Shostakovich - why is he famous? (2/6)

Free learning from The Open University http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/history-the-arts/history

---

Shostakovich - why is he famous? As World War II swept through Europe, a young Russian composer set out to win the fight with his piano. But is it possible that a piece of music was so powerful it actually ended the Siege of Leningrad? Did Shostakovich create the first Weapon of Mass Destruction?

(Part 2 of 6)

http://www.openuniversity.co.uk/shostakovich

---

Study 'The arts past and present' with the OU http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/aa100.htm

Explore qualifications in Arts and Humanities with the OU http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/arts-and-humanities/index.htm

---

Produced on behalf of The Open University Open Broadcasting Unit by 360 productions.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Shostakovich
• russian composer
• siege of Leningrad
• russian symphony
• World War II
• Stalin
• open university
• ou_aa100

[BrainiacFingers]

If I hadn't read "Open University" at the top of this page, I would have assumed this video was made for 5-11 year-olds. It belongs on BBC's 'Newsround' for children. Is this really the standard of Open University teaching? "Shostakovich - Why is he famous?" You've got to be kidding me, right?

[CinnAlla]

@BrainiacFingers You're absolutely right! And all that corny letters-wrong-way-round nonsense to look like a kind of Cyrillic! Feeble!

As an intro, maybe it serves a purpose, but I was directed here by the OU in an email relative to course I'm already taking!

[thatsafaceforradio]

I think they're trying to simplify it for people who aren't on the course yet so it doesn't overwhelm them, but I agree with @BraniacFingers, it's very over-simplified really.

[Buondelmonte123]

It's almost like a title of Seinfeld episode.

[Buondelmonte123]

I agree absolutely, who is this intended for? Aimed at, even? John Craven's Newsround could be more exciting than this.