The BBC documentary series "How Art Made the World," particularly its exploration of art's capacity to represent and even surpass human experience, presents a compelling argument for art's unique role in shaping our understanding of ourselves and our world. Rather than merely reflecting human life, art, as depicted in the series, often becomes a catalyst for imagining what it means to be human, sometimes by proposing forms or concepts that are "more human than human." This essay will argue that the series effectively demonstrates how art, through its ability to create new visions, embody abstract ideals, and explore the boundaries of perception, fundamentally expands our definition of humanity, pushing beyond the purely biological or empirical.
One primary way art achieves this "more human than human" quality is through its power to visualize the abstract and the ideal. Consider the series' segment on ancient Greek sculpture, specifically the kouroi figures. These statues, while undoubtedly human in form, are not mere portraits of individuals. They represent an idealized, perfected version of the male physique, embodying concepts of youth, strength, and athletic prowess. They are, in a sense, more "human" than any single living person because they distill and elevate universal aspirations of human potential. Similarly, the Egyptians' monumental tomb art, like the statues of Pharaohs or the intricate reliefs in tombs, aimed to preserve an eternal, perfected essence of the deceased, ensuring their continued existence and influence in the afterlife. This is a form of humanity extended beyond the limitations of mortal life, a vision of perpetual being that surpasses ordinary existence.
Furthermore, art's capacity to create entirely new realities and symbolic systems offers another avenue for its "more human than human" impact. The series highlights how early cave paintings, such as those at Lascaux, were not simply records of animals or hunting scenes. They were imbued with symbolic meaning, possibly connected to shamanistic rituals or cosmological beliefs. These images tapped into a collective consciousness, a shared human endeavor to understand the universe and humanity's place within it. This act of symbolic creation, of weaving together perception, belief, and imagination into coherent visual narratives, is a uniquely human characteristic, yet the worlds these paintings conjured often felt more potent and enduring than the immediate, practical realities of daily life. They offered a transcendent experience, a glimpse into a deeper, more connected form of human existence.
The series also points to how art has consistently pushed the boundaries of representation, leading to forms that, while originating from human experience, ultimately transform it. The transition from naturalistic representation to more abstract or stylized forms, seen in various cultural traditions discussed in the series, suggests a growing sophistication in artistic thought. For example, the abstract patterns and geometric designs in Islamic art, or the expressive distortions in certain African masks, move beyond literal mimesis. They engage with fundamental human emotions, spiritual concepts, or social structures in ways that bypass direct imitation, offering a more potent, distilled, or even archetypal expression of human experience. These artistic innovations, born from human hands and minds, create something that feels both deeply familiar and startlingly new, a heightened reality that can be considered "more human than human" in its capacity to evoke profound feeling and meaning.
In conclusion, "How Art Made the World" persuasively argues that art is not merely a mirror to human life but a powerful force that shapes, expands, and even redefines our understanding of humanity. By visualizing ideals, constructing symbolic universes, and pushing the limits of representation, art offers visions of existence, potential, and meaning that transcend the ordinary. The series demonstrates that in its most profound manifestations, art creates a "more human than human" experience, one that speaks to our deepest aspirations, our collective imaginings, and our eternal quest for understanding.