How Art Made the World
How Art Made the World is a BBC documentary series presented by Dr. Nigel Spivey, looking at why humans developed imagery or visual art and how visual art has influenced society. The series consists of five episodes, each of which deals with a different theme of visual art: the first episode "More Human than Human" looks at why humans, throughout human history, are obsessed with images of the body that are so unrealistic; the second episode "The Day Pictures Were Born" reveals how the very first pictures ever made were created; the third episode "The Art of Persuasion" tells of the role of imagery or visual art as a political tool throughout human history; the fourth episode "Once Upon a Time" is about the role of visual art in storytelling; and the fifth and final episode "To Death and Back" is about the image of death that terrifies and yet reassures us.
| Episode 1 - More Human Than Human |
Episode 1 - More Human Than Human
This episode looks at why humans, throughout human history, are obsessed with images of the body that are so unrealistic.
Episode 2 - The Day Pictures Were Born
This episode reveals how the very first pictures ever made were created, and how images may have triggered the greatest change in human history.
Episode 3 - The Art of Persuasion
Imagery or visual art has been used as a tool for political leaders; to persuade, to propagandize, or sometimes to lie.
Episode 4 - Once Upon a Time
This episode reveals how the most powerful storytelling medium ever created exploits visual techniques invented by artists in the ancient world.
Episode 5 - To Death and Back
This episode is about the image of death that terrifies and yet reassures us.
| Related Links |
| How Art Made the World | PBS The epic story of how humans made art, and art made us human. Episodes. The Series. Learning Resources. |
| History of art - wikipedia The history of art is the history of any activity or product made by humans in a visual form for aesthetical or communicative purposes, expressing ideas, emotions or, in general, a worldview. |
| Art of the Western World This is a documentary series presented by Michael Wood, exploring magnificent masterpieces of the Western world in their cultural and historical settings. |
| Art Across the Ages This is a survey of Western visual art through history from the prehistoric cave painting of hunting scenes to the startling perspectives of Postmodern paintings. |
| The Tribal Eye This is a seven-part BBC documentary series presented by David Attenborough, exploring the emotions which lie behind the masks and decorations of primitive people. |
| Around the World in 80 Treasures This is a 10-part BBC documentary series presented by Dan Cruickshank, exploring eighty beautiful and precious man-made objects in the world. |