In an intriguing new podcast series, Exploring Utopias and Dystopias, co-host Matthew Leggatt, a senior lecturer in English and American literature at the University of Winchester, and Liam Knight from Birmingham University break down long-standing assumptions about utopian and dystopian worlds. Together, they dive into whether utopias are dull and dystopias inherently more exciting, bringing a fresh perspective to these often misunderstood concepts.
The debut episode introduces listeners to Professor Raffaella Baccolini, a noted American literature and gender studies scholar at the University of Bologna. Baccolini shares her unique interpretation of “utopia” and discusses her appreciation for classic dystopian works, including The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. The conversation also touches on her recent analyses of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas and N.K. Jemisin’s The Ones Who Stay and Fight offers listeners rich insights into how literature shapes our views of idealized and broken worlds.
Episode two welcomes Dr. Daniel Varndell, a senior lecturer at the University of Winchester. Varndell examines the intersection of utopian themes and cinema, exploring how film can reflect and challenge societal ideals, adding depth to the podcast’s exploration of utopian and dystopian storytelling.
Listeners can look forward to more discussions with experts whose essays will appear in Wastelands and Wonderlands: Essays on Utopian and Dystopian Film and Literature, an upcoming collection edited by Leggatt and set for release by SUNY Press next year. Additionally, Leggatt’s forthcoming monograph, Play in Utopian and Dystopian Fiction, slated for release in 2025/26 by Liverpool University Press, will delve further into these themes.
Interestingly, Leggatt and Knight first connected on Twitter (now X) and previously collaborated on a dystopian-themed video for Knight’s YouTube channel. Their combined expertise and passion for challenging narratives make Exploring Utopias and Dystopias a must-listen for anyone interested in the literary and cinematic worlds of ideal and fractured societies.
Be sure to tune in for thought-provoking conversations and fresh perspectives on utopias, dystopias, and everything in between.
