Includes a biography on the author, a course scope, and bibliographical references.

"The modern mind cannot comprehend the symbolic - and real - power that the cathedral has held for much of the past 2,000 years of Western civilization. Rising to the heavens, a three-dimensional manifestation of art, science, and religious fervor, a cathedral was the local seat of power, community, worship, and often economics.
To understand the deep historical, religious, social, and architectural context that makes a serious study of the cathedral possible, we start at the beginning with the development of cathedrals: Why did they come about and when? Why did they take on a particular shape? Who designed and built them, and for what purpose?
After exploring cathedrals from the earliest eras, we will become familiar with the monumental style of church architecture and decoration that we call Romanesque. We will then turn our attention to the Gothic style, developed in the area around Paris in the second half of the 12th century. It became the predominant form of church architecture for the next 300 years and beyond and is the main focus of our course.
Many of Europe`s most famous Gothic cathedrals will be featured, starting with the church recognized as the first Gothic structure: Saint-Denis in Paris. From there, many of the lectures will examine the most famous Gothic cathedrals of northern France, including Notre Dame, Chartres, Amiens, Laon, and Reims. Although that region is considered the birthplace of Gothic, we will follow the spread of the style to other parts of Europe, including England, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, and even the New World.
Although Gothic architecture is usually associated with pointed arches and flying buttresses, in fact it contains a wide range of forms, and we will see that no two Gothic churches are alike. So as we progress, we will look carefully at the "story" of each cathedral: geographic orientation, local influences, individual stylistic innovations, and unique features, including architectural design, detailed exterior sculpture, exquisite stained-glass windows, and precious relics.
Although the Gothic era is in some senses long past, we will finish with a look at the Gothic revival in modern time and the extraordinary array of neo-Gothic buildings found on every continent and probably in the town or city where you live.
This course is profusely illustrated by 3-D animations and photographs, many of which are from your professor`s own lens, for his photography work rivals that of any professional. Once you have studied these extraordinary structures, you may very well feel the need to see them in person, whether you are a first-time visitor or a frequent traveler".

DVD CONTENTS: Disc 1
Lecture 1: What is a Cathedral?
Lecture 2: Early Christian Architecture
Lecture 3: Romanesque: a New Monumental Style
Lecture 4: Vaulting: a Look at Roofs
Lecture 5: Romanesque at its Best
Lecture 6: Saint-Denis and the Beginning of Gothic Style
Disc 2
Lecture 7: The Urban Context of Cathedrals
Lecture 8: Notre Dame in Paris
Lecture 9: Early Gothic style: Laon
Lecture 10: Chartres: the Building
Lecture 11: Chartres: the Sculpture
Lecture 12: Chartres: the Windows
Disc 3
Lecture 13: Amiens: the Limits of Height
Lecture 14: Amiens: the Façade
Lecture 15: Reims: the Royal Cathedral
Lecture 16: Cathedrals: Who Builds? Who Pays? How Long?
Lecture 17: New Developments in Gothic France
Lecture 18: Late Gothic Churches in France
Disc 4
Lecture 19: Early Gothic Architecture in England
Lecture 20: Decorated and Perpendicular English Gothic
Lecture 21: Gothic Churches in the Holy Roman Empire
Lecture 22: Gothic Churches in Italy
Lecture 23: Gothic Styles in Iberia and the New World
Lecture 24: Gothic Architecture in Today's World

"The modern mind cannot comprehend the symbolic - and real - power that the cathedral has held for much of the past 2,000 years of Western civilization. Rising to the heavens, a three-dimensional manifestation of art, science, and religious fervor, a cathedral was the local seat of power, community, worship, and often economics.
To understand the deep historical, religious, social, and architectural context that makes a serious study of the cathedral possible, we start at the beginning with the development of cathedrals: Why did they come about and when? Why did they take on a particular shape? Who designed and built them, and for what purpose?
After exploring cathedrals from the earliest eras, we will become familiar with the monumental style of church architecture and decoration that we call Romanesque. We will then turn our attention to the Gothic style, developed in the area around Paris in the second half of the 12th century. It became the predominant form of church architecture for the next 300 years and beyond and is the main focus of our course.
Many of Europe`s most famous Gothic cathedrals will be featured, starting with the church recognized as the first Gothic structure: Saint-Denis in Paris. From there, many of the lectures will examine the most famous Gothic cathedrals of northern France, including Notre Dame, Chartres, Amiens, Laon, and Reims. Although that region is considered the birthplace of Gothic, we will follow the spread of the style to other parts of Europe, including England, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, and even the New World.
Although Gothic architecture is usually associated with pointed arches and flying buttresses, in fact it contains a wide range of forms, and we will see that no two Gothic churches are alike. So as we progress, we will look carefully at the "story" of each cathedral: geographic orientation, local influences, individual stylistic innovations, and unique features, including architectural design, detailed exterior sculpture, exquisite stained-glass windows, and precious relics.
Although the Gothic era is in some senses long past, we will finish with a look at the Gothic revival in modern time and the extraordinary array of neo-Gothic buildings found on every continent and probably in the town or city where you live.
This course is profusely illustrated by 3-D animations and photographs, many of which are from your professor`s own lens, for his photography work rivals that of any professional. Once you have studied these extraordinary structures, you may very well feel the need to see them in person, whether you are a first-time visitor or a frequent traveler.

DVD CONTENTS:

Disc 1
Lecture 1: What is a Cathedral?
Lecture 2: Early Christian Architecture
Lecture 3: Romanesque: a New Monumental Style
Lecture 4: Vaulting: a Look at Roofs
Lecture 5: Romanesque at its Best
Lecture 6: Saint-Denis and the Beginning of Gothic Style

Disc 2
Lecture 7: The Urban Context of Cathedrals
Lecture 8: Notre Dame in Paris
Lecture 9: Early Gothic style: Laon
Lecture 10: Chartres: the Building
Lecture 11: Chartres: the Sculpture
Lecture 12: Chartres: the Windows

Disc 3
Lecture 13: Amiens: the Limits of Height
Lecture 14: Amiens: the Façade
Lecture 15: Reims: the Royal Cathedral
Lecture 16: Cathedrals: Who Builds? Who Pays? How Long?
Lecture 17: New Developments in Gothic France
Lecture 18: Late Gothic Churches in France

Disc 4
Lecture 19: Early Gothic Architecture in England
Lecture 20: Decorated and Perpendicular English Gothic
Lecture 21: Gothic Churches in the Holy Roman Empire
Lecture 22: Gothic Churches in Italy
Lecture 23: Gothic Styles in Iberia and the New World
Lecture 24: Gothic Architecture in Today's World