"Simon Schama's Power of Art" (2006) TV series

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (UK)

Genre:

History

Plot:

In each episode historian Simon Schama treats, in his own erudite, unconventional and somewhat socially engaged style...

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Simon Schama

...

Himself - Presenter / ... (5 episodes, 2006)

Series Directed by
Carl Hindmarch		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Writing credits
Simon Schama		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Produced by
Clare Bevan	....	series producer (1 episode, 2006)
Steve Condie	....	executive producer (1 episode, 2006)

Series Original Music by
Andy Bush		(1 episode, 2006)
Niraj Chag		(1 episode, 2006)
Dave Gale		(1 episode, 2006)
Daniel Giorgetti		(1 episode, 2006)
David Julyan		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Cinematography by
Gary Clarke		(2 episodes, 2006)
Neville Kidd		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Film Editing by
Matt Platts-Mills		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Casting by
Chloe Emmerson		(4 episodes, 2006)

Series Production Design by
Astrid Sieben		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Art Direction by
Erik Rehl		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Costume Design by
Kate McPhee		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Makeup Department
Jo Evans	....	makeup designer (1 episode, 2006)
Jane Walker	....	assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 2006)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Toby Rickes	....	assistant director (1 episode, 2006)

Series Art Department
Peter Fentem	....	property master (1 episode, 2006)

Series Sound Department
Karl Mainzer	....	dubbing mixer (2 episodes, 2006)
Aidan McCarthy	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 2006)
Jeff Richardson	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 2006)

Series Visual Effects by
Adam Rowland	....	digital compositor (1 episode, 2006)

Series Stunts
Rod Woodruff	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2006)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Annis	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 2006)
Wayne King	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2006)

Series Music Department
Daniel Giorgetti	....	orchestrator (1 episode, 2006)

Series Other crew
Tim Sutton	....	production coordinator / production supporter (2 episodes, 2006)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

popular art

If there is such a thing as popular science probably the best name one can give to the genre this series belongs to is popular art. Simon Schama's series of commentary on eight masters and their masterpieces in the history of art have a uniting theme - how art can influenced by power and how power influences art - but yet seems to address mostly the non-initiated audience. The language of the series is sometimes the one of an specialist but no deep aesthetic lessons are given, and the central thread of the commentaries in most of the episodes is around the anectdotic explanation of the works, combined with actors rendering the central figures, in many cases with a very thick palette to use a plastic arts term.

The best moments of the series are in my opinion when the commentary raises atop the banal to create a real and veridical connection between works and times as in the episode about Picasso, or when the camera work of the director fits well the painters style as in the Van Gogh's episode. Yet some contemporary hints could have been avoided in the first, and the acted scene of Van Gogh's folly from the second. Schama is eloquent and catches the attention. Each episode in itself seems to have its better and its worse moments. As such series build in time, eight episodes may not be enough for a definitive conclusion, and the overall impression can improve if further artists and masterpieces will be explored in follow-up seasons.