A Brief History Of The Future

A four-part examination of the way past generations have viewed the future.

Everything that can be invented has been invented"" observed one not very far sighted future watcher.

These historical investigations into how previous generations saw their futures in terms of thought and belief, technology, culture and politics often demonstrated amazing lack of foresight.

Written and presented by Mark Lawson.

Producers: Steve Shepherd, Anne Marie Cole

Devised by Nick Baker

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970705]

A four-part examination of how past generations have viewed the future. 1: When Did the Future Begin? Mark Lawson looks at how the concept of the future has developed. Producer Steve Shepherd Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970705]

Unknown: Mark Lawson

Producer: Steve Shepherd

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970706]

Repeated from yesterday 4pm

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970712]

Mark Lawson presents a four-part examination of how past generations have viewed the future.

2: The Lack of Foresight Saga Producer Anne-Marie Cole Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970712]

Unknown: Mark Lawson

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970713]

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970719]

A four-part examination of how past generations have viewed the future. 3: 1984 and All That. Mark Lawson looks at how the ideas of novelists and film-makers have affected the future.

Producer Anne-Marie Cole

Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970719]

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970720]

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970726]

The last of four programmes looking at how past generations have viewed the future. You Will Never Have It So Good Mark Lawson explores the misuse of the future for political ends. Producer Anne-Marie Cole Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970726]

Genome: [r4 Bd=19970727]

When Did The Future Begin?

19970705

19970706

In the first programme, Mark Lawson looks at the way the concept of the future itself has developed.

The Lack Of Foresight Saga

19970712

19970713

Mark Lawson looks at how science, medicine and technology affected the way that people envisioned the future.

1984 And All That

19970719

19970720

Mark Lawson looks at how the imaginations of novelists and film-makers of the past have affected the expectations of the future.

04 LAST

You Will Never Have It So Good

19970726

19970727

Mark Lawson explores the use and misuse of the future for political ends.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970705]			A four-part examination of how past generations have viewed the future. 1: When Did the Future Begin? Mark Lawson looks at how the concept of the future has developed. Producer Steve Shepherd Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970705]			Unknown: Mark Lawson Producer: Steve Shepherd
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970706]			Repeated from yesterday 4pm
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970712]			Mark Lawson presents a four-part examination of how past generations have viewed the future. 2: The Lack of Foresight Saga Producer Anne-Marie Cole Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970712]			Unknown: Mark Lawson
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970713]
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970719]			A four-part examination of how past generations have viewed the future. 3: 1984 and All That. Mark Lawson looks at how the ideas of novelists and film-makers have affected the future. Producer Anne-Marie Cole Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970719]
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970720]
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970726]			The last of four programmes looking at how past generations have viewed the future. You Will Never Have It So Good Mark Lawson explores the misuse of the future for political ends. Producer Anne-Marie Cole Repeated tomorrow 8.30pm
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970726]
	Genome: [r4 Bd=19970727]
01	When Did The Future Begin?	19970705	19970706	In the first programme, Mark Lawson looks at the way the concept of the future itself has developed.
02	The Lack Of Foresight Saga	19970712	19970713	Mark Lawson looks at how science, medicine and technology affected the way that people envisioned the future.
03	1984 And All That	19970719	19970720	Mark Lawson looks at how the imaginations of novelists and film-makers of the past have affected the expectations of the future.
04 LAST	You Will Never Have It So Good	19970726	19970727	Mark Lawson explores the use and misuse of the future for political ends.