Civilization – The Skin of Our Teeth

Image by sc63 via Flickr

This was a huge BBC documentary when I was a kid in 1969.

Snapshot—the Beatles are close to breaking up; mankind was about to set foot on the moon for the first time; Kubrick’s 2001 seemed almost too good (and strange) to be true; the (now) politically incorrect Get Smart was the TV show of the day; FM radio was still cool, and “high tech” meant… well, let me think… that was so long ago I can hardly remember. A push button phone? Cassette tape recorders? IBM electric typewriters?

Some have accused Kenneth Clark of being racist and ridiculously selective in this series. But we might consider — for the last charge, anyhow — that he states the limits of his study very clearly in the companion book, Civilization, which closely follows the TV script.

As for the other charge. Well, let’s just say that he’s certainly not politically correct, from a 21st century yardstick. But the fact that this series was so incredibly well received (even the Queen of England loved it and consequently made Clark a Baron) seems to indicate that Kenneth Clark was nothing more (or less) than an effective spokesperson for the prevailing Western mindset of the time. He was also a gifted scholar.

If we isolate one or two of his statements here and there, out of the entire series, he might seem like a racist. But after watching the first three segments, I’ve found counter-statements that balance out or contextualize some of his seemingly racist opinions.

Also, KC says many times that we’re all creatures of opinion and never claims to be laying out some grand immutable theory.

I’m not defending his questionable statements. Just saying that, for the most part, he’s a product of early to mid-20th century thinking, not enjoying the wisdom of eternity. And he fully knows those limitations.

So watch this and decide for yourself.

Related articles

• Cameron’s U-Turn Causes Kenneth Clarke Some Pain (ranknews.wordpress.com)
• Is there life on earth after Attenborough? (environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com)
• NYT, Crowdsourcing and Cathedrals (laf.ee)
• Is there life on earth after Attenborough? (guardian.co.uk)
• Advanced Thinking (geopolicraticus.wordpress.com)

Jim Carrey denigrates Hinduism on SNL?

My latest #BubbleTweet –> Jim Carrey denigrates Hinduism on SNL? http://bbltwt.com/ujcvt—
Michael Clark, Ph.D (@earthpages) January 17, 2011

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Flintstones – Fred is a square

Flintstones – Fred is a square

just slightly ahead of my time…

just slightly ahead of my time…, originally uploaded by earthpages.

What’s the news? Well, today I worked like a beaver adding the very best news feeds available in all sorts of innovative categories. Check out the “News” tab at earthpages.ca and earthpages.org!

Rod Serling – Interview Pt 1

I never knew Rod Serling was this intelligent! Fascinating and candid account of the relationship between ads and TV.

Rod Serling – Interview Pt 1

Cylon’s despair

Cylon’s despair, originally uploaded by earthpages.

Sci-fi fans are all hip to the idea of human beings wondering if they’re cylons… but what about the other side..?

Original Creative Commons photo “Liverpool Street station crowd blur” by David Sim » www.flickr.com/photos/victoriapeckham/164175205/

Look familiar?

Dr. Seuss – The Zax

Pope Benedict XVI setting up exorcism squads…

Pope Benedict XVI setting up exorcism squads to fight rising

Is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?

Frank Zappa on Crossfire

Here he is, some 22 years later, still as vibrant and ripping as always. When I was watching this I felt like screaming out… REPRESENTATION REPRESENTATION… the word you’re looking for is REPRESENTATION… and it is not necessarily the same thing as ADVOCACY.

Still, I admire the way Zappa for the most part keeps his cool.

Even more interesting is how the American moral agenda has changed so much in just 22 years.

Mini-review: The Twilight Zone DVD Vol. 10

I’ve been battling a chest cold and not getting as much done as I’d like.

Luckily, just before catching the chill I’d been to the library and taken out a few Twilight Zone videos by Rod Serling.

Growing up in the ’60s I managed to see a few of these classic episodes, but not nearly enough.

What a great time to watch them!

Volume 10 of the multi-volume DVD series was perfect for my slightly feverish condition. All four episodes in this set are about time travel (one of my favorite sci-fi themes).

Anyhow, all were captivating but the real show stopper was an episode featuring Buster Keaton, who travels from 1890 (where the sequences are jumpy and silent) to 1962, where we hear the cinematic legend speak.

Not to be missed! Unless, of course, you already happen to be occupied in…

THE TWILIGHT ZONE!