Turn of the century

[Segilla]

I'm sometimes confused over the use of the above phrase. What does it mean without making clear which century is involved? From a written BBC flyer:- Jonathan Miller discusses the relationship between visual art and madness in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century; Not having heard the broadcast yet, I suspect its era is late 19C - early 20C. Is that right?

[Lil O'lady]

yes, you are right in assuming he means 1899 - 1900-ish, often lso known as 'fin de siecle' - why use plain english when you can alienate the servants with foreign talk :)

I think you raise an important point though: westernised global society only appears to have reflected extensively on its 'recent' past in the 20th century, so in 1990 everyone was familiar with 'turn of the centiury' meaning 1899 - 1900. With the turn of a new century, the water is muddied. Turn of the century now quite validly means 1999 - 2000 ish.
People writing about more distant times would be careful to place the reader in a clear context before throwing in a phrase of this type.
But with Miller he's clearly alluding to the general nuttiness, drug-taking and arty set around in 'decadent' Vienna which included Schiele and Klimt and his barenakedladypaintings and psychedilic textures.

[VHG]

Is this perhaps an old TV program or book, maybe more than 10 years old?

If this program or book was made/written in the mid to late 1990s, then it would be obvious what "turn of the centruty" they were talking about, the 1899-1900 one.

But once you get into the 2000s then turn of the century becomes more confusing and I doubt anyone would use it in the first few years of a NEW century.

[Segilla]

This for tomorrow's programme on R4.
Front Row, 7.15-7.45pm
Jonathan Miller discusses the relationship between visual art and madness in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century; Mark Lawson meets writer Wilbur Smith; and a review of a satirical documentary film which questions religious faith