05-18-2023, 09:40 PM
There is a surprising amount of video-footage depicting daily life in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Much of it has been colourised and otherwise enchanced. Having not seen any of this footage until very recently, it truly feels like stepping into a time machine. I have collected the links to my favourite videos, as well as listed some observations.
(The sound is added for atmosphere, the original videos were silent.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqlFMdiSH3k Street footage from Paris.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20nFnLWQeHM England 1918, mostly soldiers returned from the war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA4u17XAF_A England 1918, more casual everyday activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6ZmevfcGwA German WW1 soldiers marching.
I hope to see what other observations can be made.
- Nobody is looking down at the ground while they walk. This may be caused by hats.
- There are a surprising amount of fat people, particularly adult women (Example at 3:10).
- It is quite charming when people notice the camera and smile. Some pose, they probably think it is taking photos.
- The procession in this video (6:10) have interesting physiognomy. For some of them, it's even comical how sour and priestly they look.
- Everybody seems quite relaxed and confident. The opposite of self-conscious. Look at how casual King George V is (1:55), and the people around him. If this scene were in a modern movie it would be depicted as far more formal, everybody would be stern and militant.
(The sound is added for atmosphere, the original videos were silent.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqlFMdiSH3k Street footage from Paris.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20nFnLWQeHM England 1918, mostly soldiers returned from the war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA4u17XAF_A England 1918, more casual everyday activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6ZmevfcGwA German WW1 soldiers marching.
I hope to see what other observations can be made.