Dr. Jean Christophe MEYER

“Content in Motion-Curating Europe’s Audiovisual Heritage”2015 International EUscreen Conference

Warsaw, December 3rd – 4th, 2015

Histoire parallèle/Die Woche vor 50 Jahren  (La Sept/Arte 1989-2001) – Lieu de mémoire?

Outline Introduction

I. A Historian and Television Author Doing History with Moving Pictures

II. Parallel History, Crossed Perspectives and Shared Views

III. Designing an Attractive Program at Minimal Cost

IV. Overcoming National Cultural Barriers: Visions and Wishful Thinking

Conclusion

I. A Historian and Television Author Doing History with Moving PicturesProf. Dr. Marc Ferro (1924- )

Professor Emeritus at EHESS, Former Co-Director of the Revue des AnnalesAn Initial Specialist of the Russian Revolution of 1917

Filmography 1964. La Grande Guerre in Trente ans d’histoire, 1964, (Pathé

Cinéma/ORTF). 1965. Indochine, 1945, (PathéCinéma/ORTF), (Lost document). 1967. L’Année 1917: « L’Amérique entre en guerre » - « La Russie: Guerre et

Révolution », (ORTF). 1968. L’Année 1918, (ORTF). 1970. Lénine par Lénine, (Pathé-Cinéma/ORTF). 1975-1977. Images de l’histoire, 13 short movies (about15’ length): La Grande

Guerre; Le Nazisme; Le Marxisme; Cuba; La Révolte des peuples colonisés; La Chine et son histoire; usw. (Pathé-Cinéma/ORTF).

1980. Une histoire de la médecine, with Jean-Paul Aron, 8 x 52’, (Pathé-Cinéma/FR3).

1988. L’Histoire en une minute, with Pierre Gauge, (Memoria Produzione/Pathé-Cinéma/RAI).

I. A Historian and Television Author Doing History with Moving PicturesA Groundbreaking Article: « Le film, une contre-analyse de la société », Annales, Économies, sociétés, Civilisations, 28ème année, n°1, janv-fév 1973, pp. 109-124.

I. A Historian and Television Author Doing History with Moving Pictures

a Pathfinder for “ Cinéma & Histoire” “Monsieur Histoire Parallèle” for the large public

II. Parallel History, Crossed Perspectives and Shared Views

630 shows broadcast from Sept 1989 until Sept 2001

If the archive material made it possible, newsreels produced in directly opposed belligerent nations were aired in the same show.

Every week the public would see the newsreel material originally released in film theaters exactly 50 years before. Consequently newsreels of the second week of February 1942 went on air on Saturday evening during the second week of February 1992.

Each show lasted for about 55 minutes and was aired in Pre Prime Time or Prime Time often competing with variety and news shows.

Newsreels were systematically broadcast in original full length version with subtitles. Around 40 minutes per show were devoted to their vision.

The concluding debate between Ferro and his guest(s) lasted generally for about 15 minutes.

II. Parallel History, Crossed Perspectives and Shared Views

Main sources for the broadcast newsreels:Pathé FranceDeutsche WochenschauPathé Gazette LondonSoyouz Kino NewsNovostniParamount NewsNippon NewsGiornale Luce

II. Parallel History, Crossed Perspectives and Shared Views

Guests were generally scholars. (> 75%)

Many of them were French (cheaper for production), but Germans were more numerous (Von Thadden, Von Kageneck, Hudemann, Wenger, …), they were very often specialists of the history of French-German Relations.

Ferro also often invited British and American scholars (Daniel J. Borstin, Robert O. Paxton, Stanley Hoffmann), as well as Japanese and Russian colleagues.

Witnesses, Actors of the reported events were also invited …

III. Designing an Attractive Program at Minimal Cost

Available Audience DataSource: Hyperbase (INA)

Available Audience DataSource: Hyperbase (INA)

F Highest ratings

Smallest

ratings

Average

2001 0.80 % 0.20 % 0.50 %

2000 0.80 % 0.20 % 0.50 %

1999 1.00 % 0.10 % 0.60 %

1998 1.10 % 0.40 % 0.50 %

1997 1.10 % 0.30 % 0.60 %

1996 0.80 % 0.30 % 0.55 %

F Highest share

Smallest

shares

Average

2001 3.10 % 1.20 % 2.0 %

2000 3.10 % 0.80 % 1.95 %

1999 3.70 % 1.00 % 2.45 %

1998 4.10 % 1.30 % 2.15 %

1997 3.10 % 1.30 % 2.10 %

1996 4.30 % 1.10 % 1.95 %

IV. III. Designing an Attractive Program at Minimal Cost

Marc Ferro and his guest on the set of Histoire Parallèle during the last show (01/09/2001)

IV. Overcoming National Cultural Barriers: Visions and Wishful Thinking

“There is no such thing as a history of France, but there is a history of Europe”

Marc Bloch

IV. Overcoming National Cultural Barriers: Visions and Wishful Thinking Marc Ferro interviewing Michal Gorbachev in Paris (03/01/1998)

IV. Overcoming National Cultural Barriers: Visions and Wishful ThinkingMarc Ferro and Rudolf von Thadden with Gerhard Schöder

at the Federal Chancellery in Bonn (24/04/1999)

IV. Overcoming National Cultural Barriers: Visions and Wishful Thinking

Marc Ferro and his guest on the set of Histoire Parallèle during the last show (01/09/2001)

IV. Overcoming National Cultural Barriers: Visions and Wishful Thinking

Conclusion

With Histoire Parallèle, history became a subject open to post-modern innovation and in this case content curation did not primarily meant to foster patriotism and national identity.

Currently Histoire Parallèle’s lack of digital accessibility illustrates how an emblematic show is condemned to sink into oblivion despite considerable initial success.

Except for (media) historians ready to do research in Paris at INA or at the Documentation Center of the EHESS, Histoire Parallèle has become almost invisible since the last show was aired.

III. Designing an Attractive Program at Minimal Cost

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Ss9ydsFSk