HISTORY OF IDEAS - French & English Gardens

France and England have had two very different gardening histories that tell us as much about psychology as they do about horticulture.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Feel free to follow us at the links below:

CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with Mad Adam

[jasonschneijder]

Just a little disappointed that you didn't include the reasons for these differences: The French one came from a time of Neoclassicism, when the French kings wanted to show off and show how they dominated absolutely everything - a time when everything had to be big, perfectly decorated and therefore impressive.The English style comes from the time of the industrial revolution which lead to romanticism. People idealised and wanted to go back to the wild and to nature, fairy tales and folklore revived - very often people placed things with a story in their backyard, for instance a tree they claimed to have brought with them from a journey far away.

[lalaithan]

When I visited France, my jaw-dropped at the amazing work they put into gardens and landscapes. I could have spent months or probably years meditating around each garden and labyrinths. The smells were amazing. I think I enjoy them so much because I find peace in symmetry and complimenting colors and textures.

[lambusaab]

I thought that this would just be a history lesson on gardens. But the video beautifully equates the two styles of gardening to the faculties of our minds. School of Life never disappoints.

[mariabumby]

As someone taking a landscape architecture course, I can say this is a well-researched, very approachable and AWESOME example about the philosophies behind landscape designers and planners. Please do one on city planning School of Life! Excellent video

[pierrevalentin]

Could you do the same comparison between french and english educational systems and the ideology behind them? Honestly, it's truly fascinating, please do!!

[abigailbizley]

Whoever edited this had a lot of fun. I'm studying garden design, but the editing in this video was too good.

[rxscience]

"I'm gonna name my kid Capability" - a real human, once

[svennesvan]

Very interesting to see that even the gardens show the history of philosophy, where the French seem to follow a classical mindset of restraining nature and emphasizing symmetry and geometrical shapes. The English on the other hand had a romantistic viewpoint and tried to preserve the raw wildness of nature. Great video!

[zeroxdan]

Seriously, I'm in awe. Thank you for making education fun! :)

[ador]

Here I am in youtube at 2 am in the morning, watching a video about gardens and the philosophies they embody and wanting more.

[Raphanne]

It's funny how those two different cultures can still be observed in cemeteries (or graveyards for our friends across the pond) in France and England. I'm French and our cemeteries are very different from the English ones I could see.
Here, if the tombs are not well kept, cleaned and taken care of (as in, removing wild grass around it and that sort of things), we feel guilty as if we are not taking proper care of our dead loved ones. We also think that stepping on a tomb is very disrespectful to the dead.
When I went to study in England, tombs were just left to nature. There was plenty of wild grass, the tombs were sometimes not straight anymore, and it looked like it had been left unkept and just given to nature. I also saw people stepping on graves as if it was nothing.
I've come to find English cemeteries beautiful, as they don't look as rigid as ours, but I find this difference in culture very interesting.

[CanisLupusSteparium]

Great video. This was completely new to me, and absolutely fascinating. Seems like the English gardens have some elements in common with some Eastern traditions like Taoism and Zen.

[AmB]

These videos are superb. They are so appreciated. Please keep them coming!

[gravel]

I really enjoy the collage aesthetics of the videos.

[helenamoniqueclarke]

This is so easily seen today still, especially in France where the entire countryside, end to end, looks to have been meticulously landscaped.

[MegaKoutsou]

You did it School of Life. You made gardens interesting

[montrazvan]

Been to the English Garden in Munich and liked it because is was simple but nice. Now I know why. TY

[itskevonejonesyo]

you have the most soothing voice ever .

[tiwinee]

In Art course, in France, I remembered when we talked about garden styles. But we used to oppose French Gardens to Japanese Gardens, and how they reflect each philosophy.
(Btw, I think the "garden" at 2:46 is actually a golf course, innit ?)

[CarmelaMiles]

Make an Asian version! hmmm where to start?
Japanese Gardening, anyone?