The French Revolution: Tearing Up History

In this documentary filmed on location in Paris, Richard Clay argues that the French Revolution of 1789 was not quite as clear-cut in terms of its progress as might first have been assumed. While the aristocrat/ revolutionaries distinction was certainly important, the Revolution also marked a change in ideology, with a serious attempt to obliterate all symbols of the royalist/ aristocratic regime. The effect was rather reminiscent of the attempt two and a half centuries earlier to replace Catholicism with Protestantism in the United Kingdom : aristocratic symbols were defaced, pictures destroyed and palaces attacked. The whole idea behind the revolution was to bring a new broom in and sweep away the old in favor of the new. This kind of agenda has its sinister side too; for this strategy was precisely what the Nazis pursued when they came to power in Germany in the early 1930s. The program hence stressed the importance of the Revolution not only for an understanding of the past, but the present as well.

In structural terms, "Tearing Up History" followed a structural pattern similar to most contemporary documentaries, with an academic presenter occupying most of the shots and interpreting what viewers see. Clay did a competent job, although perhaps he should reduce the amount of talk, and thereby let viewers make up their minds on what they see for themselves. A television program is not a university lecture: sometimes just voiceovers will suffice (as Kenneth Clark discovered in CIVILIZATION, broadcast over forty years ago now).

This is certainly a good documentary to watch for all those fellow revolutionaries out there, who wish to implement positive change in their respective societies in a non-violent way. This includes challenging art, symbols and statues that enforce the status-quo - and replace them with new artwork - to further positive change and evolution in society; as was done during the French Revolution. In today's world, that would mean challenging oppressive symbols in Iran and China, for example - such as the statues of The Ayatollah Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini and Mao Zedong of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), for instance - which enforce the oppression and tyranny of the respective regimes. But once such symbols are replaced by more moderate and appropriate symbols and leaders, the stage is set for positive change and evolution in society....

But I want to emphasise here, that I'm not trying to trigger a revolution in Iran or China - even though both countries could use a bit of freedom and liberty, I think :) I'm just saying, that if there are revolutionaries out there, who wish to change stuff in their countries - in a non-violent and peaceful way - that's the way to do it, I think :) However, this being said, I'm definitely trying to trigger a revolution in my own home country - namely the United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland - and manifest equality and liberty in the land, so that the flame of freedom can finally burn brightly in Britain!

It should be noted, though, that this was not a French, but a British production - a testament of the mutual affection and love between France and the United Kingdom.

In the words of President Emanuel Macron: "I love Great Britain, I love its people. I have an overwhelming desire to have a government that wants to works with us in good faith [...] If we want to solve that question of migration between our two countries, which has become a humanitarian question, we need British re-engagement." And I'm quite sure that my dear friend and fellow Tory from the royalist/aristocratic regime in the UK - namely PM Boris Johnson - also sees it that way.

It is imperative that the UK coastguard does not abandon refugees in the Channel. Both Britain and France have moral and legal obligations with respect to search and rescue operations, and the idea that a boat in distress could simply be bounced between operators is shocking.