Art

Video documentaries about all art forms

Nature and Us - A History through Art episode 3

Nature and Us – A History through Art episode 3

Nature and Us – A History through Art episode 3: In the captivating conclusion of the series, James delves into a century of art that mirrors humanity’s evolving relationship with nature. Over the last hundred years, we’ve experienced a profound shift—from an era where progress dominated, and nature was something to be tamed, to a renewed appreciation for its beauty. Post-World War II, the world witnessed a resurgence of reverence for the natural world, and today, artists are once again reimagining how we coexist with nature in the face of unprecedented environmental challenges. The film sets the stage by taking […]

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Nature and Us - A History through Art episode 2

Nature and Us – A History through Art episode 2

Nature and Us – A History through Art episode 2: James Fox takes us on a fascinating journey through history, using art to explore how humanity’s understanding of nature has evolved. From the refined art of the Song dynasty in China to the scientific advances of the Enlightenment and the rise of the industrial age, Fox illustrates how our relationship with the natural world has transformed over time. As we move through different eras and cultures, we see how humans have both admired and tried to control nature—a paradox that has shaped our interaction with the environment. The story begins

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Nature and Us - A History through Art episode 1

Nature and Us – A History through Art episode 1

Nature and Us – A History through Art episode 1: In the inaugural episode, art historian James Fox embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the ancient world, meticulously unraveling the narrative of humanity’s earliest interactions with the natural environment. Through an in-depth examination of prehistoric art, the advent of agriculture, the genesis of urbanization, and the rise of major religious traditions such as Hinduism and Christianity, Fox elucidates the ways in which our ancestors grappled with their place within nature, ultimately seeking to harness and control the formidable forces that shaped their existence. The journey traverses a diverse array of

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The Met episode 3

Inside America’s Treasure House: The Met episode 3

Inside America’s Treasure House: The Met episode 3: Autumn, 2020. The Met is open, but in a safe and very limited way. Visitor income helps keep the museum running, so times are hard. Since it was founded, like so many US arts institutions, the Metropolitan has largely been funded by benefactors. We visit Clyde B Jones III, the executive matching modern donors to exhibitions and events as the economy tanks.     Jones explains how hard it is to keep up the social links that the system depends on. He has, nonetheless, found it possible to drum up millions of

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Inside America's Treasure House: The Met episode 2

Inside America’s Treasure House: The Met episode 2

Inside America’s Treasure House: The Met episode 2: The outcry following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 has the Met, during lockdown, examining its record on inclusion and diversity, and realising it must change.     The Met’s 150th anniversary year has been derailed by Covid-19. Then in May 2020, the murder of George Floyd, only the latest in a litany of killings of African Americans by white police officers, forces America to confront, once again, inequalities in social justice. At the museum, the executive are examining their historical record on inclusion, exclusion and diversity, in art and

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Inside America's Treasure House: The Met episode 1

Inside America’s Treasure House: The Met episode 1

Inside America’s Treasure House: The Met episode 1 : The series begins in spring 2019, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art is in its pomp – the coffers full, visitor numbers are up and staff preparing to mark, in one year’s time, the museum’s 150th anniversary. The museum has long been planning a series of stand-out exhibitions and events. The art press gather for a breakfast in the American Wing sculpture court, surrounded by treasures reflecting the tastes of the philanthropist founders of the Metropolitan.     These were new-money industrialists and financiers, who believed that the lives of New

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Hemingway episode 6

Hemingway episode 6

Hemingway episode 6: Ernest Hemingway wins the Nobel Prize in Literature, but eventually is overcome by addiction, physical trauma and depression.     Ernest Hemingway is considered to be one of the great American writers, with his work remaining influential around the world. This documentary series paints an intimate picture of Hemingway the writer, whilst also penetrating the myths surrounding him to reveal a deeply troubled, controversial and ultimately tragic figure. The series combines a close study of the biographical events of the author’s life, with excerpts from his writings and the controversies in both his personal life and work.

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Hemingway episode 5

Hemingway episode 5

Hemingway episode 5: Reeling from his split with Martha, Hemingway attaches himself to the U.S. Army as it moves through Normandy and liberates Paris. After the war, he tries to start a new life with Mary Welsh but is beset with personal tragedies and professional mishaps. He publishes The Old Man and the Sea.     Ernest Hemingway is considered to be one of the great American writers, with his work remaining influential around the world. This documentary series paints an intimate picture of Hemingway the writer, whilst also penetrating the myths surrounding him to reveal a deeply troubled, controversial

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Hemingway episode 4

Hemingway episode 4

Hemingway episode 4: Inspired by the fight against Fascism, Hemingway reports on the Spanish Civil War. He also begins a tempestuous romance with Martha Gellhorn.     Ernest Hemingway is considered to be one of the great American writers, with his work remaining influential around the world. This documentary series paints an intimate picture of Hemingway the writer, whilst also penetrating the myths surrounding him to reveal a deeply troubled, controversial and ultimately tragic figure. The series combines a close study of the biographical events of the author’s life, with excerpts from his writings and the controversies in both his

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Hemingway episode 3

Hemingway episode 3

Hemingway episode 3: Having achieved a level of fame rarely seen in the literary world, Hemingway settles in Key West with Pauline Pfeiffer and spends his time seeking new conquests in the natural world – marlin fishing in the Gulf Stream and hunting in Africa.     Ernest Hemingway is considered to be one of the great American writers, with his work remaining influential around the world. This documentary series paints an intimate picture of Hemingway the writer, whilst also penetrating the myths surrounding him to reveal a deeply troubled, controversial and ultimately tragic figure. The series combines a close

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Hemingway episode 2

Hemingway episode 2

Hemingway episode 2: In Paris, Hemingway publishes In Our Time and The Sun Also Rises. He finds critical and commercial success with his second novel, A Farewell to Arms.     Ernest Hemingway is considered to be one of the great American writers, with his work remaining influential around the world. This documentary series paints an intimate picture of Hemingway the writer, whilst also penetrating the myths surrounding him to reveal a deeply troubled, controversial and ultimately tragic figure. The series combines a close study of the biographical events of the author’s life, with excerpts from his writings and the

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Hemingway episode 1

Hemingway episode 1

Hemingway episode 1: The great American writer, and the brilliant, charismatic and complicated man behind the myth. A host of stars read his work in Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s definitive portrait.     Ernest Hemingway is considered to be one of the great American writers, with his work remaining influential around the world. This documentary series paints an intimate picture of Hemingway the writer, whilst also penetrating the myths surrounding him to reveal a deeply troubled, controversial and ultimately tragic figure. The series combines a close study of the biographical events of the author’s life, with excerpts from his

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