Documentary

A series of documentaries, presented by Nigel Spivey - Cambridge professor. The theory underlying the series is that not only we make art because we are human, but we are human because of art. There is an important shift of focus there which makes and breaks the show. The first episode “More Human Than Human” is irreproachable. A delight to view. Presented with humor and astounding amounts of information that had surprises even for me, someone who has studied Art History for years.

From then on the dreaded academic vice of making the data fit the theory sets on. Every episode from here to the last has at least one moment where you want to argue with the script. For instance he implies that the desire to create images led to the development of agriculture as if someone could say: “Oh, we want to paint more, let’s invent the unthinkable, instead of going after the grain we will throw it in the ground at the right time of the year and it will grow.”, obviously it’s the other way around: the economic influence of the recently discovered agriculture - being able to get much more food with the same effort - liberated workforce to create more or better images.

For picky viewers it’s a 8 of 10, for normal people, probably a 9 of 10. Beautiful images, humor, plenty of facts, lots of great didactic ways to show difficult concepts. Makes a great addition to an art teacher or art enthusiast collection.

Episode List

1. More Human than Human - Why do we crave images of the human body that are so unrealistic?
2. The day pictures were born - When and why the first images were created.
3. The art of persuasion - How images are used to manipulate opinions and where did it begin.
4. Once upon a time - The history of the development of techniques to tell a story visually.
5. To death and back - Morbid images and their power.

Other Resources:

• KCET / BBC Co-Production 2005
• Presented by Nigel Spivey - contact his agent
• Website

Total Time: 1 hour each episode.

Recommendation: Very Good.