Prompt Cast
The Disappointment and Decay of Society in the 20th Century
TLDR The speaker reflects on the disappointment and decay of society in the 20th century, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to prevent further calamities. The year 1922 witnessed significant events such as the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, the formation of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), the Irish Civil War, and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, marking the end of an era and the beginning of the modern world.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The speaker reflects on the disappointment and decay of society in the 20th century, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to prevent further calamities.
05:47
In 1922, America is politically impotent and isolationist, with notable events including prohibition, the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, and the rise of popular culture, particularly in Hollywood with Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, and Douglas Fairbanks making significant contributions.
11:03
In 1922, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb generates a craze called Tutmania and marks the first mass media world event, while radio becomes a significant invention and cultural legacy of the year.
16:16
In 1922, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is formed as a monopoly licensed by the government, with the first regular radio broadcast taking place on November 14th, and the BBC faces criticism from Virginia Woolf for bringing high culture to the masses.
21:06
In 1922, the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson by members of the IRA in London triggers the Irish Civil War and marks a turning point in the negotiation process between the United Kingdom and the emergent Irish Free State.
26:29
In 1922, the Irish plenipotentiaries agree to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which grants self-governing status to Ireland within the British Empire, but Amon de Valera, the main figure on the Irish side, does not sign the treaty and campaigns against it, setting the stage for conflict within Sinn Féin and the IRA.
31:34
The British show restraint in Ireland after the killing of Henry Wilson, but eventually take action and the Irish Civil War begins, resulting in the capture of major towns by pro-treaty forces and the death of Michael Collins.
36:15
In 1922, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire marks the end of an era and the beginning of the modern world, characterized by the emergence of ethnically and faith-based nation-states and the process of population swaps, particularly between Greeks and Turks in the Near East.
42:11
In 1922, the Greeks invade Anatolia in an attempt to revive the Byzantine Empire, but they are defeated by Mustafa Kemal and the Turks, resulting in the burning of Smyrna and the death of approximately 100,000 people.
47:16
In the 1922 general election, the Tories win a massive victory with 344 seats, the Liberals are divided and the Labour Party comes second under its leader J.R. Kleins, marking the beginning of a shift in British politics.
52:11
The discussion ends with the question of how long the modern world lasted, with the general consensus being that it lasted until around 1965, but the idea of modernism was replaced by postmodernism, and the continuity of cultural and technological trends carried through until the fragmentation of global culture and the decline of the idea of a canon and a great tradition.
57:05
The modern world of 1922 was primarily viewed through a European and American perspective, but the present-day world is multipolar and unimaginable to those in 1922, with China, India, Japan, and Africa now playing significant roles.
Categories:
History
