Stewart Lee: Has Counter-Culture Sold Out or Gone Right?

Comedian Stewart Lee presents a five-part series examining the enduring legacy and contemporary relevance of counter-culture. Beginning with its roots in the 1950s Beat, folk, and jazz movements, the series charts its ascent through the 1960s and 70s, encompassing hippie communes, liberation movements, and punk. It further explores the 1980s and early 90s, a period marked by political pushback against the 'permissive society' from governments in Britain and America.

The series probes counter-culture's transformation in the digital age, questioning whether its ideals have been absorbed into mainstream culture or migrated to new political territories. It highlights pivotal moments such as the Oz magazine trial, which challenged underground press freedom, and the government's confrontation with 'new age travellers' culminating in the violent 'Battle of the Beanfield' in June 1985.

Through conversations with artists, musicians, writers, and historians, Lee investigates counter-culture's deeper political and philosophical impact. The exploration extends to its influence on everything from personal style to political choices, assessing whether its once radical ideas remain potent or have been co-opted and monetized.