Civilisations BBC 2

[eighthobstruction]

....your * fhg , what a good idea, for very many of this type of programme....I also wish whenever there was a year date, that it would be flashed on the screen for a few seconds....

[ardcarp]

I thought last night's Mary Beard episode was dire. And the camera direction - those backlit shots of windblown hair, chiffony scarves...

...not to mention the shoes. I've only just caught up with this episode, and can't help thinking how much better it would have been (some wisdom and insight there for the un-initiated like me) if MB had been a voice-over and not in-shot at all. At least we didn't have to see her flying/driving/on-the-train between locations. Can we hope the Beeb are going to drop that annoying tic from now on?

[Belgrove]

This week's episode was much better than the previous one, but a curate's egg nevertheless. The journey from China to Europe via the Islamic garden made for an interesting diversion, but I found the connections to what came after tenuous. Why no English landscape painting following the (fancifully interpreted) Dutch examples? Perhaps these don't conform to Schama's thesis that landscape is a metaphor for political unease, but then do the photographs of Yosamite? Probably it deserves another view to try and detect the connecting threads. I do find Schama's contortions before the camera rather distracting.

[eighthobstruction]

This week's episode was much better than the previous one, but a curate's egg nevertheless. The journey from China to Europe via the Islamic garden made for an interesting diversion, but I found the connections to what came after tenuous. Why no English landscape painting following the (fancifully interpreted) Dutch examples? Perhaps these don't conform to Schama's thesis that landscape is a metaphor for political unease, but then do the photographs of Yosamite? Probably it deserves another view to try and detect the connecting threads. I do find Schama's contortions before the camera rather distracting.

....Ah the Simon Schama's Arcadian Paradise Dreams : BBC2 presents Simon Schama in Spider- like- web- spinning- form (be careful when you see the thumb and forefinger come OUT then together SNAP, his personal particular eccentric narrow precise trap is SHUT, and he has you in his grasp Sucking Sucking Sucking you like the airy pavlova of his words, tying you up in a Gordian knot of erudition that only he is quick enough- SWORD SHARP- to cut before you realise it was twaddle.).

An Italian villa in the 16thC isn't Landscape yet it had more time spent on it "staring, staring feeling warm inside for ever" Yes the C16 Interior designers came in did a good job and Simon likes it.....he'd like to live there obviously licking the luscious candy lint off this and that with a fickle soul lost in the Romance of ....where ever it was in Italy.

Altdorfer : good painting....Has Simon been reading the gallery blurb....where does he get his imagination from....from his imagination of course ....and the spring in the back of his head which keeps making him SAY THINGS....the producer can't stop him WHO can stop him....I thought Altdorfer was aping the Chinese landscapists actually on a quick shuffty....
These programmes get the ol'grey cell[sic] moving- don't they....the stuff on Holland had a dubious feel to some it (don't ask me what) WORTH seeing just for that field of wheat in US....love to see that live. Also I liked the Voyager end....but what about Aussie Aboriginies, he only started in ??240bc....lots of other stuff going on previous to that before Architecture....but that didn't fit in with his power and hegemony speal.

Those like me who are following Mary Beards shiney pumps around the world will be pleased to know that she takes them off to go in the Blue Mosque and we get a full 3-4 seconds of them as Still Life, but it must have been filmed towards the end of filming as they are moist and tired looking....(well, perhaps they were tired from running around trying to find Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiores sandals)

[Richard Tarleton]

I thought Altdorfer was aping the Chinese landscapists actually on a quick shuffty....

That's what I was trying to say with "remarkable similarities of vision", perhaps more politely.....

But yes....

Having got the image of Mary Beard's moist pumps into my mind, it's going to be a job to shift it.

Perhaps like SJSM she should get a hat.

[greenilex]

Have to admit that arty TV is full of pretentious twaddle most of the time.

But it can be fun.

[Nick Armstrong]

....Ah the Simon Schama's Arcadian Paradise Dreams : BBC2 presents Simon Schama in Spider- like- web- spinning- form (be careful when you see the thumb and forefinger come OUT then together SNAP, his personal particular eccentric narrow precise trap is SHUT, and he has you in his grasp Sucking Sucking Sucking you like the airy pavlova of his words, tying you up in a Gordian knot of erudition that only he is quick enough- SWORD SHARP- to cut before you realise it was twaddle.)

Got the twaddle on at the moment, coming close to switching it off but thought I'd come here to see what people thought while SS burbles in the background accompanied by tintinnabulating musak....

[LMcD]

Thanks to numerous contributors to this thread who have, it appears, saved me from wasting my valuable time watching this series.

[Stunsworth]

Thanks to numerous contributors to this thread who have, it appears, saved me from wasting my valuable time watching this series.

Just for balance I’ve enjoyed it.

[gurnemanz]

Just for balance I’ve enjoyed it.

I have agreed with much of the criticism (and contributed some myself), but have still found enough of interest to make it worth watching.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have agreed with much of the criticism (and contributed some myself), but have still found enough of interest to make it worth watching.

Yes - that sums up my reaction, too.

[eighthobstruction]

....me too....As said worth it see in Eps3 that American wheatfield painting....hoping the third presenter is as good as he is in his other programmes, I have high hopes (and will know his name by the end of his pieces)....MB and SS have spent their lives holding forth and trying to stand out....I blame the producers for allowing something a bit tired to be made....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

....me too....As said worth it see in Eps3 that American wheatfield painting....hoping the third presenter is as good as he is in his other programmes, I have high hopes (and will know his name by the end of his pieces)....MB and SS have spent their lives holding forth and trying to stand out....I blame the producers for allowing something a bit tired to be made....

David Olusoga, 8thOb - the same chap who presented the rather wonderful A House in Time earlier this year.

[eighthobstruction]

....yes fhg thanks....I was tired and didn't feel like searching for it (and the Funeral Murders was starting/or dog needed to go out or something)....I'm almost sure DO will come up trumps, he he's a top act. I'm still intrigued by that 's' that made the programmes Civilisations, and the lack of any real foundation to the series and the card blanche (seemingly) given to SS/MB to create these odd lame (no other word for it) one offs almost....gummy....

[Nick Armstrong]

I have agreed with much of the criticism (and contributed some myself), but have still found enough of interest to make it worth watching.

I know what you mean. I persevered, and was glad to be reminded of the Dutch paintings and see the American ones, despite everything.