yet you feel his presence.

I have found a video clip on YouTube but please be aware that watching it before you've seen the episode might spoil it for you!

You can buy it on Amazon…

UK Version…

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