Episode Two (L -- Z) covers the art of Laughter, Modernism and the question of Materials, baffling Notions, Otherness, Post modernity, Queer theory, Representation and Theory, and X, Y, Zeitgeist.

Episode One (A -- K) covers and Artists and Biennales, the meaning of Contemporary, the art of Drawing,a list of Exceptions and Fakes, all kinds of Galleries, art History and Ideas, Junk and throwaway Kitsch.

The world's most famous museums reveal their major collections and the fascinating stories of how they came to house them. This beautiful high-definition series shows what the royalty, nobility and fabulously wealthy inhabitants of France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the UK and the USA, the original owners of the collections, found beautiful enough to acquire. The stories behind the works and their artists are an intriguing insight into the world and times from which they came. How did Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous painting in the world, end up in a French museum?

Welcome to the world of the wild, anarchist girl band that is tackling the Russian government head on. Shot on the streets and in and out of jail cells this is a rare insider's look, following the group's every step as they take the fight to Putin. Singing, protesting and getting arrested, it's a bizarre odyssey. Through the band's struggle and the reaction of Russian society towards them, this doc skilfully captures the essence of modern Russia. "Blashphemers get behind me Satan," shouts an Orthodox protestor as he's lead away by police. Side by side religious protestors and the Pussy Riot girls stage their own protests as the police bear down on them. Suddenly, in a bizarre twist, protestors from both sides who've been arrested are thrown into the same police van. "You make your own performance and we do ours," one of the Orthodox boys says, laughing. But quickly the conversation becomes heated. "Hacked icons on Red Square, do you call this art?" They say. "Yes I think art must be free," the girls respond. "You can fuck each other, but don't touch the Church! I'd cut my own throat before I let this desecration happen." "Do you have a name for your movement; for your group?" The guitarist asks. "Pussy riot." The girls, all wearing their trademark colourful balaclavas, say one after the other, almost chanting it. "Riot - it's kinda revolt on the street... pussy - a tender name for a girl or kitty." In the intimate space of their changing room, they're setting out exactly what they're about. "Pussy cat made a mess in the house." And in the house that is Russia they're definitely making a mess. At an impromptu concert in the subway they sing, "Warm up the muscles on your hands and legs. A Cop is licking between the legs." The crowd love it, they clap and whistle, "Wow, fuck it." But when the come down, they're arrested and violently dragged off. As the crowds watch on silently, with no-one saying a word, the scene has the eerie sensation of a totalitarian nightmare. The girls' journey is full of striking scenes like this, as the girl's continually draw out a response from Putin's regime and divide a country where conservatism and anarchy both exist as powerful, potent forces. A stark image of today's Russia.

"Every time I'm about to do a strip, it's because I can't avoid it, either because I need the money--in the old days--or now, because I just need to think something through, make it manifest." In this documentary film, Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman talks about his life history and his creative process using New York City as a backdrop and family photos, clips from home movies, and panels from comic creations such as Maus, Raw magazine, and In the Shadow of No Towers as props. Françoise Mouly, Spiegelman's wife and cover editor at The New Yorker, is also interviewed.

Dafen in Shenzhen, China, open for business since 1988, is now the world’s largest oil-painting village, providing employment to some 10,000 painters who produce replicas of the Western canon’s famous paintings. Most are destined to be sold in Europe, from street stalls close to the galleries holding the originals. With orders in the thousands and deadlines tight, painters labour relentlessly, knee-deep in their productions. A former peasant farmer, like many of the villagers, Zhao Xiaoyong has mastered the skills to reproduce Van Goghs. His immersion in the Dutch master’s every brushstroke has become a passion and a dream: he longs to see the originals and experience Van Gogh’s world. An invitation from one of Zhao’s main clients enables him to travel to Amsterdam and to encounter his inspiration. This revealing portrait of a peasant-turned-oil painter who falls under the spell of Van Gogh while producing replicas of his paintings provides surprising perspectives on Western culture and Chinese labour.

The world of El Greco, a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. El Greco's dramatic and expressionistic style was met with puzzlement by his contemporaries but found appreciation in the 20th century. El Greco is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism and his work was championed by artists such as Rusiol and Picasso. El Greco has been characterized by modern scholars as an artist so individual that he belongs to no conventional school. He is best known for tortuously elongated figures and often fantastic or phantasmagorical pigmentation, marrying Byzantine traditions with those of Western painting.

Iconic writer, director, actor, comedian, and musician Woody Allen allowed his life and creative process to be documented on-camera for the first time. With this unprecedented access, Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Robert Weide followed the notoriously private film legend over a year and a half to create the ultimate film biography. Woody Allen: A Documentary chronicles Allen's career - from teen writer to Sid Caeser's TV scribe, from standup comedian to award-winning writer-director averaging one film-per-year for more than 40 years. Exploring Allen's writing habits, casting, directing, and relationship with his actors first-hand, new interviews with A-listers, writing partners, family and friends provide insight and backstory to the usually inscrutable filmmaker. Whyaduck Productions, Rat Entertainment, Mike's Movies, and Insurgent Media production in association with THIRTEEN's American Masters present ; a film by Robert B. Weide ; written, directed and produced by Robert B. Weide.

This programmes starts at 00.50 after the blue graphic. Greer Twiss has been modelling the human figure for over 60 years. As a boy, his first figurative works took the form of puppets. After studying the figure from life at art school in the late 1950s marionettes gave way to the sculptured figures in iron, steel and bronze that quickly established his reputation as one of the most important emerging New Zealand artists of the 1960s. Towards the end of the 1960s Twiss scaled up his works to incorporate life-size body casts that were often disturbingly life-like in detail. Twiss's bathers and bikini girls encouraged viewers to see themselves as participants in a sculptural event rather than as detached observers. From the mid 1970s and throughout the 1980s Twiss made few direct references to the human form but by the early 1990s near life-size facetted figures in galvanized steel were populating his elaborate multi-media installations. Although he still regularly cast small scale bronzes, Twiss chose to use bent and welded sections of galvanized steel as his primary method of modelling life-size figures until quite recently when he returned to casting in iron. In his new series of 'winged' figurative works in iron he returns full circle to the methods he used to create his first tentative interpretations of the figure over 50 years ago.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Denis Leary. Season 15, ep. 9. Denis Leary joins James Lipton in the Actors studio and talks about his Irish Catholic roots and successful shows such as 'Rescue Me' and his best selling book 'Why We Suck'.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Anthony LaPaglia. Season 15, ep. 8. Talented actor Anthony LaPaglia, of Empire Records, Summer of Sam and “Frasier” fame, is in the hot seat with James Lipton this week on Bravo’s “Inside the Actors Studio.” The two discuss everything from deciding to play his well-known role on “Without a Trace” to his and Lipton’s shared love of tattoos. Anthony’s wife even chimes in from the audience to dish about how they first met.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Matt Damon. Season 13, ep. 3. Matt makes his first appearance on Inside the Actors Studio where he talks about The Good Shepherd, movies, Good Will Hunting, his family, and much more!

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Mike Myers (second visit). Season 14, Ep. 2. Interview with actor, writer, director and producer Mike Myers, who shot to fame with Wayne's World in 1992 and went on to create the Austin Powers movies and the provide the voice of animated ogre Shrek.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Robert Downey Jr. Season 12, ep. 17. Actor Robert Downey Jr. is interviewed about his life and career.

The world's most famous museums reveal their major collections and the fascinating stories of how they came to house them. This beautiful high-definition series shows what the royalty, nobility and fabulously wealthy inhabitants of France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the UK and the USA, the original owners of the collections, found beautiful enough to acquire. The stories behind the works and their artists are an intriguing insight into the world and times from which they came. Is the secret to Venus de Milo's charm hidden in her perfect proportions? Mathematics could hold the key.

The Henri Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, in the artist's home town of Albi, holds a wide range of his work, from his portraits of renowned artists to his well-known illustrations. It also houses archaeological finds and more modern art. Post-impressionist painter of much fame and great infamy, Toulouse-Lautrec rose to fame for his iconic Moulin Rouge poster and came to command a place among the foremost of his contemporaries. Born in Albi in 1864 into a wealthy family, Toulouse-Lautrec's life was transformed when fractures in both his legs left him disabled. His choice of career surprised his well-to-do family, all the more so when he began to associate with the more colourful side of 19th-century Parisian life and creating posters for cabaret shows.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with James Lipton. The tables have turned on a special 200th episode of "Inside The Actors Studio," as James Lipton finds himself in the hot seat for the first time ever. Comedian Dave Chapelle steps into the hosting position and leads Lipton through the past fourteen seasons of the iconic series, cataloguing countless guests experiences, personal achievements, and professional accolades.

This film profiles the interior and exterior of four modern houses in Christchurch using archival photographs and contemporary video with voiceover from architects and inhabitants. The film features houses designed by Paul Pascoe, Don Donnithorn, the late Don Cowey, and Warren and Mahoney.

This is the remarkable story of the most unlikely art forgers in history. Together, Shaun Greenhalgh (47) his father George (84) and mother Olive (83) ran what the police described as the most diverse and prolific art forgery operation they have ever seen. Over a 20 year period the family made an unprecedented range of fakes from modern masterpieces to ancient sculptures, all produced in their garden shed. The fakes they made duped the experts of the British Museum, Tate Modern, Henry Moore Institute, Chicago\'s Institute of Art and the great auction houses of Sotheby\'s and Christie\'s. Despite having made a fortune from selling dozens of fakes all over the world the family still lived in squalor, cut off from the outside world. So who are the Artful Codgers? Why did they do it? And what does their story say about the art world they so successfully deceived?

Beeban Kidron follows British sculptor Antony Gormley over several months as he prepares a new exhibition for London's Hayward Gallery.

This is an exploration of a question that has entertained, frustrated, and inflamed passionate - and even casual - art lovers forever: Is "it" art, or is "it" not art? Art or Not showcases artists from the edges of the art spectrum and will aim to discover what makes people passionate and highly opinionated about a broad range of visual art. This one hour special features the following artists whose work will be up for interpretation: Don Ed Hardy, Shepard Fairey, Jeffrey Vallance, Chris Galligan, Michael Salerno, Liz Hickok, Jason Mescier.

We can find art in the commonplace items we take for granted as well as the fantastical paintings and sculptures we see in galleries and museums. Follow the extraordinary designers who are leading the revolution in modern design.

An intimate and involving documentary that charts in full—for the first time—the consequences of a worldwide controversy that forced author Salman Rushdie into hiding for over a decade. Following publication of his novel The Satanic Verses in 1988, Rushdie was accused of blasphemy by conservative Muslims. As the situation escalated, on 14 February 1989 Iran's then leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling on Muslims to kill the book's author and publishers. This is the inside story of how it felt to be at the epicentre of an international crisis as Rushdie recalls the day-to-day drama of living under a death sentence, terrified for the safety of his child, and hearing horrific news of his publishers and translators being attacked and killed. The programme features unprecedented access to key figures, including Rushdi's closest family and friends. This is an episode of BBC series Imagine.

In 1960, Cuban photographer Alberto "Korda" Díaz captured a photo of Ernesto "Che" Guevara during a mass funeral. History conspired to enable this dynamic portrait to explode on the world scene in 1968 throughout Europe and Latin America, when it became an international symbol of protest and dissent. In the last decade, with the establishment of the Internet, the image has once again travelled the globe in many forms. From protest to commerce, it is constantly transformed and reinvented. It is considered to be the most reproduced image in the history of photography. Why and how did this photograph become so important? Chevolution is a film about a photograph. It explores how the Che image travelled from Korda's studio in Havana to the streets of Europe and beyond. We investigate how this portrait with its enigmatic gaze became a symbol for countless visions for change.

Biography of John Huston: film director, screenwriter and actor. A Pioneer of film noir, westerns, war films and epic dramas. We explore his life and works, which include classics such as The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and The African Queen.

Dive into the riveting debate over the future of ideas. To some, the digital revolution can offer an extraordinary gift to humanity: unfettered access to all published content. The other side defends copyright as indispensable in ensuring that the best minds commit their energy and time to the written word. This doc visits the libraries, book clubs, classrooms and corporate offices on the frontlines of this fight to give us the whole story.

Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns, accompanied by Aroha Yates-Smith discuss the philosophy behind composing and recording of the album Te Hekenga-a-rangi, Richard and Hirini's follow up to their landmark Te Ku Te Whe. Interview plus performance. This was video-taped three weeks before Hirini passed away.

A feature-length documentary that follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand, #L1037 - from forest floor to concert hall. It explores the relationship between musician and instrument, chronicles the manufacturing process, and illustrates what makes each Steinway unique in this age of mass production. From the factory floor in Queens to Steinway Hall in Manhattan, each piano's journey is complex-spanning 12 months, 12,000 parts, 450 craftsmen, and countless hours of fine-tuned labour.

Jack Kerouac penned such books as On the Road and The Dharma Bums, which captured the essence of the bohemian life that he came to personify. This documentary follows him on the road from the life of a beatnik in New York City, and across the country to California, as he set out to find America and himself. Archival photographs, film clips, interviews with those who knew him, readings from his books, and scholarly commentary provide insight into this icon of the Beat generation. Features archival footage of Jack Kerouac and fragments of interviews with Allan Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and William S. Burroughs.

NZTrio, New Zealand’s leading piano trio, thrives on connecting with audiences through intimate and exhilarating performances of a fascinatingly diverse repertoire. Violinist Justine Cormack, cellist Ashley Brown and pianist Sarah Watkins first joined forces in 2002 and were Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland from 2004-2009. From the outset their artistry, intensity and approachability has captivated music lovers throughout the world. The trio perform music by Jack Body, Ross Harris and Ernst Chausson.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Mark Wallberg. Mark Wahlberg recalls his criminal past as a troubled youth in Boston, his days as a male model and his work in “Boogie Nights,” “Three Kings,” “The Perfect Storm” and “I Heart Huckabees.” Wahlberg also reflects on his former musical career, in which he acquired a bad-boy image rapping under the moniker Marky Mark; his parents' divorce; and filmmaker David O. Russell. In addition, Wahlberg does a rap and describes his tattoos.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Josh Brolin. Season 15, ep. 4. Josh Brolin has been on the acting scene for over 20 years. He debuted in the beloved 1985 classic, The Goonies and has gone on to star in over 20 films. In the last 5 years he has become one of the Hollywood's most sought after actors, taking roles in such critically acclaimed films as, In the Valley of Elah, The Dead Girl, and, American Gangster. Last year Brolin picked up an ensemble cast SAG award for the 2007 Academy Award winning film, No Country For Old Men. Currently you can catch him on the big screen in Gus Van Sant's Milk, in which he portrays former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White, a role which has garnered much acclaim as well as another two SAG nominations. He has already received a Best Supporting Actor win at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards for the outstanding performance.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Daniel Radcliffe. Season 15, ep. 3. Best known for playing Harry Potter in the big screen adaptation of the famed book series, Daniel Radcliffe is an accomplished young actor with a growing resume. Dan, who showed interest in acting from a young age, got his start playing a young David Copperfield in the BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' prized novel. He got his big break when he was cast as the title character in 2000's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.He has since gone on to play Harry in all eight of the Harry Potter films, but his work isn't limited to screen. He received rave reviews for his role as Alan Strang in the controversial play "Equus." The play began on London's West End, but he can currently be seen on Broadway in the New York production.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Dustin Hoffman. Season 12, ep. 16. A star-studded audience attends to see the beloved, talented leading man who gives a rare in-depth interview with humor and honesty.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Colin Firth. Season 17, ep. 4. As the Oscars quickly approach, James Lipton sits down with favored Best Actor nominee Colin Firth. Looking back at his start, including some of his earlier films like Bridget Jones' Diary, all the way up to The Kings Speech.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Hilary Swank. Season 16, ep. 1. James interviews Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, and Hilary Swank after the Oscars. Hilary shares that portrayal of Tina Brandon was a very emotional for her due to the brutality, that being directed by Clint Eastwood was a dream come true, and what drew her to portray Amelia Earhart.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with James Franco. Season 17, ep. 2. James Franco, star of 2010's "127 Hours," 2008's "Milk" and the Spider-Man film franchise, chats about his life and career.

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers. Hosted by James Lipton ; interview with Ralph Fiennes. Season 12, ep. 8. Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days and Maid in Manhattan. He is also well known for his portrayals of four infamous villains: Nazi war criminal Amon Göth in Schindler's List; serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in the 2002 film Red Dragon; Rameses II in The Prince of Egypt; and Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series. Most recently, he appeared in The Reader (2008), In Bruges (2008) The Hurt Locker (2009) and as Hades in Clash of the Titans (2010). He won a Tony Award and has been nominated twice for Academy Awards. He is also a UNICEF UK ambassador. He was praised by many for being a "perfect fit", for playing the role of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter saga.

New York and Paris - two cities whose very names evoke passion. Both of these metropolises were extensively photographed during their golden ages, and the artists who carried out this documenting were linked together in a very special way. Eugene Atget is considered to be the father of modern photography. His images of Paris have influenced artists for generations. However, Atget's work would have been lost to the world if not for the vigorous efforts of the American photographer Berenice Abbott. Abbott met Atget in 1926 when Atget was nearing the end of his life and Abbott's career just beginning. Abbott recognised Atget's genius and became his champion for the next forty years.

Programme 6: Chicago, Illinois to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The week’s riches include an extraordinary collection of modern architecture in the tiny mid-west town of Columbus, Indiana, and the world’s largest ball of paint. We meet artist Ann Hamilton and Andy Warhol’s brother in Pittsburgh. Plus we visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Fallingwater house and see Diego Rivera’s masterful murals in Detroit.

Programme 8: Boston, Massachusetts to Vinalhaven, Maine. The last week begins in Boston with some stunning architecture on the MIT campus and with the nearby Museum of Bad Art. We encounter the Shakers and smart public art both in the libraries of Portland, Maine and in the public transit system of Montreal. And finally we take a chopper across to the tiny island of Vinalhaven to meet artist Robert Indiana.

Programme 4: Denver, Colorado to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The great plains offer Carhenge at Alliance, Nebraska (Stonehenge but made from cars) and the world’s largest easel. Photographer Alec Soth makes a photograph and we tour the General Mills Art Collection. Great buildings include the Des Moines Art Center and the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis, graced with a new extension by Herzog & de Meuron.

Programme 5: Minneapolis, Minnesota to Chicago, Illinois. St John’s Abbey outside Minneapolis was designed by modernist Marcel Breuer. St Louis’ Memorial Arch is a great feat of engineering, and Richard Serra’s Joe is pretty good too. Michael Eastman shows us how he photographs America’s vanishing buildings, and in Chicago we visit Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House and the glorious new Millennium Park.

Programmes 9-12: reprise the highlights of the series with each programme taking a theme: Artists, Architecture, Collections and what we call Only in America – the quirky and strange aspects of the trip that were among the most memorable people and places that we encountered.

Programmes 9-12: reprise the highlights of the series with each programme taking a theme: Artists, Architecture, Collections and what we call Only in America – the quirky and strange aspects of the trip that were among the most memorable people and places that we encountered.

The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The Palatine Gallery on the first floor contains a large ensemble of over 500 principally Renaissance paintings, which were once part of the Medicis' and their successors' private art collection. The gallery, which overflows into the royal apartments, contains works by Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Rubens, and Pietro da Cortona.

Donald Judd’s Chinati Foundation in Marfa is simply extraordinary. We see classic Cadillacs buried near Amarillo (the artwork Cadillac Ranch). Santa Fe and Taos are en route, along with paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe and the ceramics of Tammy Garcia. The USAF Academy Chapel is visionary architecture, as is Daniel Liebskind’s extension to the Denver Art Museum.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam contains the largest collection of van Gogh's paintings in the world. The collection features the works of Vincent van Gogh, and the works of other artists. Van Gogh's work is organised chronologically into five periods, each representing a different phase of his life and work: The Netherlands, Paris, Arles, Saint-Remy and Auvers-sur-Oise.

Programmes 9-12: reprise the highlights of the series with each programme taking a theme: Artists, Architecture, Collections and what we call Only in America – the quirky and strange aspects of the trip that were among the most memorable people and places that we encountered.

We drive through the desert from the mighty Hoover Dam, just outside Las Vegas, to the art town of Marfa. Along the way we stop at Michael Heizer’s earthwork Double Negative; we check out “nose art” on airforce planes near Tucson; we hear about the art of Ansel Adams and Tom Lea; and we find a Prada store in the desert (in fact, it’s an art installation).