The Face of Power

Season 1Episode 160 minSep 30, 2015
The Face of Power

In the first episode in the series, Simon Schama explores the eternal power of portraiture. Before we can walk, before we can talk, we become readers of faces, and throughout our lives face reading helps us to navigate the world. This primal engagement with the face makes portraiture one of the most compelling forms of art. Beginning with an exploration of how a portrait, commissioned to celebrate Winston Churchill's 80th birthday, ended in disaster for both artist and sitter, Schama discovers how portraits can involve a battle for control and - from the destruction of the faces of Christ and the Virgin during the Reformation, to Elizabeth I's fabulous feats of image making - demonstrates the importance of portraiture in fostering loyalty. Schama shows how royalists and parliamentarians fought over the image of the executed Charles I during the Civil War and how the aristocracy used portraiture to assert their dominion over the realm in the 18th century. Through the pioneering political cartoons of James Gillray, he explores how the powerful lost control of their image to the snigger of the streets. Simon looks at how photography allowed Queen Victoria to rebrand the monarchy as a modern family and discusses the role Margaret Thatcher's rigid control of her image played in launching her political career.

The Face of Power has aired on Sep 30, 2015 at 9:00 PM
Next Episode

Trailer

We do not have any trailers for this episode

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Die Hart
Running

Die Hart

Die Hart follows a fictionalized version of Kevin Hart, who's tired of being the comedic sidekick. He gets his wish when a famous director offers him his dream – to be a leading man action star – but there's a catch: Kevin must first train at the world's greatest action star school, run by a lunatic. Pushed to his limits by this action school coach and a tough-minded rival student, Kevin must survive a series of hilarious, over-the-top action sequences and face his fears if he wants to achieve his dream and land the role of a lifetime.

American Dad!
Running

American Dad!

In American Dad!, Stan Smith leads the all-American family in this animated sitcom filled with wild and crazy extremes. Everyday life is taken to the limit as Stan applies the same drastic measures used in his job at the CIA to his home life. Driven by machismo and the American dream, he often is blind to how horribly he fails at his attempts. This father might not know best, but he never stops trying.

Shrinking
Running

Shrinking

Shrinking follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people's lives… including his own.

GenreComedy
What If...?
Running

What If...?

What If…? flips the script on the MCU by reimagining events from the films in unexpected ways. Marvel Studios' first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles.

General Hospital
Running

General Hospital

General Hospital, which celebrated its golden anniversary on April 1, 2013, continues its tradition of passion, intrigue and adventure that takes place in the fictional town of Port Charles in upstate New York. The glamour and excitement of those who have come to find their destinies in this familiar seaport town intertwine with the lives, loves and fortunes of beloved, well-known faces. As always, love, danger and mind blowing plot twists continue to abound on General Hospital with contemporary storylines and unforgettable characters.