How Art Made the World: A Journey to the Origins of Human Creativity [Hardcover]

Nigel Spivey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0465081819 | ISBN-13: 978-0465081813 | Publication Date: November 28, 2005

In the late nineteenth century, the first discoveries of prehistoric painting were greeted with incredulity. How could there have been such deft and skillful artists in the world over 30,000 years ago? Noted art historian Nigel Spivey begins with this puzzle to explore the record of humanity's artistic endeavors, and their impact on our own development. How Art Made the World, in conjunction with the PBS miniseries, reveals how artists from the earliest caveman to the most studied Renaissance master have grappled with the same questions in their work: What is a man? Why must we die? Is there a God? With the help of vivid color illustrations of some of the world's most moving and enduring works of art, Spivey shows how that art has been used as a means of mass persuasion, essential to the creation of hierarchical societies, and finally, the extent to which art has served as a mode of terror management in the face of our inevitable death. Packed with new insights into ancient wonders and fascinating stories from all around the globe, How Art Made the World is a compelling account of how humans made art and how art makes us human.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This work, a companion to a PBS miniseries of the same name, explores art as a phenomenon unique to human existence that has evolved in method and purpose, mirroring the scientific, social and cultural advancements in civilizations. As such, Spivey (Enduring Creation: Art, Pain, and Fortitude; Songs on Bronze) draws on a wide range of material: Paleolithic cave paintings, contemporary visions of propaganda and social control, ancient Egyptian and classic Greek sculptures, and images of the divine created in medieval Europe and Buddhist Asia-explaining all these and more in confident, lively prose that brings to life even the least accessible cave scribbles. The book is organized thematically, bringing together disparate works to serve a purpose larger than mere comparison: in his treatment of narrative and storytelling, Spivey considers 20th-century cinema, Australian aboriginal rock painting, Mesopotamian and Greek epic poetry, and Roman narrative sculpture. His approach is mostly successful, but the inclusion of such a wide array of material gives short shrift to individual schools and eras. However, Spivey's care in selecting the issues driving the project allow the book to rise above these limitations and present a thoughtful analysis of the relationship between the evolution of art and human culture. Although its lack of depth on any given subject will make it unsatisfying for professional art historians or anthropologists, the book will appeal to general readers looking for a sprightly introduction to art history.
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About the Author

Nigel Spivey is a lecturer in Classics at Cambridge University. He has written several books on Greek and Etruscan art. He is the presenter of the BBC/PBS television series “How Art Made the World,” which this book accompanies. He lives in Cambridge, England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (November 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465081819
• ISBN-13: 978-0465081813
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Charming and Fascinating Evocation of Primitive Art and Humanity, December 13, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How Art Made the World: A Journey to the Origins of Human Creativity (Hardcover)

Nigel Spivey writes with eloquence and gentle humor and a rich understanding of his chosen topic - how art has informed life has informed art since the beginnings of history. This is one of those books that will appeal to all audiences, whether they be primarily interested in history, archeology, art, human studies, or mystery. It is all here in one splendid volume.

Based on a British television series by the same title, Spivey wanders through the most primitive art known from cave drawings, to ornaments, to early 'sculpture' or god figures, into the Renaissance. With very generous pictorial examples he clearly demonstrates how from the very inception of 'art', as we know it, mankind has tackled with the Big Questions - creation, life, death, and gods to God. He shows panoramas of cave drawings which address 'us vs. them', hunting, procreation, fertility, and symbols to ward off evil, be those mythical beasties or Satan or elements of nature confined to diagram, and celebrations and funeral rites. The permutations seem endless.

But in the end this book invites us to look at 'art' in a new way - as a manifestation of man's looking inward at himself, finding a rational universe out of his attempts to represent phenomena. It was then, it is now, and hopefully it ever shall be - Art. Wonderful book. Highly recommended! Grady Harp, December 05

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Educational, Inspiring, December 16, 2011

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Mother Macabre - See all my reviews

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This review is from: How Art Made the World: A Journey to the Origins of Human Creativity (Hardcover)

This is a great series which illuminates the history of the development of art and how art shaped social and psychological evolution in mankind. It also explores the compulsion to be artistic and the psychology of art appreciation. It offers a great tour of some great works of art from all over the world and throughout history.

11 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bit dry and overblown, but thoroughly delightful, May 27, 2006

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How Art Made the World: A Journey to the Origins of Human Creativity (Hardcover)

The premise that "art made the world" is overblown. The text is often a bit dry. But the trip through the ages on the wings of art is superb. Of course, back 30,000 or so years ago, we don't know if the folks daubing walls and cutting into rock gave a thought to "art." In fact, we don't really have a solid clue as to why they did what they did.

A bit further into history, say a few thousand years ago, we know that people were attempting to immortalize their rulers, gods and priests. Again, we don't know if they were conciously creating "art" or simply communicating.

Art is, after all, in the eye of the beholder.

Whatever purpose may have been in mind, the images, carvings and engravings that have come down to us are mind-boggling and certainly, in our age, may be fairly considered art.

Nigel Spivey is certainly knowledgeable in his area, though he sometimes wanders off into unsupportable theory. The illustrations are magnificient and, frankly, I would preferred to have seen more of them and less of Spivey's text.

Overall a worthwhile book and, despite its occasional pomposity, delightful.

Jerry