The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts.

[Mercury Wells]

The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts. (part 1 of 4)

BBC 2.  9pm/21.00.  Friday 11/01/19

In this landmark living history series, a late 1800s Victorian arts and crafts commune in the Welsh hills has been painstakingly brought back to life as a group of 21st-century crafters move in to experience the highs and lows of living and working together as a creative commune. Over their month-long stay they are set to renovate four of the key rooms in the house.

(c) BBC '19.

[Synistor 303]

The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts. (part 1 of 4)

BBC 2.  9pm/21.00.  Friday 11/01/19

In this landmark living history series, a late 1800s Victorian arts and crafts commune in the Welsh hills has been painstakingly brought back to life as a group of 21st-century crafters move in to experience the highs and lows of living and working together as a creative commune. Over their month-long stay they are set to renovate four of the key rooms in the house.

(c) BBC '19.

As an addict of this kind of thing I was horribly saddened not to be able to watch it because I am not a resident of Blighty...  :'( The "register" thingy doesn't pop up if you are in the UK, but it does if you are in the Antipodes. I will have a chat with an IT person I may or may not know.

[Hurricane Annie]

 One can only live in hope that one of our Antipodean  tv channels picks up the series. It does sound like an intriguing social experiment, with its commune style structure. A concept whic is very much in keeping with the Bohemian movement of the period.

[James Harrison]

As it usually is I only managed to catch the last episode.  I rather liked it- but then again I'm something of a fan of the Arts & Crafts Movement anyway. 

My only gripe is why oh why did it have to be treated as a competition, with judges and 'item of the week' and whatnot?  Why introduce an unnecessary competitive element to the thing?  Or are 'we', as a viewing audience, deemed incapable of being able to watch a programme showcasing creativity done just for the pleasure of it?

[Miranda.T]

(Snip)

My only gripe is why oh why did it have to be treated as a competition, with judges and 'item of the week' and whatnot?  Why introduce an unnecessary competitive element to the thing?  Or are 'we', as a viewing audience, deemed incapable of being able to watch a programme showcasing creativity done just for the pleasure of it?

I agree completely. I suspect the competition element was needed to get it through the commissioning process - it seems to be the flavour of the month format right mow.

Yours,
Miranda.

[Cora Courcelle]

Yes, the whole 'will they get it finished in time/they are out of their comfort zone' style of commentary spoilt it for me.
I would much rather concentrate on watching a skilled artist/artisan produce something beautiful in the time it takes to make it properly, rather than against some artificial deadline, introduced merely to provide 'tension'.

[Miranda.T]

Yes, the whole 'will they get it finished in time/they are out of their comfort zone' style of commentary spoilt it for me.
I would much rather concentrate on watching a skilled artist/artisan produce something beautiful in the time it takes to make it properly, rather than against some artificial deadline, introduced merely to provide 'tension'.

Very well said! One programme that did that really well was The Repair Shop.

Yours,
Miranda.

[James Harrison]

You know what I'd really like to see?  A book of the series discussing everything that didn't make the cut for the programme.  The weathervane from the last episode being a case in point.  You see them get tasked with it, then you see them hammering a bit of metal, then suddenly it's finished and mounted.... err, sorry did I miss something there?  There must have been so much work that either didn't get filmed or ended up on the cutting room floor, and also it's interesting seeing or being told how something gets made...

[Banfili]

I would like to see the series. I would also like to see all the items, and the processes involved in the making thereof. Forget the 'completion tension' etc., - I want processes!

[Hurricane Annie]

 Those thoroughly eccentric British country house regentrification shows are always entertaining.   The only competition is which old nobility family is wilde and crazier than the next

[Professor Hesketh]

For me, the competitive element rather spoiled it, and the old trick of a camera zooming in close when someone bursts into tears (which was often - even Keith did, but that was to be expected after his Pottery Throw Down hanky-dribbling).  And not enough on the actual making.  Good art takes the time it takes, cutting short the time can cut short the quality (as was seen in a few of the pieces).  Still, Sewing Bee back on next week.  More of the same!

[Mercury Wells]

Not bad series, could do with less "will they or won't they?" as others have said. Maybe, next time they could do six months/a years stint in a different art period, with the same team?

[Rose Inverness]

Intriguing basis for the show.

Yes, the whole 'will they get it finished in time/they are out of their comfort zone' style of commentary spoilt it for me.
I would much rather concentrate on watching a skilled artist/artisan produce something beautiful in the time it takes to make it properly, rather than against some artificial deadline, introduced merely to provide 'tension'.

AGREED. Artificial tension is immensely boring to me... I often enjoy 'house shows' with stunning before and after shots. I (as many have said) very much like seeing the work progress, how things are made or done, without the unnecessary drama they add to it.
My husband and I enjoy watching youtube videos where they make things such as 'Man at Arms' or videos of tools getting restored. No artificial tension there. Just good craftsmanship.

When watching shows of the 'competition' variety I sometimes choose to mute the most annoying parts. Or all of it. The visuals are often the entire point.