The Crisis in the Media

How the English world of the media viewed the Suez Crisis you can greatly observe in the BBC mini series “The Hour”.

This series not only amazingly transports the zeitgeist of the 50s through a great deal of décor, costume and people smoking loads of cigarettes but also communicates a detailed historical knowledge of the political situation in the country at that time.

Anthony Eden being the prime minister, problems of censorship and soviet spies against the background of the cold war feature in this incredibly witty, eloquent and self reflexive BBC production.

The interesting thing about this is that you see the political events from the perspective of intelligent investigative journalists who want to find out the truth, whatever the cost. Also interesting: how the events in Egypt were percieved by fast news programmes who had to deal with it real quick and had to draw their conclusions from it. Nasser’s famous architect speech, simultaneously being translated as given, was recieved with horror and shock and the news programme knwe that they would have to take action somehow.

If you are interested in history, the media and smart puns this is definitely a great series to watch.

Interesting fact: 1956 you get frowned upon if you say “swimmingly”.