The Century of the Self
This series is about how those in power have used Freud’s theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, changed the perception of the human mind and its workings profoundly.
His influence on the 20th century is widely regarded as massive. The documentary describes the impact of Freud’s theories on the perception of the human mind, and the ways public relations agencies and politicians have used this during the last 100 years for their “engineering of consent”. Among the main characters are Freud himself and his nephew Edward Bernays, who was the first to use psychological techniques in advertising. He is often seen as the “father of the public relations industry”.
Freud’s daughter Anna Freud, a pioneer of child psychology, is mentioned in the second part, as well as Wilhelm Reich, one of the main opponents of Freud’s theories. Along these general themes, The Century of the Self asks deeper questions about the roots and methods of modern consumerism, representative democracy and its implications. It also questions the modern way we see ourselves, the attitude to fashion and superficiality.
Happiness Machines (Part 1) – playlist
The Engineering of Consent (Part 2)
There is a Policeman Inside All of Our Heads, He Must Be Destroyed (Part 3)
Eight People Sipping Wine In Kettering (Part 4)
This is one of the most important documentaries ive ever watched. ESSENTIAL.
That’s an amazing documentary indeed!
Leaves you thinking about the exciting complexiness of human mind
this touches on so many areas of human existence in society, fascinating…..Thank you to the film makers for trusting us with this information! Here’s to the intelligence and sanity of the mass public!!!!!!!
Most certainly one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. This is journalism at its best! A great documentary which stretches over the entire 19th century. RESPECT!
***** (5 Stars)
A MUST SEE!
Best Regards,
Der Oberst
Wow, Amazing, we take for granted the world we live in but, its interesting to see how much of it is an artificial construction. Also how are lives are in a sense scripted. Does anybody now of any books on subjects such as these?
u may start to read existentialism starting with kirkeegard…
This should be regular curriculum in school. Children need to be taught how to rationally understand their own minds before they can develop some of greatest gifts associated with living in a civilized society. Love,empathy,compassion,justice; an innumerable figure of life altering insights. And above all a collective purpose.
My hat is off to the BBC for this one.
Noah York
I need to go out and buy this! It will complete my infinite self identity.
great insight on how the world works, both economically and politically. great insight into the evolution of the ‘self’ in the last 100 years. this was a great watch, very important.
This is by far the greatest and most important documentary I have ever seen.
The ammount of research and vital connections it makes into the world of politics, psychology and business is trully astonishing.
This documentary changes the way you see everything!
Adam Curtis – You’re a genius!
If you haven’t seen it Run (don’t walk) to catch it all!
Amazing documentary. Mind blowing, really. Although, it crystalizes what I have always sensed over the last few decades. That the “self actualization” or “self esteem” movements, in various forms, are not only abject failures, (in that they accomplish nothing but allowing you to become more of a robot), but they are also dangerous.
Self absorption, (like Narcissus staring at himself in the water), is just another way to hypnotize you into not noticing what you are losing when it is taken away.
The vast majority of us will never be rich. The vast majority of us will never be famous, in fact, most of us will be forgotten in as little as 50 or 100 years after we die. If you’re lucky your genetic material may carry on, and that is all that nature wants from you. We will probably, none of us, have any lasting impact on the world.
That is fine by me. I don’t want any record that I was part of this horrendous species after I am gone, but most people in this country actually secretly think they are special enough to be rich and famous someday. It boggles my mind.
Anyway, just be content to live a good quiet life, helping when you can, don’t hurt anybody, and just go out with some quiet dignity. That’s all most of the human race has tried to do for most of it’s history. Can’t that be enough for Americans?
Eh…
All I have to say is that this is one of the best doc’s Ive ever seen….Must watch, will answer a lot of questions one may have of this world.
Indeed Very comprehensive research on the whole field of manipulation of the masses – a nice view on this.
Surely on of the best docu – alon with the docu “Flow” water.
Very informative series. Lots of good information, but with a liberal slant.
Collectivism, which is being promoted here, is not something one should aspire to. Collectivism has given us regimes and a mob mentality.
As Margaret Thatcher said, “the problem with socialism is sooner or later you run out of other people’s money”. You can’t rob Peter to pay Paul forever. Sooner or later Peter will be broke. I guess socialists and collectivists feel it is better for everyone to be broke, though.
What is sadly lacking is a realization that the talking heads, the movers and shakers behind “spread the wealth” are living high on the hog themselves. In the U.S. we see movies stars and other big names trying to promote socialism with all their might, while they have been made filthy rich by capitalism. Hypocrites, all.
Collectivism is not at all being promoted by Adam Curtis (whose personal political persuasion is ‘Conservative’), in fact he is completely against ‘Liberalism’. His documentaries are without doubt the pinnacle of the genre and as has already been said here ESSENTIAL viewing if you want to educate yourself and forget all that we have been conditioned to accept as ‘reality’
Power Of Nightmares
The Freedom Trap
The Mayfair Set
All superb..
&
Pandora’s Box
The Living Dead
- all available here!
From what i see I don’t think Adam Curtis is a “conservative” it appears to me that criticizing the big businesses for manipulating people’s unconscious desires to buy their products is a very liberal-like criticism; Also Adam Smith’s Power of Nightmare was heavily criticized by conservatives and neo-conservatives, and praised by liberals.
Even if Adam Curtis is a “conservative” his documentaries are nonetheless interesting and thought-provocative. As someone else said, I don’t think Adam Curtis is promoting collectivism, he hasn’t given the slightest hint on that; he’s criticizing what the individual has become: a self-centered, irrational, and consuming individual as oppose to a rational, disciplined, and socially active individual.
Anyways I saw this documentary several times and I love it, not only do I enjoy its explanation of the history of public relation in connection with psychoanalysis and consumerism; I enjoy interpreting the documentary as a historical criticism against consumerism and the manipulative practice of big businesses.
Agreed, this is an amazing documentary. The concepts parallel Spiral Dynamics theory. The video ends eluding to a system where self-centered individualism becomes more responsible to the larger groups welfare. This value meme is called orange/Green. American NeoCons used the term ‘compassionate conservative’ to connect to voters in this meme after the Clinton Administration.