1. "Behind the Mask" This episode centers on the life and customs of the
Dogon people in
Mali, concentrating primarily on their masks and mask rituals. After a brief introduction to the Dogon culture, the link between African and European art is elaborated upon, using works by
Picasso and
Braque as examples. Dogon blacksmiths are shown working on a sculpture and a monkey mask for an old woman's funeral; the funeral rites, which include masked performances and a staged mock battle, are shown in great detail.
2. "Crooked Beak of Heaven" In "Crooked Beak of Heaven", Attenborough discusses the art and cultures of the
Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of
North America: The
Haida of present-day
British Columbia and
Alaska; the
Gitxsan of
Skeena Country; and the
Kwakwaka'wakw ("
Kwakiutl") of present-day British Columbia,
Washington, and
Oregon. Includes footage with celebrated first nation carver
Bill Reid, as he discusses the meanings of stylized motifs, as well as footage from
Edward S. Curtis' early films. Also describes and includes footage of
potlatch feasts.
3. "The Sweat of the Sun" On the ancient
Aztecs and
Incas.
4. "Kingdom of Bronze" On the ancient African kingdom of [Benin]. The bronze artifacts from the
Benin Kingdom in modern-day
Nigeria.
History: Vice-consul Phillips of UK came to Benin in 1897 to punish the King of Benin for not holding his part of the deal in a trading agreement. But at the time a ritual ceremony was being held to renew the strength of the King, so no visitors were allowed. After several warnings from both the King's and the British messengers, vice-consul Phillips still decided to go on with his journey. The result was an ambush of one of the King's chiefs. As the news of the massacre in Benin reached England, a
punitive expedition was mounted. 1,500 marines marched onto Benin. After 4 days of sporadic fighting they took Benin City. Here they found the Bronze sculptures.
5. "Woven Gardens" On the nomadic
Qashqai tribe of Iran. The tribal art of carpet-making in
Persia and the distinctive patterns of the different clans and tribes.
6. "Man Blong Custom" On tribal communities in
Melanesia.
7. "Across the Frontiers" This program revisits several of the locations of the previous programs to look more deeply at the relationships contemporary artists and collectors have with the art and artists of those societies, and how they may be compromising or enhancing the older traditions. == Notes ==