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From Hopper to Hollywood, Mississippi mud pies to music, Steinbeck and more, controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four Richard Klein has announced an ambitious America Season, a collection of thought-provoking programming for Autumn/Winter 2011 which will explore the rich cultural heritage of 20th-century America.

The season will feature a broad range of American culture across visual arts, music, movies, gastronomy, photography and popular culture.

Programming ranges from Andrew Graham-Dixon on the Art Of America to Melvyn Bragg on Steinbeck; Rankin on the photography of Life Magazine to Rick Stein on food and blues in Mississippi; and from a series looking at African-American music legends of the Eighties to a documentary on diners.

Richard Klein, Controller, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four, said: "´óÏó´«Ã½ Four will look at the culture of the United States in the century when it developed the most, when it was at its most energetic. As the gold card channel for arts, music, culture and knowledge, we wanted to ambitiously celebrate this 20th-century culture in a way that only ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four can, with programming that has proposition and purpose.

"The America Season brings viewers American arts and culture through a broad range and depth of distinctive programming.

"From Rick Stein talking us through his view of how music and food have influenced each other in Mississippi, to Andrew Graham-Dixon continuing his ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four world art tour with his biggest country yet; or Stephen Smith's loving exploration of that classic American institution – the diner.

"The programmes will explore this fascinating time when American culture really matured in the 20th century, becoming a powerful voice, with American artists amongst the world's leading figures."

AT