Robert Ashley’s avant television opera Perfect Lives (Privacy Rules), composed between 1978-1980 with the help of “Blue” Gene Tyranny, was a surreal, discordant mind-blower when it was first performed, and it’s still really powerful. Video artist John Sanborn is responsible for the amazing visuals. In Robert Ashley, this work is profiled by director Peter Greenaway. Despite being a huge blowhard, Greenaway is capable of greatness, and it’s hard to imagine anyone could have better captured Ashley’s vision.

• Part Two
• Part Three
• Part Four
• Part Five
• Part Six