Civilisation EP2#1

Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation" - The Great Thaw - Lord Clark traces the sudden re-awakening of European civilisation in the 12th Century, from Cluny, through the work of Gislebertus at Autun, to it's high point; the building of Chartres Cathedral.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Kenneth Clark
• Chartres
• Cathedral
• Gislebertus
• the church
• Abbeys
• Cluny
• Moissac
• Vezelay
• Clairvaux

[nevillegibb]

Why are there not more people watching this? This is civilisation explained.  Lord Clark was a civilised human being and it is our privilege to watch, listen and reflect.

Neville of Benalla

[dsindc]

@nevillegibb What a great question. It's almost existential. I watched this series in the U.S. as a very small boy and found it riveting. I'm afraid the answer provides a sad commentary. Lord Clark challenges us to think, to experience the world in the context of history, experience and reason. Sadly it's much easier to live out our existence without ever experiencing an original thought. People find intellectual freedom very threatening.

[moggydave]

@theone1087 Clarke made clear that this was very much a personal account, and deliberately drawn from his own expertise and background, which was in Western art. The idea of doing a series on western art came first; the title 'Civilisation' came second, and Clarke states in the book accompanying the series that in many ways it's an unsatisfactory title.

[thejustnosy]

Clark did know he was missing stuff out. His own comment on the subject was that he did not "suppose that anyone could be so obtuse as to think I had forgotten about the great civilisations of the pre-Christian era and the east". Islam and the east were left out because there wasn't enough time,not because he did not know or care.. "The history of western European Christian civilisation through its physical arts" would have been a ridiculous mouthful.

[DrZenith]

@theone1087 Your comments about 'Civilization' are absurd. Clark is an art historian so naturally he's concerned with Western art and architecture. Islamic art is very limited because of the ban on presenting the human form in painting and statues. Also, even if the arab number system was adopted in Europe it must be admitted that modern civilization is a purely Western product. Science, medicine and modern technology are all the results of the Western freedom to think and to question tradition

[ammypam]

@nevillegibb Clark's own son, Alan,  was definitely not civilised. Look at John Pilger's interview with him on youtube.

[Dannys998877]

I am so sick of the all the blather about " Eurocentric". Of course it is! That's what this 13 part TV series was ABOUT...the history of Western Christian civilization after the fall of Rome, as described through its art. Lord Clark discussed this issue at length in his companion book to the series, and to some extent in the series narration itself. But a TV show has to have a relatively short title....not a paragraph of explanation. And it IS subtitled "A Personal View by Kenneth Clark."

[SHMUJEW]

there is and was no islamic civilization , ONLY BARBARISM

[NastevilsBack]

@theone1087 This is about Europe after the fall of Rome.  Don't be an Olbermann.

[jameswilper]

While I agree with you to some extent, theone 1087, there is indeed marked bias in this series. But I find it hardly surprising that a documentary series about Western civilisation focuses almost entirely on Western civilisation. A documentary on Islamic civilisation would probably also focus on Islamic civilisation. In order to satisfy your requirements of inclusion, the programme would need to last years instead of hours.