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NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD
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by PowerReviews(based on 31 reviews)
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Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent Program
Excellent program that clearly explains the structural mechanics of Gothic cathedral building. Profs. S. Murray, a noted expert in the field and his former student, A. Tallon, along with their Columbia University...Read complete review
Excellent program that clearly explains the structural mechanics of Gothic cathedral building. Profs. S. Murray, a noted expert in the field and his former student, A. Tallon, along with their Columbia University technical team, have done excellent technical research, as presented here. The segments on the wonderful project at Guedelon, France [@] and its experimental archaeology crew are informative, and the work in California restoring Hearst's Spanish chapel and its modeling is excellent and demonstrative. This is excellent for the lay person interested in cathedral construction, and terrific for university teachers looking for a film which clearly illustrates the basic principals of Gothic construction. The bulk of the film presents known information, but it is well-presented. The segment on the possibility of celestial/Biblical metrics is interesting, though more controversial.
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Most Liked Negative Review
For the Complete Amateur
Even if you know nothing about cathedrals, this hardly scratches the surface. There is a virtual cathdral made as a model to find out where a problem was in the Amien cathdral. The point...Read complete review
Even if you know nothing about cathedrals, this hardly scratches the surface. There is a virtual cathdral made as a model to find out where a problem was in the Amien cathdral. The point was more about who was doing what rather than the subject of cathedrals. An arch was built, which was a total no brainer, and there was a cathedral being reconstructeed somewhere in California that WR Herst brought over years ago. Its over before you know it. Biblical references to Revelations was interesting but hardly developed. I was so annoyed by the pace of the program, the narrator and editing that I had difficulty watching it. McCauleys is really the best I've seen.
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Comments about PBS NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD:
This is unwatchable.
I recall NOVA having high standards when it comes to scientific literacy as well as programming. This is sub-discovery channel quality.
There is no "mystery" of the Cathedrals, there is nothing "hidden in the bible" that you need to unravel the mystery. And for god's sake, stop using the present tense to describe past events.
Comments about PBS NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD:
Even if you know nothing about cathedrals, this hardly scratches the surface. There is a virtual cathdral made as a model to find out where a problem was in the Amien cathdral. The point was more about who was doing what rather than the subject of cathedrals. An arch was built, which was a total no brainer, and there was a cathedral being reconstructeed somewhere in California that WR Herst brought over years ago. Its over before you know it. Biblical references to Revelations was interesting but hardly developed. I was so annoyed by the pace of the program, the narrator and editing that I had difficulty watching it. McCauleys is really the best I've seen.
Comments about PBS NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD:
This is a fascinating study of the techniques used to build the gothic cathedrals and the engineering breakthroughs in the 12th Century that made these magnificent structures possible. It shows that the middle ages were not a monolithic period of stagnation, but one of ingenious advances in engineering. I am always amazed at what engineers and craftsmen accomplished in this era without the machinery and advanced scientific knowledge we have today. I have watched this program a half dozen times and look forward to repeated viewings in the future.
Comments about PBS NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD:
I can't wait to share this with my older gifted students tomorrow!
Comments about PBS NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD:
One day I sat in the nave of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. I was struck with how true the walls were and how high they soared. I wondered how those early builders produced such a structure. This PBS DVD answered my questions and added a few "what ifs". A must see for history and architecture lovers.
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