Civilisation EP10 ⟩ “The Smile of Reason”
Details
Greetings, esteemed scholars and history enthusiasts. In our upcoming Meetup, covering Episode 10 of Kenneth Clark’s perennial marvel, Civilisation, “The Smile of Reason,” we will embark on a tour of the Age of Enlightenment that will leave you with the same glow you felt the first time you saw Rocky. Clark is so enthusiastic, so at home, so right about this material, you’ll want to sob for joy and visit his grave!
We’ll explore the origins and evolution of the Enlightenment, where reason, justice, and natural law reshaped Western thinking. You’ll be relieved to know that Clark covers its stages in their proper order:
- Scientific Rev (early 17c)
- English E (mid 17c)
- French E (early-mid 18c)
- Scottish E (mid 18c)
- German E (late 18c)
- American E (late 18c)
(Check out the helpful outline under “Episode 10” on our THORR page, here!)
In the English cradle of the Enlightenment, we’ll trace the birth of new ideals that guided the development of natural law and domestic architecture, such as the enchanting Chiswick.
We’ll delve into the elegant Parisian salons of the 18-cent, where wits like Voltaire and creative society converged to foster enlightenment. Revolutionary ideas on religion, governance, and societal change were nurtured here, and works like Diderot’s monumental “Encyclopedia” emerged. Here, the moderately rich, who sought intellectual pleasure for status, ended up creating spaces for genuine intellectual discovery.
We will study Chardin, the greatest painter of 18-cent France, whose art encapsulated delicate human relationships among the bourgeoisie and working class.
In Scotland, the flame of reason burned brightly as the practical genius of figures like Adam Smith and David Hume sparked the Industrial Revolution, blending realism and sentiment.
We’ll explore Voltaire’s crucial role as a champion of justice, finding solace at Château Ferney, and standing against oppressive authority as the French Revolution loomed.
Venturing to America, we’ll examine Jefferson’s Monticello, his inventive architectural genius, and his commitment to humanism, religious freedom, and education through the University of Virginia.
Lastly, we’ll explore the republican heroism of George Washington, captured by Houdon’s statue, his role as the First President, and his influence on the burgeoning capital city.
Our exploration will take us from the polite conversations in Parisian salons to revolutionary politics, the grand European palaces of Blenheim and Versailles, and finally to Jefferson’s Monticello.
Together, we shall witness how the Age of Enlightenment influenced art, politics, architecture, and laid the groundwork for profound global change. I know this is all hackneyed stuff, which I loathed more than anything in school, but Clark’s presentation took my breath away. I trust you’ll feel the same way.
Sample Quote
The people who frequented the salons of 18th–century France were not merely a group of fashionable good timers. They were the outstanding philosophers and scientists of the time. They wanted to publish their very revolutionary views on religion. They wanted to curtail the power of a lazy King, and an irresponsible government. They wanted to change society. In the end, they got rather more of a change than they bargained for.
METHOD
Please watch the episode before the event. We will then replay a few short clips during the event to refresh our memories for debate and discussion. A high-def version of this episode with remastered audio and enriched subtitles can be found here:
Video Table of Contents
Clark discusses the Age of Enlightenment, tracing it from the polite conversations of the elegant Parisian salons of the 18th century to subsequent revolutionary politics, the great European palaces of Blenheim and Versailles, and finally Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.