Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution
The knight is a popular mascot for athletic teams today. From Las vegas’ new National Hockey League team to so many college athletic teams to even high school and below, knights are used nationwide (and probably worldwide) as mascots. While they may call themselves knights, the teams that used the knight as their mascot are a far cry from real-life knights. One of the key elements that sets those teams apart from their real-life counterparts is their armor. Today’s “knights” use pads and other items to protect themselves from their opponents. Real-life knights used metal to protect themselves in life-threatening battle. Just last month, PBS and PBS Distribution released a new episode of its hit science-based series NOVA examining the knight’s armor in a new program called NOVA: Secrets of the Shining Knight. The roughly hour-long program is an interesting look at the protections used by real-life knights, and will appeal to military history buffs just as much as it will to history buffs in general. That is due in part to the program’s very topic, which will be discussed shortly. The program’s very presentation adds to its presentation. The information shared throughout the program rounds out its most important elements. It will be discussed later, too. Each element noted here plays its own important part in the program’s whole. All things considered, they make NOVA: Secrets of the Shining Knight a shining new program that history buffs and military history buffs alike will appreciate.
NOVA: Secrets of the Shining Knight is an interesting new offering from PBS’ long-running hit science-based series. That is due in part to its topic. The topic — that of the armor that protected real-life knights — is very directed and focused. Considering the program’s title, one would think that the program would, in fact, center on knights in general (their armor, weaponry and even their steeds and perhaps even their lives in general), not just their armor. Even with that in mind, focusing on knights’ armor and what made it so critical to their everyday life, is a topic that is interesting in its own right. It just would have been nice to have had a discussion on their weaponry since the progam’s central focus was knights’ armor. That aside, the discussion on the knights’ armor is still engaging in its own right and makes this doc worth at least one watch. The program’s presentation plays its own important part in making it worth at least one watch.
The presentation of NOVA: Secrets of the Shining Knight makes it worth at least one watch because it doesn’t just present the facts. Rather, it shows the process of how knights’ armor was made all the while explaining that the secrets of how it was made were not written down. That is a matter that will be discussed later. In a fashion similar to that of Mythbusters, the armor is even put to the test to see what it can withstand. There is even a segment in the program that shows how the intricate designs were laid into the armor. Hint: it involved a certain type of acid and some very time intensive work. Audiences will be intrigued to watch that process just as much as the tests to see how strong a knight’s armor truly was and is. Between those tests and the process of creating the armor, this program offers audiences plenty to watch. The information that is shared throughout the course of those segments gives audiences even more to appreciate.
The information that is shared throughout the course of NOVA: Secrets of the Shining Knight strengthens even more, the foundation formed by its presentation and its topic because so much of it is such a surprise. Early on in its run, narrator Jay O. Sanders reveals that trying to recreate knights’ armor of any kind is so difficult because the people who made the armor originally did not write down how they went about making the gear. That was, as Sanders states, because they wanted to keep what they did trade secrets. As a result, it was passed down orally from the master to student. It shows that those craftsmen treated their jobs with the utmost seriousness. It’s the kind of mentality that today’s harshest business people would appreciate. Another interesting piece of information that Sanders reveals is that armor was specifically fitted to its owner, including nobility and not just knights. Not only that, but it was apparently made in the same fashion as the day’s fashion. Between these facts and so many others shared over the course of the program’s roughly hour-long run time, audiences get plenty of reason to remain engaged in the program. When this is considered along with the value of the program’s very presentation and its topic, the whole of the elements makes the program overall one that is certain to shine for history buffs and military history buffs alike.
NOVA: Secrets of the Shining Knight is a program that is certain to shine for history buffs and military history buffs alike. That, as has already been noted, is due in part to the program’s central topic — that of knights’ armor. It focuses solely on their armor and no other aspect of the knight. While this sadly does leave audiences wanting a bit more, the clear focus on the singular topic is good in its own right. The program’s almost Mythbusters style approach is certain to insure even more audiences’ engagement and entertainment. The information that is shared throughout the program puts the finishing touch to its presentation. Each element is important in its own right. All things considered, it will be no secret that this program will definitely appeal to its target audiences. it is available now and can be ordered online direct via PBS’ online store. More information on this and other episods of NOVA is available online now at:
Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NOVApbs
Twitter: http://twitter.com/novapbs
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