Civilisations after Civilisation

Writer and art historian John-Paul Stonard explores the contemporary relevance of Kenneth Clark's groundbreaking 1969 BBC series 'Civilisation'.

How useful is the idea of civilisation in looking back over the history of human culture? What has been the fate of civilisation after 'Civilisation'?

Speaker biography

John-Paul Stonard is a writer and an art historian. His publications include 'Fault Lines: Art in Germany 1945–55' and 'Germany Divided: Baselitz and his Generation'. He was a curator of the exhibition ‘Kenneth Clark: Looking for Civilisation’, at Tate Britain.

Image above: Kenneth Clark in 'Civilisation' (1969) © BBC