Conference sponsored by The Science Museum, British Society for the
History of Science and the Institute of Contemporary British History
25-26 June 1999
"Radar, antibiotics, jet aircraft and British advances in nuclear research
had created an industrial revolution all over the developed world." -
Harold Wilson
The term 'Defiant Modernism', it is argued, describes well a historical
epoch of enormous change as the technologies developed during the
Second World War were exploited in war and thereafter adapted for
civilian use. The period can be seen as stretching from the Munich crisis
of 1938 to the student uprisings of 1968.
It saw World War, the Cold War, retreat from Empire, cultural
competition between Europe and America, and cycles of economic
depression and prosperity.
New technologies were developed, such as radar -which underpinned an
electronic revolution- and penicillin -which led to a new era of medicine.
The computer was born, and nuclear power seemed to offer energy
without cost. In the aerospace sector, the jet engine transformed civilian
and military aviation whilst rocketry inspired dreams of interplanetary
travel. Plastics gave the world a new look.
Social programmes were inextricably welded to the overall technocratic
aspirations of the State, and the experience of centralised direction
during the war suggested that they were achievable. In Britain it was felt
that if we could have a supersonic 1000 mph fighter then the country
could certainly also arrange decent housing for its people; the Welfare
State was an integral part of the nation's technologial and industrial
programme.
As history of science and technology grapples with more and more
recent periods, the post-war decades call out for study. The conference
will explore the technologies of the era and the appropriateness of such
master narratives as defiant modernism. It will also explore the literary
and media manifestations of its subject.
Treatments of the culture of technological innovation in Britain and in
other countries will be welcomed.
Conference organisers: Robert Bud ([log in to unmask]) and Tim Boon,
Science Museum
Expressions of interest from those wishing to present papers at this
conference should be sent by 18th December to Tim Boon
([log in to unmask]) (fax:0171-938-8050).
Robert Bud
Head of Research (Collections)
The Science Museum, London SW7 2DD, UK
Tel: (+44) (0) 171 938 8041
Fax: (+44) (0) 171 938 8050
http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/collections/staff/r_bud.html
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|