Kenneth Clark's Civilisation

The opening 6 minutes of "The Skin of our Teeth", the first episode of Kenneth Clark's 1969 series "Civilisation: A Personal View". Now available on DVD at http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/A...

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[Sir Church]

Civilisation could never be created today. In "The Skin of our Teeth" Clark says designs in celtic illuminated manuscripts are far more elaborate than those in Islamic art. Could you imagine the BBC allowing that kind of statement today? Moreover Clark casts the Christian church as a civilizing influence. I love this series because one could never hear such honest statements in our modern Politically Correct world.

[mawooshen]

To be honest, 1969 had its own "political correctness" that was just different to the one prevalent in the UK now.

ie you could say some things then that you would get castigated for now, and vice versa.

Some or many elements of the current political correctness are disingenous, hypocritical and infuriating, but on the whole I reckon there's considerably more broadcasting freedom (in terms of opinion and ideas) now than in 1969.

[mdcory3470]

It's a shame that no one has posted J.M. Roberts' The Triumph of the West.

[Sawrattan]

My favourite thing about this? Unlike most history documentaries today, there are no irrelevant shots of Clark getting on a bus or eating an ice cream.

[nellcooper]

Actually, he was referring to not only Communism, which was making large parts of Eastern Europe extremely ugly at the time, but the rise of anti-intellectualism and "Hippie" culture that was promoting things like "happenings" and "whatever gets you through the night" as art — which eventually led to dissected cows being sold at high prices in the name of art. While he's reactionary, he at least stands for a reasoned and knowledgeable basis for art appreciation.

[John K Lindgren]

kiitos

[kevinjjfr]

Clark later converted to the Catholic Church btw.

[Peter Yard]

They are more elaborate. Is it better art? Well it depends on which works you are talking about. The Book of Kels is humbling. But the artwork of some mosques in Isfahan is so sublime it takes the breath away. Which is better, I have no idea.

[dgmcl3284]

Civilisation and Cosmos are the greatest documentaries ever created. 26 hours of TV time very worth watching!