The Dark Ages: An Age of Light

Waldemar Januszczak, the ebullient art critic of England's Sunday Times, puts his characteristically enthusiastic spin on the early Middle Ages in this four-part series, building his treatment on a straw man—namely, the outmoded idea that the so-called Dark Ages were an epoch of ignorance and brutality—in order to argue the opposite. Aside from this rhetorical sleight of hand, An Age of Light proves to be an instructive, enjoyable documentary series, enlivened by crisp camerawork that highlights both the details of featured artwork and the beauty of the myriad locales in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East that Januszczak visits to provide examples of period architecture. The first episode focuses on early Christian art, the second on the artistry of the alleged “barbarians” (various Germanic tribes and the Huns, who settled on lands in the declining Roman Empire), the third on Islamic works, and the last on the artistic output of the Vikings, Franks, and Anglo-Saxons. Scholars will take issue with some of Januszczak's overarching generalizations and his interpretations of specific pieces of evidence, but as a journey of discovery intended for non-specialist viewers, this set offers a fine introduction. DVD extras include a booklet with a timeline, essays, and a photo gallery. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)