Customer Reviews

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

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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

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.

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

excellent show, actually better than the book. I watch a lot of documentarys and Non fiction films and this is one of the best I have seen for the tlelevision market.