Knit to This
The American Revolution
Listen, I know you don’t need MDK to tell you that Ken Burns has an epic new documentary on the American Revolution. You’re probably aware, you’ve probably even watched it.
But you do count on me to tell you if you can knit to something, and I’m here to report: yes, you can knit to The American Revolution. And enjoy it.
But just like the patriots, your path will be strewn with daunting obstacles such as lots of maps, detailed battle reenactments, and lyrical camera work that you don’t want to miss; you will need to look up from your knitting often. Just like the British, you’ll be irritated by the rebels—can’t they let you get to the end of your row? Must they interfere with your stitch count? No they can’t, and yes they must.
My solution to these challenges was to watch it all the way through the first time, and leave my knitting untouched in my lap for most of it. The American Revolution is like school—to get the most out of it, you have to pay attention. For me that attention was repaid with a rush of new-to-me information and a wholesale reframing of the war that resulted in the independence of thirteen British colonies in North America.
Hamilton it’s not. The revolution’s leaders’ motives were complex, and self-interest ranked right up there with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That does not detract from their achievement, in fact it makes it all the more remarkable and worthy of preservation. Humans, disappointing and wrongheaded as we may be, can get it together and do great things. We can live to fight another day, wiser the next time.
My second watching involved very little watching. I treated it as a podcast and mostly just listened. By listening as I knit, I absorbed a lot of information that I missed on the first run-through, and I also came to appreciate how well written The American Revolution is. It’s an excellent listen.
I’m not ready to let Ken Burns go, so now I’m halfway through 1994’s Baseball, a glaring gap in my education. Boy oh boy, it’s good, full of wild humanity and picaresque storytelling. It also proves that Burns’s themes in The American Revolution are not some new wokeness on his part. He’s been digging away, correcting what we thought we knew and giving us a fuller picture for a very long time.
Great recommendation Kay! I’ve been raving at everyone I know to watch this. Boy is it good! Like you said, very little knitting got done while watching, but I didn’t even mind! Also, Baseball is one of Burns’ best!! Enjoy! Thank you for the excellent post!
ok you whet my appetite for this one, Ken Burns’ documentaries are so good!
I wholeheartedly concur… it is fantastic and so fascinating (and yes, I learned so much!)
So well said Kay! I was riveted to my seat with that series. And will bring my knitting to my second long-winter’s-night viewing. (Was shocked recently to learn that George Washington died at 67. Don’t think that was in the parameters of Burns’ film. While Jefferson and Adams lived until 83 and 90, respectively. I think when we studied U.S. history in the Dark Ages, that didn’t register because as teenagers they were all lumped together as white-haired and OLD. I feel kind of sad for the guy.)
Washington died mostly because he insisted on telling his doctors how he should be treated (bled himself to death, actually). No one had the nerve to contradict the General/President when he kept insisting on one more blood letting.
Bleeding was considered the ultimate treatment!
Thank you for the reminder, Kay. I thoroughly enjoyed the series, especially the hope it provided. I was surprised to realize the scope of the Revolution. I never realized it touched so many parts of the world. Another Ken Burns success.
A coworker recently recommended this, so it’s been on my list for a quiet winter weekend. Thanks for the advice – I’ll pick an easy project to work on while watching!
The absolute best…with or without knitting while watching! Love Ken Burns…his voice interviews promoting the series were excellent as well.
You are so right about a “second watch” of the American Revolution series. I find that to be true for any of Burns’ productions – so much good information to absorb, and each time re-watched awards me with something I missed the first time. Thank you!
We have one hour and 17 minutes left to watch. There’s so much I didn’t know or have forgotten. And the voices — so good. I thought I was talking my husband into watching it with me, but that was only the first evening. We both are enjoying it so much.
As to wokeness, I think education is the ultimate woke, a gift Ken Burns has been giving us for a long, long time.
I trust your reccomendations, so have added this to the queue for a long winter’s watch. I grew up around Revolutionary War sites and their myths, and must set all that aside for the real deal. Or at least ‘realer.’
Unless I’m near death, or have had some sort of surgery that would prevent my knitting, I knit through everything I watch. So I do like to watch things more than once, and I always find new nuggets that I missed the first time.
I’m ready to start a new project- what a great suggestion to listen to it now that I’ve already watched it!
This documentary is a must – see for all Americans. I certainly learned a whole lot about how and why this country was formed. I don’t consider it “woke” to know the truth about our history. Better than believing myths and half truths. But yes, better to knit something very simple, because the whole story is quite complex.
I’ve listened to a podcast called Omnibus for many years now. It features Ken Jennings (yes, the Jeopardy! star and now host) and John Roderick, evidently someone well-known for being in the Long Winters, a prog-rock band.
Ken is leaving the show, and he gave a beautiful parting soliloquy, with “Ashokan Farewell” being played in the background. It was fabulous; very Mary Chestnut.
IFKYK
Thanks, Joann. That makes it even more ironically tragic.
Absolutely wonderful series. Also a great book published too. There is an older series on the Civil War that I can’t manage to find on PBS as yet but I did get a copy of that book in addition. Can’t knit in bed but I sure can read.
Happy Holidays to all!!
A fantastic companion read (or audiobook knit-to-this listen) would be the first two volumes of the American Revolution trilogy by Rick Atkinson. He is one of the incredibly engaging historians featured in the Burns series, and he has a true gift for making dense historical information approachable and relatable to anyone. The first volume is The British Are Coming, and the second volume is The Fate of the Day. Highly recommended!
I’ll put in a good word for Sarah Vowell’s books on early American History. She’s delightful, very funny comments at times. I’ve only done the audio versions of two so far: The Wordy Shipmates and Lafayette in the Somewhat United States, but plan on listening to more.
Picaresque!
Thank you for that word.
His Country Western Music also ranks right up there. It takes the visions we had creating this country and tells how we set it to music
Excellent recap on Ken Burns work. The American Revolution filming inspires me to explore more of America as the Carolinas and Virginia are so rich in Geography and history. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison’s homes are well worth a few days visit to visualize 1776 -1800 and appreciate flawed people who excelled.