The Real Thing

Asking how you tell what's real and what isn't sounds like an obvious question. But in this series of six programmes, James Burke shows that the more you think about it the harder it is to answer. After all, what have you got, apart from your five senses, to prove those senses are giving you the real thing?

Documentary

The Real Thing

Documentary

Created By: James Burke
First Aired on: Nov 01, 1983
Popularity: 5.6583: 3 votes
Networks: (GB)
Production: BBC Studios (GB)
Status: Ended: Show Ended

Seasons & episodes

Total 1 seasons, 6 episodes

Season 1

Six-part series.

Aired 42 years ago

6 Episodes

Episode 1The Private Eye21 min
James Burke employs a detective to illustrate how the senses pick up clues from the outside world, how the brain solves the mystery and decides what is out there. Illustrates how easy it is to fool the best detective and asks: 'What is reality?'
Episode 2This Way Up21 min
James Burke goes to the top of the Blackpool Tower and turns upside down to discover how the ears talk to the eyes and how we know which way is down
Episode 3Time Out of Mind21 min
In order to answer the question 'When is reality?' James Burke finds himself in a Salvador Dali-like landscape and examines what motivates man, why light can never stand still and why one man's 'now' can be another man's 'then'
Episode 4The Memory Lingers On21 min
From the stage set of 'The Mousetrap', James Burke examines the memory and asks: does it stay the same, how does it influence everyday actions and is the script for the future already written - from memory?
Episode 5The View from Within21 min
Looks at the complexity of the brain handling the simplest activity. James Burke's consciousness steps out of his body for a while to demonstrate how it acts as 'Mission Controller' for his own private universe.