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The personal odysseys of some of the most influential advertising visionaries of all time and the stories behind their campaigns.

Czech painter and illustrator Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) ranks among the pioneers of the Art Nouveau movement at the end of the 19th century. Virtually overnight, he becomes famous in Paris thanks to the posters that he designs to announce actress Sarah Bernhardt’s plays. But at the height of his fame, Mucha decides to leave Paris to realize his lifetime project.

He may not be household name, but Joe Caroff is one the most influential graphic designers of the 20th century. His work is a history of the pop culture of our time: from iconic corporate logos (like ABC News and ORION Pictures) and book jackets (Norman Mailer’s The Naked and the Dead) to some of the most instantly recognizable “title treatments” for such classics as WEST SIDE STORY, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, CABARET, LAST TANGO IN PARIS, MANHATTAN, and the James Bond gun logo. Caroff’s story is told by the centenarian himself, with reminiscences of growing up during the Depression and service in WWII, along with interviews with Phyliss Caroff, his wife of over 70 years, producer Mike Medavoy, and others.

The last 15 years has seen a boom in the UK graphic arts and illustration industry, with a DIY scene emerging and prospering alongside new and affordable leaps in technology. So much of our lives is now spent in the virtual digital realm, so what will become of the tactile objects we all hold so dear? Will we see books disappear in our lifetime?

A brief history of the DC Comics character Batman, created by Bob Kane in 1939.

At its peak, The Black and White Minstrel Show was watched by a Saturday night audience of more than 20 million people. David Harewood goes on a mission to understand the roots of this strange, intensely problematic cultural form: where did the show come from, and what made it popular for so long? With the help of historians, actors and musicians, David uncovers how, at its core, blackface minstrelsy was simply an attempt to make racism into an art form - and can be traced back to a name and a date.