Talk:James Burke (science historian)

older discussion
This is not exactly old: I believe Jame Burke also narrated the MacGillivray Freeman Film Speed. From http://www.amazon.com/Speed-IMAX-2-Disc-WMVHD-Monty/dp/B00022PZ1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1282445485&sr=1-1 : "Like any IMAX film, this popular 30-minute program suffers from home-theater reduction, but its crisp images and flawless audio (especially in DTS mode) provide adequate compensation as James Burke (lively host of the classic science/invention series Connections) narrates a brisk survey of speed, from the earliest push-pedal bicycle, to the Stanley Steamer, internal combustion engines (including a nod to pioneering hot-rodder Bill Vukovich), jets, rockets, and beyond." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.249.30.37 (talk) 02:54, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

Some update as to current scholarship would be useful. It's also hard to remember how innovative Connections was when it first appeared. Even a decade after it first appeared, it still seemed vigorous and new to audiences. Some compare and contrast and reaction stuff might be nice to add context. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.157.178.209 (talk) 6:28, 26 February 2006

Anyone have details about The Burke Specials TV series from the early seventies ? AtomBoy 01:23, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Actually that would have to be the LATE 70s. Definitely post-Apollo. There were six 30-min shows (possibly 2x6, I can't exactly remember) -- the format was a audience show, in the round, only semi-scripted (cue cards instead of teleprompter). Each show had a science-based theme and a very popular approach. One that I particularly remember was on the theme of attraction between the sexes, with amusing and revealing audience participation. Two or three producer/writers were on the team. I worked as producer/director with JB on many shows in those days, but not that particular series. El Ingles 15:47, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

The Burke Special is my favourite of all his shows. It ran from 1972 to 1976. Why is it not listed in the main article? By the way, it was one of the featured shows on TV 73 - the Defining Shows on BBC4 on 6 April 2006, and repeated on 19 April. Grant 21:04, 10 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Because noone who knows about it has written it in yet! go for it ;-) --Quiddity 19:01, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Sorted. Grant 23:04, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

"The Neuron Suite" was not, in fact, a series. It was a single documentary which won several awards. I know, 'cuz I produced it. I made a slight edit. El Ingles 00:21, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

What does he think of Wikipedia??--Deglr6328 10:47, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

"British"
Is James Burke in fact "British?" He was born in northern Ireland. The Oxford English Dictionary describes British as such:

''2. a. Of or belonging to Great Britain, or its inhabitants. In the earlier instances only a geographical term adopted from Latin; from the time of Henry VIII frequently used to include English and Scotch; in general use in this sense from the accession of James I, and in 17th c., often opposed to Irish; legally adopted at the Union in 1707. Now chiefly used in political or imperial connexion, as the British army, British colonies, British India, etc., British ambassador, consul, residents, etc.; also in scientific and commercial use, as British plants, British butterflies, British spirits.''

My emphasis. It seems, if his nationality is to be given at all, that he should be described as Irish rather than British.

Irish is described as such:

''Of persons: Of, belonging to, or native to Ireland; orig. and esp. used of the Celtic inhabitants.''

He's Irish, isn't he?Larry Dunn 14:48, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

No, the adjective Irish is reserved for citizens of the Republic of Ireland, a.k.a. Eire. Technically you have a point, and this is certainly confusing. The term Great Britain excludes Northern Ireland, The United Kingdom includes it, and The British Isles includes it and Eire, being purely geographical not political. El Ingles 15:46, 3 January 2007 (UTC)


 * "Is James Burke in fact "British?" He was born in northern Ireland."


 * Burke is British because he was born in Northern Ireland. He is also Irish. Being British and Irish isn't mutually exclusive (consider English and British; Scottish and British; Welsh and British). The sub-nationality "Northern Irish" is usually used to differentiate from the citizenship of the Republic of Ireland, which is described as "Irish". The adjective Irish is most definately not reserved for citizens of the Republic of Ireland.


 * The Oxford English dictionary is using the technically incorrect, but more colloquial term, "Great Britain" in place of "United Kingdom". -- Mal 23:23, 30 June 2007 (UTC)
 * "Republic of Ireland, a.k.a. Eire."
 * You should learn the names of the country you are referring to - particularly if you're going to lecture us on what is technically correct or 'colloquial'.
 * They are "Ireland" and "Éire". 'Eire' is an archaic form of the verb 'to arise'. You can check this in the membership lists of the UN, the EU and in the constitution of the state. Don't quote Wikipedia to me as it's not a primary source.
 * I'm not going to get involved in the discussion as to what Burke's nationality is but I think a statement on it should be supported by some proper sources as to his preference - given that this is enshrined in the Good Friday agreement.78.17.245.25 (talk) 78.17.245.25 (talk) 02:00, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

Depends whether you believe that Northern Ireland should be part of Britain, or part of Ireland. Personally, I would say he was Irish. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.75.31.17 (talk) 11:36, 5 January 2008 (UTC)


 * No it does not depend on that. The law is quite clear since the Good Friday Agreement - it's a matter of the individual's preference.78.17.245.25 (talk) 02:18, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

Is is an old argument that can only really be confirmed by checking the (metaphoric) colour of his passport. If it is green he is Irish and was probably born in Derry If Blue he is British and probably born in Londonderry.

It is also a hornets nest best left unstirred.

However he made his name on the BBC and not RTE - so is professionally British. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Arachrah (talk • contribs) 21:53, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

Surely this is another case of a false dilemma caused by different technical/legal and colloquial usages of the same word. A person born in Northern Ireland (not of foreign parents) is legally British and will hold a British passport unless they have taken steps to change their legal nationality. A republican from Northern Ireland who aspires to see that territory become a legal part of the Irish Republic and no longer part of Britain may consider himself and refer to himself as Irish but that is a political/personal preference and not a legal fact. In a Wikipaedia biography 'nationality' should surely be stated as the accepted legal nationality; with, where relevant, an additional statement such as (Irish nationalist, ethnic Irish, Irish speaker) etc. etc. There doesn't seem to be any reason to think any of this is relevant to the person who is the subject of this article in the way that it might be to say, Gerry Adams.Erwfaethlon (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 09:16, 12 July 2009 (UTC).

There is no such thing, as stated above, as a 'legal nationality'. What is legal is your 'citizenship'. You can be of Irish nationality whilst being legally a British citizen. Nationality and citizenship are not necessarily one and the same thing. Unless there is evidence of Burke's own preferences on the matter, it might be better to remove the reference to his 'nationality' from the article. 94.193.240.11 (talk) 14:30, 7 April 2011 (UTC)

Degree/Training

 * I've heard that Burke's degree was in fact in Middle English rather than any science-based discipline. Would this be worth adding? Also, the article refers to him receiving his MA from Oxford University, which may well be correct but should perhaps also note that both Oxford and Cambridge Universities award MAs as a matter of course to graduates holding the lower BA degree after a period of time. Eg: I was awarded my MA by Cambridge three years after attaining my BA but without doing any further academic work in that period. Burke almost certainly will have obtained a BA some time prior to the MA - can this be confirmed? Sitush 12:20, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 16:05, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

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The Human League, The Black Hit Of Space
A minor mention somebody may wish to include - notable enough I think. He is mentioned in the final verse of the electronic track "The Black Hit Of Space", by the british band The Human League in their late 70s first incarnation, in the immortal line "Get James Burke on the case". "The Black Hit Of Space" is from the album "Travelogue", released May 1980. (And incidentally and amusingly, in a re-release there is also a track called "Tom Baker"). 118.209.61.205 (talk) 12:41, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Heck with it, I've added the core content of this note. Feel efree to eremove if you don't feel its enotable eenough. 118.209.61.205 (talk) 12:44, 19 January 2011 (UTC)


 * The band has an article here; The Human League, and the album that you mention also has one here; Travelogue — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.112.68.219 (talk) 18:54, 26 May 2011 (UTC)

Problem
I was just going to edit the James Burke article as I work with him

My intention was to inform the world how knowledge web is changing

We hope to have a Christmas launch

The idea James has needs a reboot as its been in dev for years so myself and a friend decided to quick-path

We're highly skilled developers — Preceding unsigned comment added by Peardox (talk • contribs) 09:51, 24 October 2011 (UTC)

YouTube
Is the YouTube channel link in the article to an official(ly sanctioned) resource, or is it promoting copyright violation? --Belg4mit (talk) 17:43, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
 * It's linked to at http://k-web.org/media-news/ ("Re-Connections" and "Connections 1") so I believe it falls under the category of "officially sanctioned". –Quiddity (talk) 21:22, 21 December 2013 (UTC)

Minor edit
Under: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Burke_%28science_historian%29#Biography

Part of the fourth paragraph reads: "...most-watched PBS television series to that time." I'm fairly certain this should read either: ...most-watched PBS television series up to that time. or ...most-watched PBS television series at that time.

I'm unsure which is correct, but it seems confusing as written. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.253.125.129 (talk) 19:14, 11 March 2015 (UTC)

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"Predicted the Internet"
Quote: "Later, in contrast to this, he suggested in the conclusion of The Day the Universe Changed that a worldwide revolution in communications and computer technology would allow people to instantaneously exchange ideas and opinions (that is, he predicted the Internet)."

This is a bit of a stretch. That was in 1985. The Internet already existed then; it just wasn't wasn't a household word. Usenet was already used for exchanging ideas around the globe. Internet Relay Chat (IRC) was only four years away from being developed. 216.31.219.19 (talk) 20:52, 27 May 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
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Dates for Tomorrow's World
Anyone got a source for Burke's work on Tomorrow's World? This article has 1968–69 but the programme's article has 1965–1971. --Wire723 (talk) 09:06, 18 August 2018 (UTC)

Private Life
I take it he does have one, and doesn't simply inhabit some monastic cell? Not that I'm nosy (OK, I'm nosy) but being as he's such a Renaissance Man, surely we should describe the complete circle of his character; so as to achieve, as far as possible, the entire holos of the person. Nuttyskin (talk) 14:27, 25 January 2019 (UTC)


 * I have a little personal knowledge of this but since I would not be able to provide any citations I will not be adding it. Stu (talk) 15:20, 25 January 2019 (UTC)
 * You can discuss things here on the talkpage, within the limits of good taste and respect for the person, even if refs cannot be found to add to the article. Reify-tech (talk) 20:04, 28 March 2019 (UTC)
 * WP:BLPTALK says no, you can't. Qwfp (talk) 20:12, 28 March 2019 (UTC)

2019: Connections revival coming
In 2019 the change in America's habits which started with content streaming on cheap, flat wide-screen TVs has moved James Burke's shows to the center. Currently, Netflix, Hulu and company are starving for content. People run through an entire season of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in a week-- the equivalent of a feature film and three sequels. Burke's multi-episode genre is the most fashionable and most in demand. At the same time, STEM has pushed the humanities to the sidelines. Burke is poised for a major revival. And well deserved! Profhum (talk) 06:47, 27 April 2019 (UTC)


 * If you have a reliable source for that, it could be added to the article. I'm not seeing anything about it, though. Matt Deres (talk) 14:41, 29 April 2019 (UTC)

Does James Burke speak French?
In the late 80s when living in France I saw the series The Day the Universe Changed on French TV, of course in French. Did James Burke narrate this himself in French? To my ear at the time I thought the French narrator got his tone or voice very well and realised later that more simply it might just have been the man himself. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.7.94.190 (talk) 16:56, 12 May 2020 (UTC)