23 Comments
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Crapp's avatar

All Adam Curtis should be watched repeatedly, to my mind.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

We're mental siamese twins.

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Crapp's avatar

Yeah, he's phenomenal. I love the fact that it's so well researched and all of that, but that also how he puts together all that mish mash of imagery is so artistic. It's virtually a one man operation, as I half understand it via a half remembered conversation... He has open access to the entire BBC archives - worldwide, all that radio stuff etc etc. (Via the same half remembered conversation.)

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Luca Baptista's avatar

A brilliant doc. Watched it years ago, will rewatch it thanks for your post.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

I'm rewatching it this week too :)

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Luca Baptista's avatar

"All Watched Over..." is also great, though I had to make a huge effort not to vomit all over my computer with the clips of ayn rand.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

I've seen everything but time I redo. Loved the latest on Russia!

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Luca Baptista's avatar

better download everything before is deleted and the guy is sent to belmarsh. just saying'

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Serial Misfit's avatar

Also " Can't get you out of my head" is a brilliant follow up to Hypernormalisation, free on YouTube, and there's a new one "Trauma zone" that deals with Russia, but I haven't watched it yet. His work should be compulsory viewing for anyone who wants to understand human society in the 21st century, its origins (All watched over by machines of loving grace), evolution (Century of the self/ Hypernormalisation) and where it's possibly heading (Can't get you out of my head). Amazing archival footage, editing, and narration. Thought provoking is an understatement. He's THE best out there by very far.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

'Can't Get You Out of My Head' was a great series, and the easiest to get into.

I included the link to 'TraumaZone' beneath this post.

'Century of the Self' began my Curtis journey.

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Darkstar's avatar

Hypernomalisation is a good way to describe the world we we live in, Mike. Somewhat like Clockwork Orange and the original Terrmenater all mixed together. The 7 year old documentary is now even more scary as AI takes on new powers daily.

It give one pause to think, where does our controlled perspective end?

In a nuclear fireball? Or lost in a maze of AI powered alternative realities?

The truth can never be true except for what we dream it to be?

Unfortunately, bombs falling on civlians are nothampered by such concepts.

Tanks and bombs seemingly failed Philosophy 101.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

Thinking on your Philosophy 101 versus bombs, it's like watching a serial killer at work, and telling yourself that it's better not to tell the police and rather have a cup of coffee. But at that moment, the killer turns towards you, and you reassure yourself that there's a glass window in between you.

The part I have to accept, something I've immensely struggled with, is that we are animals and thus everything about human herd instinct is natural and thus repeated. Those of us not running with them are aberrations. We're fighting inevitability. But that's damn hard to live with so we tell ourselves we're special and moral.

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Mark Taylor's avatar

Damn, it confirms everything I have been feeling, sensing and intuiting for several years. Truly, everyone needs to watch this TODAY!

I've known much of it intellectually for years, but I always felt there was more -- deeper and beyond my view -- and I had not threaded many of the historical characters and incidents together in the way the documentary did. I had no idea about the Gaddafi/Syria dynamic and backstory. Americans and Brits ... total psychopaths.

Truly, people, watch this documentary and thanks for posting, Mike.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

The Impact of Adam Curtis!

I should post them all and make a special page for him once done, hoping all remain online.

'TraumaZone' and 'Hypernormalisation' done. Got to choose between two other favorites for which is next.

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Mark Taylor's avatar

I'll watch and repost.

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The counter-intuitive 🐿️'s avatar

Given the documentary does a great job, to objectively sums up the dead end options of current industrial civilization, it totally misses the presence and impact of modern technology being totally complicit in the making of a hypernormalized society. Adam Curtis missed the tyranny of technology.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

Sure, everything should be criticised but in his defence it was 2h45min and began in the 70s and spoke a bunch about the 80s and 90s. 'Can't Get You Out of My Head' may be the next series for you.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

And there's 'All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace'.

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Constantine Markides's avatar

Just watched the palate cleanser. I’m sold. Looking forward to seeing the full doc. The trailer reminds me a bit of Manufacturing Consent, which I’m sure you’ve seen

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Mike Hampton's avatar

Only saw your comment now. Better 4 months late, they say.

Yes, I saw 'Manufacturing Consent'!

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Constantine Markides's avatar

I've seen it countless times. Some great early Chomsky footage in it like the debate with Buckley over the Vietnam War and his debate with Foucault via an interpreter

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Mike Hampton's avatar

Been a long time for me, so your memory better than mine. 'Best of Enemies' was an excellent doccie with him and Gore Vidal.

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Mike Hampton's avatar

Watch the full 'Hypernormalisation'.

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