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.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
Clip
-
![]()
Profane church carvings
Duration: 01:26
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 |