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A Good Place Within

Richard Clay asks if utopia is, ultimately, a state of mind. Can we all find our utopia in a perfect moment of transcendence, artistic expression or hedonism?

Art historian Richard Clay asks whether utopia is, ultimately, a state of mind. Can we find utopia within? He explores the many ways we have created to immerse ourselves in a perfect moment, of epiphany or transcendence, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and pleasure.

Seeking answers in a broad range of arts, Richard meets digital games pioneer Sid Meier, Rada improvisation teacher Chris Heimann and opera impresario Martin Graham. He tries to compose a haiku and uncovers traces of the hedonistic medieval carnival tradition in the churches and pubs of his native Lancashire.

Richard also compares and contrasts different musical escapes, interviewing Acid House legend A Guy Called Gerald and the celebrated minimalist composer Steve Reich. This is not about the utopia of the future but about the utopia of the immediate world that we can experience now.

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Oct 2021 00:45

Clip

Music Played

  • Farley Jackmaster Funk

    I Can't Turn Around (feat. Darryl Pandy)

  • Richard Wagner

    Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walk眉re)

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Richard Clay
Interviewed Guest Tas Bahir
Interviewed Guest David Bingham
Interviewed Guest James Delaney
Interviewed Guest Martin Graham
Interviewed Guest Kate Hall
Interviewed Guest Chris Heimann
Interviewed Guest Charles Matlock
Interviewed Guest Sid Meier
Interviewed Guest Deimantas Narkevicius
Interviewed Guest Steve Reich
Interviewed Guest Gerald Simpson
Musician Anthony Negus
Musician Stephen Rooke
Music Group Aslam Ali
Music Group Mubarik Ali
Music Group Nabeel Ghori
Music Group Asad Iqbal
Music Group Haji Ameer Khan
Music Group Jatinder Kwatna
Music Group Zilgarnain Mahomed
Music Group Kamaldeep Mathary
Music Group Imad Undre
Production Company ClearStory Ltd
Executive Producer Russell Barnes
Director Russell Barnes
Assistant Producer Alex Brisland
Production Manager Clare Burns
Editor Julian Hart
Composer Richard Farnsworth
On-line editing Ben Harris
Researcher Sabrina Scollan
Re-recording mixer Phitz Hearne
Director of photography Pete Allibone
Sound Recordist Adam Prescod
Colourist Tim Waller
Sound Recordist Phil Nockles
Camera Operator Will Churchill
Camera Operator Tim Platten

Broadcasts