This was my original introduction to modernism in the book form. Along with John Berger's Ways of Seeing, the documentary form is one of the best primers for the period out there. Across eight episodes it covers the history, sociopolitical context, and the ways in which modernism began to give way to postmodernism. While not an outright Marxist like Berger was, Robert Hughes' documentary series has strong critiques of art history that Marxist art theorists saw a lot of value in. From an obituary post: http://marxistupdate.blogspot.com/2012/08/robert-hughes-marxist-view.html

::: spoiler spoiler We have lost one of the great cultural commentators of our time. Equally riveting in prose or on television, Hughes had encyclopaedic knowledge and a combative but poetic style, which allowed him to communicate complex ideas about art and artists with edge and accessibility.

Most importantly he knew how to beat a path between cultural artifacts and aspects of the contemporary world in a wa