Kenneth Clark - Hope in today's youth - 1969 - Civilisation

As he draws close to the end of his 13-part series, K-Clark compares the youth of his time favourably: as more educated than the "Top Men" of previous generations (who he proclaims were as "ignorant as swans"!!!); and sees their opportunities and character as proof that this time is not entering "a new age of barbarism" (as with the fall of the Roman Empire, leading to a period in counterpoint to his idea of western civilisation). This is despite clearly having the spectre of the recent rampage of Nazism looming large in his mind.

In short, between "...the isolation, the lack of mobility, the lack of curiosity, the hopelessness..." of the Dark Ages, versus the youth of the late-1960s being "...well-fed, ...well-read, ...bright-minded, ...curious, and ...critical", there is no choice. For him, these students are a clear sign of hope for civilisation as it stands (as the 1970s begins).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• kenneth
• clark
• civilisation
• civilization
• dark
• ages
• barbarism
• today's
• youth
• 1960s
• 1970s
• 1969
• 1968
• new
• education
• university
• east
• anglia
• hope
• student
• students
• post-WWII
• optimism
• curious
• critical
• bright
• informed
• alert
• hopelessness
• ignorant
• isolation

[MultiBubbles5]

It's so wierd when watching this thinking that I go to the university of East Anglia and it looks exactly the same as it does now in the 60s! I can even recognise trees!

[bikiniatoll]

Heh, how funny!

[TheMenghi1]

I couldn't disagree more concerning the premise that there is so much hope for tomorrow with today's youth. The great men of the past are not held up as laudatory today. Yes, we have libraries well stocked, ready access to computers, technology, etc, but how is that making this latest generation great or promising?

[bikiniatoll]

I'm afraid you'll have to take that up with K Clark.

[jofrad]

@stephendedalus07, I think by "Top People" before the war he was in the main referring to politicians, businessmen and professional people, not the aristocracy. Times haven't changed much. I know exactly how how feels.

[bikiniatoll]

@stephendedalus07  How donkey-like.

[arthurandroid]

@baudelaire123 It's in English. It's "the driving boy" from Benjamin Britten's "Spring Symphony". I'm not sure where you can find a recording however.

[bikiniatoll]

@dbcozy Haha! Go on...

[baudelaire123]

This is probably hopeless, but does anyone know the music from this clip? I mean the choral, maybe it's a Mass since it sounds like Latin

[MultiBubbles5]

It's so wierd when watching this because I go to the university of East Anglia and it looks exactly the same in the 60s as it does now! I agree with him. It was at this time that people were starting to question politicians rather than just sit back and many more women were focusing on their career rather than being a wife and mother. The late 60s and 70s was a time when younger people were starting to speak up more for what they believed in, i.e. gay pride.