FROM DOCTOR WHO AND HISTORY
The story is clearly influenced by Carson’s analysis in Silent Spring. for instance, the doctor describes the insecticide as killing “indiscriminately.” This was something Carson also warned about (indeed, the tenth chapter of her work is titled “Indiscriminately from the Skies”). Just as the Doctor and his companions make alerting the authorities of the eco-disaster that DN6 will cause their top priority (Wood and Miles 2006, 96), Rachel Carson wrote her best-selling book to alert the world to the eco-disaster that uncontrolled use of pesticides, such as DDT, would cause. Barbara and Susan both question the doctor on the ethics of killing creatures such as bees and worms. the doctor’s response, that both are vital for the growth of things, again echoes Carson’s when she variously describes the importance of living things, including bees and worms, which have both been affected by insecticide use (Carson 1962, 15, 63).
OTHER ADVENTURES DISCUSSED
“Battlefield.” 1989. Director: Michael Kerrigan. Writer: Ben Aaronovitch.
“The Beast Below.” 2010. Director: Andrew Gunn. Writer: Steven Moffat.
“Before the Flood.” 2015. Director: Daniel O’Hara. Writer: Toby Whitehouse.
“The Big Bang.” 2010. Director: Toby Haynes. Writer: Steve Moffat.
“Black Orchid.” 1982, Director: Ron Jones. Writer: Terence Dudley.
ABOUT DOCTOR WHO AND HISTORY
When Sydney Newman conceived the idea for Doctor Who in 1963, he envisioned a show that would entertain as well as educate. Historical adventures were part of his vision-the Doctor and his companions would visit and observe, but not interfere with, events in history. That plan was dropped early on. Not only has the Doctor happily meddled with historical events for decades, his adventures-on television, in films, novels, comics, books and games-reflect how we regard our own place in history. This collection of new essays examines how the Doctor engages with history and inspires reflections upon it history. Topics includes reconstruction of lost historical serials, reflections on Britain’s colonial past, the subversion of nostalgia for village life, the depiction of Norse myths, alternate history, and the impact of historical decisions on the present.
| Book Format | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 193 |
| Author | Fleiner, Carey, October, Dene |
| Publisher | McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers |
| Publication Date | August, 2017 |
| ISBN-13 | 9781476666563 |
| ISBN-10 | 1476666563 |
Available on Kindle
Doctor Who & History 