The Dark Ages: An Age of Light
The Dark Ages: An Age of Light | |
---|---|
Documentary | |
Written by | Waldemar Januszczak |
Directed by | Waldemar Januszczak |
Presented by | Waldemar Januszczak |
Composers | Simon Russell Peter Mayne |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 4 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Mark Bell (BBC) Peter Grimsdale |
Producer | Lidia Ciszewska |
Cinematography | Owen Scurfield Ian Serfontein Matt Conway |
Running time | 57-60 minutes |
Production company | ZCZ films |
Original release | |
Network | BBC |
Release | 27 November 18 December 2012 | –
The Dark Ages: An Age of Light is a four-part documentary television series written, directed, and presented by the British art critic Waldemar Januszczak looking at the art and architecture of the so-called Dark Ages (i.e. Early Middle Ages) that shows it to be an era with advancements contrary to popular perceptions of the period. It was broadcast by the BBC in November and December 2012.[1]
Episode one: "The Clash of the Gods"
Januszczak shows how Christianity emerged into the Roman Empire as an artistic force in the third and fourth centuries. Early Christians had no art. They were an illegal secret cult, and practised in very small groups. Januszczak asserts that
Viewing figures: 661,000[3]
Episode two: "What the Barbarians Did for Us"
The "Barbarians" are often blamed for the collapse of the Roman Empire, but in reality they were fascinating civilisations that produced magnificent art. Focusing on the often already Christian Huns, Vandals and Goths, Januszczak follows each tribe's journey across Europe to settle in new lands and discovers the incredible art they produced along the way.
Viewing figures: 697,000[4]
Episode three: "The Wonder of Islam"
Along with Christianity, the Dark Ages saw the emergence of another religion — Islam. After emerging in the Near East, it spread across North Africa and into Europe in such a short time that there was originally no art. In more settled times, highly decorated mosques began to be built based on the prophet Mohammad's own home. Their architectural and scientific achievements, including the mapping of the stars, dwarfed anything existing in the western world. Januszczak visits the Dome of the Rock, desert palaces forgotten by modern Islam with their more sensual artwork, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun where it was believed Noah's Ark landed, and the Mosque of Cordoba. He identifies the Nilometer used to measure the flood of the Nile and uses an astrolabe that Muslims used to find the direction of Mecca.
Episode four: "The Men of the North"
This episode concentrates on the Vikings and their inventive craftsmanship, the expansive
Viewing figures: n/a
Reception
In her blog for the Times Literary Supplement, Cambridge classics professor Mary Beard disputed the idea (mentioned in episode one) that Christians were present at Pompeii.[5]
Larry Hurtado, Emeritus Professor of New Testament Language, Literature & Theology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Divinity, in his personal blog criticized the idea that the early Christians were a secretive movement,[6] and pointed out misunderstandings evident in the explanations given by Janusczak for the manner of portrayal of Jesus Christ in early Christian art.[7]
References
- ^ The Dark Ages: An Age of Light, BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ "Lighting up the Dark Ages". Waldemar Januszczak. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ BBC4 viewing figures, BARB. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ BBC4 viewing figures weekending 9 December 2012, BARB. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
- ^ Blog from BBC page leading to the Times Literary supplement.[dead link] Retrieved 15 December 2012
- ^ "Was Early Christianity Secretive?", Larry Hurtado's Blog, 28 November 2012.
- ^ "Early Depictions of Jesus (Strike Two for Waldemar Januszczak)", Larry Hurtado's Blog, 5 December 2012.