How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard

This post has 11 comments with rating of 5/511

• 
  caesar963
  February 23rd, 2021
  

  

  Not too shabby. (Gombrich & Clark are superbly incisive also, so it doesn’t have to be an either/or)
  As with all aesthetic audio, it’s helpful to search for the images referred to, in order to flesh out the descriptions.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  Within
  February 24th, 2021
  

  @caesar963 This Audiobook meant to be supplementary to an Amazing Documentary Made by BBC called Civilizations where Mary beard goes to many places describing the art and reliefs. but due to timing and suggestive producing a lot of the original written commentary was left out from the documentary so in this u can have the whole picture if u watched the documentary first and then listened to this.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  Within
  February 24th, 2021
  

  

  Mary Beard is an amazing Narrator. and jodindy is this site Goddess. thank you so much!

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  caesar963
  February 24th, 2021
  

  That’s it; it was intended as a sequel of sorts to Kenneth Clark’s landmark Civilisation series from the ’60s (which was developed by David Attenborough).

  The new series had three presenters instead of one: Mary Beard, David Olusoga and Simon Schama. They didn’t want to centre on Europe so much, because Clark had done that already. So, it’s fairly wide ranging for cosmopolitan culture vultures. I think that to get the most out of the concept, the two series should be watched in conjunction.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  Within
  February 24th, 2021
  

  @caesar963
  I believe it’s more over a remake of the original Kenneth Clark series which was beautiful for its time but yet full of mistakes attached to eurocentrism swallowed by cold war agenda. it’s far more beneficial to watch civilizations 2018 version than Kenneth Clark with his anachronistic view, to really feel this book.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  caesar963
  February 24th, 2021
  

  Well, every presenter/author from every age will have some form of agenda (and opinions will often date). That’s what we always have to factor in.
  The art, architecture, and achievements discussed remain timeless, as do many of Clark’s observations. It’s a series that doesn’t resile from being highbrow, which is refreshing, as most arts and so-called “intellectual” programming nowadays assume their audience to be drooling trogs, with no attention spans whatsoever. Come to think of it…

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  learnaloud
  February 24th, 2021
  

  

  As it has been said before, “Come for the books, stay for the comments!” Thank you all for your comments. My plan now, watch all the series, read (listen) to the book. Cover all the bases. Thank you jodindy as always! Cheers.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  SoNoTe
  February 24th, 2021
  

  Oooh yes!!! This site’s goddess, Jodindy - that she is! Thanks again.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  Within
  February 24th, 2021
  

  @caesar963
  It is true, but some are more correct than the other.
  Kenneth Clark covered italy,france,england and then ended with USA as if its the role model of what civilization is and must be.Kenneth Clark show should has been called, west european art and philosophy after the renaissance. or in better science it must has been called western europe, the modernity question.but to call it Civilization that is completely misleading. Mary beard episodes are completely eye opening and beautifully told without adding too many questions to the listener the way Kenneth Clark has done in his shows.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  autechre113
  February 25th, 2021
  

  Cheers! Thanks alot!

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard
• 
  caesar963
  February 26th, 2021
  

  Of course, that’s ultimately a subjective judgment, and founded on wider experience. In actual fact, I think that the original series filmed in 117 locations in 13 countries. The East may have been closed to them due to the repressive regime which operated there. As far as the US, cultural vibrancy during the ’60s would likely have been the draw west. That, and in terms of achievement, it was the year of the Moon landings.

  As to the chosen title, David Attenborough suggested the theme and title of the show - the attainments and accomplishments of civilisation, and so on. In addition, it did begin its story in the Early Middle Ages, rather than the period following the latest Renaissance. Interestingly, the title did inform viewers that it was “A Personal View” - and Clark did observe, “I didn’t suppose that anyone would be so obtuse as to think that I had forgotten about the great civilisations of the pre-Christian era and the East. However, I confess the title has worried me.”

  Really, it’s a consideration of how civilisation can develop and change; and of necessity, it’s a selective opinion, rather than holy writ. For inst, we don’t even have a civilisation without Athens and Jerusalem, but that is outside the scope of what is encompassed. And if I insist on their inclusion, I’m essentially reviewing the piece based on what is not included - rather than how well the actual material in the show is evaluated.

  And that’s the key point: the indispensable criteria are whether a person truly knows their subject, and can communicate their knowledge well. If so, then, like a good professor, that is when they deserve our attention. I’ve been watching and reading, in particular, Schama, Beard and Clark for years, and on the knowledge, skill, and keen perception/insight level, they all pass the test. Ultimately, the area is art history: beautiful, significant, well-crafted objects. And oftentimes, subjective opinions. Whoever the person is, they’re bound to offend someone, or leave something out. It was a product of its time, just as anything said and done now will be reflected back upon in the future as sui generis to our time. Interesting stuff.

  How Do We Look: The Body, the Divine, and the Question of Civilization - Mary Beard

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