ART THAT MADE US

iPLAYER DOCUMENTARY

An alternative eight-part history of the British Isles, as told through its works of art – be they paintings, sculptures or works of literature. So the first episode, on what we used to call the

‘Dark Ages’, covers, for example, Spong Man, the Lindisfarne Gospels and Beowulf (via a hip-hop feminist translation, naturally), among other works. The series is a little too keen to sex things up – rock music, funky graphics, celebrity appearances, and so on – but it’s entertaining and informative nevertheless. Available now