Talk:The First Eden

Untitled
Initial notes from DVD series.

Too many quotes
In order to keep some consistency with the other articles on David Attenborough's series, I do feel that this is getting to be nothing more than a series of quotes. There's nothing wrong with the odd quote here and there, but in general, the other articles are restricted to Attenborough's opening and closing speeches for each series. There should also be episode summaries of equal length and some background on how the series came to be made. (See Life on Earth for an example.) I will try and expand this article when time permits. Chris 42 (talk) 11:23, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

In addition, as the episode summaries seem to be nothing more than lists at present, I have tagged this article for a rewrite. Chris 42 (talk) 12:36, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Response to "Too many quotes"
The article requires expansion and development at this stage rather than a premature rewrite.

Clearly the article is at an early stage of development and would benefit from the inclusion of a background and episode summary sections consistent with the other Attenborough articles. The episode details (list) section requires improvement by tidying, sorting and by applying a consistent list formatting style across each episode (see Cosmos note below).

Episode summary and details sections are different but not exclusive as each has unique benefits.

A well written, clearly flowing episode summary provides a concise, insightful overview whereas an episode details section provides a list of main points that is as accurate a representation of the source material as possible. Summaries lack detail and inevitably have a viewpoint and exclusions, whereas a details list lacks an overview and thematic linkage. Stylistically these two techniques, when used together, can be either a combined summary and details for each episode or, preferably for clarity and consistency, separate sections with an episode summary section first followed by a episode details section.

Currently the episode details list section is unrefined and may ultimately be similar to the Cosmos: A Personal Voyage article episode details section where a consistent 12 point list applies to each episode. However the First Eden article would vary from the Cosmos article in that it would also contain, at least, an episode summary section consistent with the other Attenborough series articles.

Whilst the value of consistency is not without merit, a temporary sylistic stasis should not be allowed to hinder the further development of the Attenborough series of articles.

The appropriate question is whether these small number or volume of quotes are relevent or representative. These quotes summarise the main developmental points of each episode and the series and are placed within the context of the progression of Attenborough's body of work and viewpoint at this stage (1987) and across time and would increase accessibility by the reader by having a consistent, separate quotes section across the Attenborough article set. These quotes provide, in the authors original words, Attenborough's "lesson that the Mediterranean could offer to the world" and show the development of themes through the series; so rather than being a random list or somehow detrimental to the article, these quotes provide for an understanding of Attenborough's significant thoughts and insights, in his own words, and this 'Quotes Section' approach should  also be applied across his other articles in a restrained but considered and consistent manner. Whilst "the other articles are restricted to Attenborough's opening and closing speeches for each series" and this might be fine if he has nothing of significance to say in every or most episodes, which is in fact not the case, he does however make qualitatively substantive and significant commentary, and purposely so, across almost his entire portfolio of series and these are best expressed in his own original words.

--Theo Pardilla 05:36, 28 December 2007 (UTC)


 * "Summaries" and "Details" headings make for a cluttered article. I advocate an "Episodes" main section, a single subheading for each episode, followed by an opening summary paragraph, then the detail flowing on from that. This allows for both consistency and expansion. Chris 42 (talk) 22:27, 28 December 2007 (UTC)