Civilisation: A Sceptic's Guide

[ardcarp]

This on Radio 4 today:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09sn1hj

David Cannadine expounded his views on 'civilisation', his main point (I think) being that our Western view of it is blinkered. Neither Gibbon's Decline and Fall nor Kenneth Clark's Civilisation came out of it very well!

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for the pointer to a programme I'd overlooked, ardcarp. There are so many interesting radio programmes both on Radio 3 and 4 I'm having a job keeping up! In a few moments (at 22.45 on R3) first in a consecutive series of The Essay on the subject of attention:

Madeleine Bunting begins a week-long exploration of why the concept of attention has become a major social concern. Attention, she finds, is now big business; where we cast our eyes on a computer screen - and for how long - has become a key* factor in advertising.

*No pun intended, one supposes.

Other themes of the daily series include multitasking, sensory overload, ritual and manipulation - all vital subjects for one such as me, having taken the idea that close sustained attention to the passing present, as provided by eg music, spectacle and mindfulness, all comprise experiences of the highest order.

Then there's Anne McElvoy's fortnight-long, daily 15 minute slot on British Socialism, over on R4, of which I've only heard one episode. Given what I'd always assumed to be Ms McElvoy's right-wing credentials she's not been making too bad a fist of the brief, though I'm willing to bet a lot of omission and oversimplification is being deployed.

[ardcarp]

Well thank you, SA, for drawing my, er, attention to that. I'll try and catch (up) them all.

[jean]

This on Radio 4 today:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09sn1hj

David Cannadine expounded his views on 'civilisation', his main point (I think) being that our Western view of it is blinkered. Neither Gibbon's Decline and Fall nor Kenneth Clark's Civilisation came out of it very well!

I think this was part of our being prepared for the new BBC2 series.

Which now has its own thread:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?18427-Civilisations-BBC-2

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for the pointer to a programme I'd overlooked, ardcarp. There are so many interesting radio programmes both on Radio 3 and 4 I'm having a job keeping up! In a few moments (at 22.45 on R3) first in a consecutive series of The Essay on the subject of attention:

Madeleine Bunting begins a week-long exploration of why the concept of attention has become a major social concern. Attention, she finds, is now big business; where we cast our eyes on a computer screen - and for how long - has become a key* factor in advertising.

I strongly wish to draw attention to this insightful and valuable series currently on Radio 4, of which the third in the series of 5 15-minute episodes had just been broadcast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09t2bhb/episodes/guide

Mention has been made of Matthew Crawford's book "The World Beyond Your Head", which ties together and concerns itself with many of the details germane to the programmes, and sounds well worth getting:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/books/the-world-beyond-your-head-how-to-flourish-in-an-age-of-distraction-by-matthew-crawford/2019721.article

Such a salutary welcome to have the train of ones own thoughts over many years about these and related matters confirmed and taken further.

[Lat-Literal]

I strongly wish to draw attention to this insightful and valuable series currently on Radio 4, of which the third in the series of 5 15-minute episodes had just been broadcast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09t2bhb/episodes/guide

Mention has been made of Matthew Crawford's book "The World Beyond Your Head", which ties together and concerns itself with many of the details germane to the programmes, and sounds well worth getting:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/books/the-world-beyond-your-head-how-to-flourish-in-an-age-of-distraction-by-matthew-crawford/2019721.article

Such a salutary welcome to have the train of ones own thoughts over many years about these and related matters confirmed and taken further.

I am not sure.

It is all very complicated.

I do have a number of thoughts.

However, I think the topic - and programme - deserve a separate thread.

[Lat-Literal]

Deleted.