This Is Civilization

  • Published 8 years ago
  • Not Rated

In ‘This Is Civilization’, Mathew Collings analyses how our world has been shaped by the cultures of the past and personally selects the greatest artistic moments and monuments from history in his quest. He travels across Europe, Egypt, China and the United States and offers a unique perspective on today’s social and political issues.

Each episode in this four-part series is 49 minutes long and addresses a defining moment in artistic expression and explores how that transition has shaped Western culture and thought.

Ye Gods: The first episode explores how the religious art of the past influences our beliefs about civilization today. Collings starts with the Greeks, who absorbed the awesome power of representations of the gods left by older civilizations, particularly the ancient Egyptians, and the element the Greeks added that still amaze us today: lifelikeness.

Feelings: In this episode Mathew Collings examines the work of two great 18th century artists – David and Goya and looks at how art came to express our human emotions.

Save Our Souls: The third episode in the series explores how our ideas about art, nature and society were influenced by the industrial revolution, focusing on the visionary ideas of the British art critic John Ruskin.

Uncertainty: The final episode of Matthew journey tells the story of modern art and culture, from its beginnings in artists like Picasso, Klee and Mondrian, right up to the present day and it ends with the flourishing contemporary art scene in Beijing.

From Around the Web

Related Videos

Comedy
classic hollywood movie bloopers
youtube icon
01:29:43
Art +1

The period between 1930s and the 1940s is referred by many as “The Golden Age of Hollywood”. The style of the Classical Hollywood cinema was vastly influenced by the Rena...

  • 9,329
  • 6 years ago
  • Not Rated
Music
garbers garage door company
vimeo icon
19:21
Art +1

When a business is closing after 40 years, you just cannot believe it happens. We grow up with certain brands, with certain companies. They become part of our lives, and an integ...

  • 4,562
  • 6 years ago
  • 10(4)
Short
taj mahal history
youtube icon
10:03
Art +2

We all know the story of Taj Mahal. It has been told over and over. The modern city wonder, Taj Mahal was built by the emperor Shah Jahan as a gift for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal...

  • 7,147
  • 6 years ago
  • 10(1)
Short
The Zerega Project
vimeo icon
10:26
Art +2

Even if you have lived your entire life in Bronx, you probably haven’t seen it everything. Photographer Patricio Robayo manages to capture a piece of the Bronx that you pro...

  • 4,600
  • 6 years ago
  • Not Rated
Avatar

4,897 Videos / 18,576,954 Views
Related Articles
This is one of the 5 things you didn’t know about Thor, one of the most popular characters in the history and beliefs ...
  • 27,385
  • 6 years ago
In Schapiro’s words, he was fascinated by the “magic of photography in the dark room”. He was fascinated by the p...
  • 6,347
  • 6 years ago
The influence of Greek architecture is visible in Roman architecture later. During the Renaissance period, Ancient Greek...
  • 20,187
  • 6 years ago
When the term Mickey Mouse is brought up, people think of Walt Disney at first. But rarely someone thinks of Ub Iwerks, ...
  • 40,735
  • 6 years ago