Summary
One of the weariest and most depressing of media traditions is the anniversary story. It relies on the notion that an event 20 years ago - "on this very day" - has acquired more significance, somehow, than an event that took place 19 years ago. It sanctions mass amnesia and it invests the calendar with spurious meaning.
We've all written the tale: 60 years since the battle of this; 100 years since the publication of that. For my sins, I once wrote a biography of R L Stevenson, the release of which hinged on the centenary of his death. The timing didn't make RLS a better writer; it didn't make Treasure Island a better book; but the expiry date of a genius was believed to aid my poor efforts. Bizarre.See the full content of this document
Extract
Bhopal's Not so Happy Birthday
Two Tone Britain (Channel 4, Monday) was a case in point. As a documentary on an episode in the history of pop it was fine. For the middle-aged men who are busy reforming their bands to cash in on a revived interest in British ska, it was useful. But consider: an hour-long film marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of what was, by an...
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