How Art Made The World

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-03-27 rating:
How religion made art make the world
I have to say at the outset that I've only seen one episode, the one about cave painting. I started with great enthusiasm but by half-way through I had lost interest - except for the pictures. The aspect that worried me most was the 'revolutionary, new' discovery about the meaning of early art, which relied entirely on the theory of one man, whose qualifications were never mentioned (unless I missed them). This revolutionary theory turned out to be that the art was inspired by religious experiences. Well, there's a surprise. Having discovered this (and there was some interesting footage about what the retina sees in trance states), the 'religious' aspects of it were glossed over as far as possible, whereas if given their full due, the title of the series should have been the title of this review. If, indeed, Spivey's theory is correct.

A rather scrambled section about the San bushmen was interesting, but the glaring omission, if Spivey really wanted to hear from people who still made this kind of art, was any reference at all to Australian aboriginal people. This was a huge gap which undermined any seriousness one might have felt belonged to Spivey's endeavour.

So, despite some useful footage, the very slanted, under-researched and narrow view offered, with not enough real experts or evidence, meant that it was impossible to take it seriously. Not only isn't Spivey Sir Kenneth Clark, he isn't Simon Schama or even Matthew Collings. An opportunity wasted.

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review by: date: 2007-10-12 rating:
Important Series - Highly Educational
This series really makes you think. It's a different take on art and why art is important to us all. I found that with each episode I was left with the clear understanding that I had actually learned something - the multidisciplinary approach really works too. Not every series does that for me. I found all the programmes interesting, educational and thought provoking. I highly recommend this important series to anyone, including those that believe they know about art.

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review by: Niklas B date: 2006-04-25 rating:
really great stuff
Im a proffesional artist and I must say I find this documentary really eye opening.
each episode is a completly diffrent view on art and there all very interesting.


review by: date: 2005-07-26 rating:
Simplistic but enthralling
This is great television, a real journey. Not since Kenneth Clark's epic televisual history of art, 'Civilisation', has there been such ambition and engagement with art from its inception and archaeological discoveries to the present day. It makes for fascinating television. While serious art students will find nothing new, for the general viewer and those with more than a passing interest in art history it provides arguments and conjectures concerning the 'why' and 'when' of art.

A few criticisms: Spivey, the presenter, presents some very personal views and it is clear that his favourite pieces are European, in fact Italian. Uncontroversial. More seriously, the tricksy editing and fancy photography sometimes works but is often too fussy. But it is never offputting, and we must remember this series is designed to have broad public appeal rather than sit in the Open University slot. All in all, a thrilling rollercoaster ride through milennia of art history, one that I will recommend to my (university) students as well as to my family.

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