Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: Heroic Materialism"

"Bright-minded young people think poorly of existing institutions and want to abolish them. Well, one doesn't need to be young to dislike institutions. But the dreary fact remains that, even in the darkest ages, it was institutions that made society work, and if civilisation is to survive society must somehow be made to work.

At this point I reveal myself in my true colours, as a stick-in-the-mud. I hold a number of beliefs that have been repudiated by the liveliest intellects of our time. I believe that order is better than chaos, creation better than destruction. I prefer gentleness to violence, forgiveness to vendetta. I believe that in spite of the recent triumphs of science, men haven't changed much in the last two thousand years; and in consequence we must still try to learn from history. History is ourselves."

Lord Kenneth Clark

In this conclusion of Lord Clark's landmark "Civilisation" series, he examines how the heroic materialism of the past hundred years has been linked with a remarkable increase in humanitarianism. The achievements of engineers and scientists - Brunel and Rutherford, for example - have been matched by those of the great reformers like Wilberforce and Shaftesbury.

All 13 episodes of this magnificent view of Western Christian civilization are available on this blog. The series is a labor of love by a gentleman who clearly saw dark clouds gathering. May his remarkable reflections inspire us all to treasure and defend the enormous patrimony we have received.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: The Fallacies of Hope"

In this twelfth episode of "Civilisation," Lord Clark describes the progressive disillusionment of the artists of the Romantic movement through the music of Beethoven and the poetry of Byron.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: The Worship of Nature"

In this eleventh episode of Lord Clark's personal look at Western Civilization, he examines how people in 18th century England turned from religion to a belief in the divinity of nature.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: The Smile of Reason"

From enlightenment to revolution and republicanism - Lord Clark traces the ideological journey which led from the great palaces at Blenheim and Versailles to Jefferson's Monticello.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: The Pursuit of Happiness"

In this ninth episode, Lord Clark reflects on the nature of 18th century music, the work of Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart, and - after discussing the painter Watteau - considers that some of its qualities are found in Rococo architecture.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: The Light of Experience"

In this eighth episode of Lord Clark's "Civilisation" series, he examines the revolutionary change in thought that replaced Divine Authority with experience, experiment and observation.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: Grandeur and Obedience"

In this seventh episode of the classic series, Lord Clark examines the Rome of the Counter Reformation and the work of Michelangelo and Bernini.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: Protest and Communication"

In this sixth episode of Lord Clark's classic documentary, "Civilisation," he examines the effect of the Reformation in 16th century Europe.

Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation: The Hero as Artist"

In this fifth episode of Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation," he examines "The Hero as Artist" and looks at how Pope Julius II sponsored men like Michelangelo and Raphael.

Sir Kenneth Clark's Civilisation: Episode 4, "Man: The Measure of All Things"

In this episode, Lord Clark visits Florence, Urbino and Mantua to reflect on the centuries of Renaissance civilization.

Sir Kenneth Clark's Civilisation: Episode 3, "Romance and Reality"

In episode 3 of our continuing series, Clark journeys from the Loire through Tuscanny and Umbria, to the cathedral at Pisa, as he explores the apirations of the later Middle Ages in France and Italy. Previous episodes may be seen here: Episode 1, Episode 2.

Sir Kenneth Clark's Civilisation: Episode 2, "The Great Thaw"

Continuing the superb "Civilisation" series, Episode 2 traces the sudden re-awakening of European civilization in the 12th Century, from Cluny, through the work of Gislebertus at Autun, to it's high point; the building of Chartres Cathedral. Our posting of Episode 1 is available here.

Sir Kenneth Clark's Civilisation: "The Skin of Our Teeth"

In our estimation, Sir Kenneth Clark's 1969 made-for-TV documentary, "Civilisation," is the finest program of its kind ever produced. In the first segment, "The Skin of our Teeth," Clark examines Western Civilization in the six centuries following the collapse of the Roman Empire. From the Byzantine world's Ravenna to Iona, the Holy Isle of the Celtic Hebrides, and Charlemagne's chapel at Aachen, he unravels the extraordinary story of how European thought and art were saved by 'the skin of our teeth'.

The program is timeless, and its insights seem even more poignant in our own day. Clark saw civilization threatened by a new barbarism in 1969. That threat is more imminent now; the barbarians are inside the walls and live among us. Christianity can and will endure in civilizations other than our own, but this brilliant and beautiful documentary distills the essence of all that is worth preserving in the civilization of the Christian West.

We hope to post future episodes when they become available on YouTube. A superb book which accompanied the series is available from Amazon.