Illuminations
@illuminations.bsky.social
Media producer of arts docs, screen performance; posts by John Wyver, Professor of the Arts on Screen, Univ of Westminster; broadcasting history, esp early TV, theatre, film, visual art
Images: Man w the Flower, ‘30 / de Stael, Le Saladier (detail), ‘54
Images: Man w the Flower, ‘30 / de Stael, Le Saladier (detail), ‘54
Pinned
Illuminations
@illuminations.bsky.social
· Jul 31
Magic Rays of Light
Magic Rays of Light is an original and ambitious history of the largely unknown early years of television in Britain. A detailed cultural study of the first dem…
www.bloomsbury.com
My book 'Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain' can be pre-ordered from Bloomsbury here, currently with discounts on the hardback, paperback and e-book versions.
Publication 8 January, just ahead of the centenary of television in Britain.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...
Publication 8 January, just ahead of the centenary of television in Britain.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...
Pausing new postings to the Illuminations blog today, while we migrate to a new hosting service...
November 11, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Pausing new postings to the Illuminations blog today, while we migrate to a new hosting service...
Reposted by Illuminations
Updated details for the Robert Vas symposium
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Robert Vas symposium, updated details - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some six weeks ago I posted a Call for Proposals for a one-day symposium about the films of the important documentary maker Robert Vas (above). My colleagues James Jordan and Eleni ...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Updated details for the Robert Vas symposium
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Updated details for the Robert Vas symposium
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Robert Vas symposium, updated details - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some six weeks ago I posted a Call for Proposals for a one-day symposium about the films of the important documentary maker Robert Vas (above). My colleagues James Jordan and Eleni ...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Updated details for the Robert Vas symposium
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Scheduling issues have meant that the symposium about the great filmmaker Robert Vas and the contexts to which his work contributed so significantly has been changed to Friday 27 March, and...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/robert-vas-s...
Reposted by Illuminations
The BBC is now in a fight for its life. It enemies will be happy www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC is in a fight for its survival
The BBC only has itself to blame for its handling of a serious error in a documentary on Trump. But its demise—as the US media landscape shows—would l...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The BBC is now in a fight for its life. It enemies will be happy www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Illuminations
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
To fix the BBC, focus on competence and cash
Corporation fails to learn from criticism, while politicians have consciously reduced its scope for quality journalism
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
Reposted by Illuminations
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Reposted by Illuminations
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
A Sunday dozen links, more or less, of interesting and challenging stuff that engaged me over the past week.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: As part of the overall re-boot of the blog, let’s see together whether it is interesting once again to share a dozen recommendations from my reading (mostly) and viewing (minimally)...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
A Sunday dozen links, more or less, of interesting and challenging stuff that engaged me over the past week.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
Had I seen it in time I would have added to today's Sunday Dozen this @nytimes.com report about the travails of Washington's Kennedy Center under Tr*mp, which is wry, darkly funny and deeply depressing - although ofc there are far, far hideous aspects of USA today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
The Kennedy Center Crackup
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Had I seen it in time I would have added to today's Sunday Dozen this @nytimes.com report about the travails of Washington's Kennedy Center under Tr*mp, which is wry, darkly funny and deeply depressing - although ofc there are far, far hideous aspects of USA today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Reposted by Illuminations
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: As part of the overall re-boot of the blog, let’s see together whether it is interesting once again to share a dozen recommendations from my reading (mostly) and viewing (minimally)...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
Reposted by Illuminations
Always a fine list. Some I’ve read/ watched, many not. All worth reading and watching. Welcome back.
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: As part of the overall re-boot of the blog, let’s see together whether it is interesting once again to share a dozen recommendations from my reading (mostly) and viewing (minimally)...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Always a fine list. Some I’ve read/ watched, many not. All worth reading and watching. Welcome back.
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: As part of the overall re-boot of the blog, let’s see together whether it is interesting once again to share a dozen recommendations from my reading (mostly) and viewing (minimally)...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
Reposted by Illuminations
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
Reposted by Illuminations
Really, really needed to get this down: my irritation and frustration with the recent BBC report 'Our BBC, our future' and its marginalisation of arts television, expressed here in language that is only marginally intemperate.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
'Please sir, I want some more' - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Three weeks ago the BBC released a report titled Our BBC, Our Future (link to the report’s home page) which collated responses to an online questionnaire earlier in the year. ‘We as...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Really, really needed to get this down: my irritation and frustration with the recent BBC report 'Our BBC, our future' and its marginalisation of arts television, expressed here in language that is only marginally intemperate.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
Really, really needed to get this down: my irritation and frustration with the recent BBC report 'Our BBC, our future' and its marginalisation of arts television, expressed here in language that is only marginally intemperate.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
'Please sir, I want some more' - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Three weeks ago the BBC released a report titled Our BBC, Our Future (link to the report’s home page) which collated responses to an online questionnaire earlier in the year. ‘We as...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Really, really needed to get this down: my irritation and frustration with the recent BBC report 'Our BBC, our future' and its marginalisation of arts television, expressed here in language that is only marginally intemperate.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/please-sir-i...
Wonderful article by Holland Cotter @nytimes.com about the re-opened Studio Museum in Harlem, which looks so interesting that I am almost tempted to plan to go again to NYC and the USA. Almost.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a... [gift link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a... [gift link]
Planting a Flag, and a Flagship, for Black Art
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Wonderful article by Holland Cotter @nytimes.com about the re-opened Studio Museum in Harlem, which looks so interesting that I am almost tempted to plan to go again to NYC and the USA. Almost.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a... [gift link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a... [gift link]
Reposted by Illuminations
The WAC is a hugely important resource for historians (I've made extensive use of it on multiple projects) and these hugely significant changes are an effective bar on access.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
The WAC is a hugely important resource for historians (I've made extensive use of it on multiple projects) and these hugely significant changes are an effective bar on access.
Reposted by Illuminations
I hadn't heard about this - the BBC is restricting access to its written archives. It feels like part of the bigger picture of shutting down anything that is a positive for producing and preserving knowledge in the UK.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I hadn't heard about this - the BBC is restricting access to its written archives. It feels like part of the bigger picture of shutting down anything that is a positive for producing and preserving knowledge in the UK.
Reposted by Illuminations
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
So gorgeous, both the interview and Fiona
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
‘I’m so not scary. But my features can be’: Fiona Shaw on Austen, Andor and Harry Potter
The actor answers your questions about slipping swearwords into Disney shows, breakfast with Terrence Malick and lunch with Richard Griffiths
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
So gorgeous, both the interview and Fiona
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
Reposted by Illuminations
Cakes by Wayne Thiebaud at Courtauld, Somerset House
November 6, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Cakes by Wayne Thiebaud at Courtauld, Somerset House
Reposted by Illuminations
OTD in early British television
After yesterday’s post about Television Comes to London, let’s stay in the first week of the official high definition television from Alexandra Palace, and turn our attention to the afternoon of Friday 6 November 1936.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
After yesterday’s post about Television Comes to London, let’s stay in the first week of the official high definition television from Alexandra Palace, and turn our attention to the afternoon of Friday 6 November 1936.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
OTD in early British television: 6 November 1936 - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: After yesterday’s post about Television Comes to London, let’s stay in the first week of the official high definition television from Alexandra Palace, and turn our attention to the...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 AM
OTD in early British television
After yesterday’s post about Television Comes to London, let’s stay in the first week of the official high definition television from Alexandra Palace, and turn our attention to the afternoon of Friday 6 November 1936.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
After yesterday’s post about Television Comes to London, let’s stay in the first week of the official high definition television from Alexandra Palace, and turn our attention to the afternoon of Friday 6 November 1936.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
Reposted by Illuminations
Brilliant reporting from Simon Goodley and George Turner @theguardian.com about what appears to be abuse of the invaluable film tax credits. So important that this vital system is not abused by rogue producers.
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
Mediocre movies, millions in taxpayer cash: how scores of films from low-profile UK producer were funded mainly by public money
Creative industries are ‘crucial to the economy’ but film-making and tax have long had an uneasy relationship in Britain
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Brilliant reporting from Simon Goodley and George Turner @theguardian.com about what appears to be abuse of the invaluable film tax credits. So important that this vital system is not abused by rogue producers.
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...