The Ascent of Marr

The BBC isn't afraid to tackle the Big Issues and they don't come any bigger than 'Andrew Marr's History of the World' (BBC1). Marr is a great Generalist and often compelling presenter and 'thetvreviewguy' was looking forward to this ambitious series. What we got was good but not groundbreaking. An overview of 'Man' from 70,000 BC to the Egyptians looking at key points in human development. Thus we were told about our descent from 'Eve' or 'Mother' in Africa (how our genetic code relates back to a relatively small tribe that moved out of the Continent), our forrays into cave art, the foundation of agriculture, and the rise of civilization with the develpment of writing and a courts system.  None of this is new to BBC or Discovery viewers (the latter network, along with Open University, being one of the programme's three producers). The format, re-enactment, then Marr to camera, re-enactment etc has the feel of a Museum AV room film to it; where are the geologists, ethnographers, art historians, anthropologists? There's nothing wrong with explaining what most educated or self-taught people would know already but if this is intended for a school audience, it should be given that time slot. Marr is authorative but none of this research is his; he is standing on the shoulders of giants and this is where the concept of the Generalist falls through.While this should go on to do huge business for BBC Worldwide, it left 'thetvreviewguy' somewhat underwhelmed.