The Century Of The Self

Sigmund Freud's work into the bubbling and murky world of the subconscious changed the world. By introducing a technique to probe the unconscious mind, Freud provided useful tools for understanding the secret desires of the masses.

Unwittingly, his work also served as the precursor to a world full of political spin doctors, marketing moguls, and society's belief that the pursuit of satisfaction and happiness is man's ultimate goal. To many in both politics and business, the triumph of the self is the ultimate expression of democracy, where power has finally moved to the people.

Certainly the people may feel they are in charge, but are they really?

The Century of the Self is an award winning British television documentary film. It focuses on how Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, and Edward Bernays influenced the way corporations and governments have analyzed,‭ dealt with, and controlled ‬people and tells the untold and sometimes controversial story of the growth of the mass-consumer society in Britain and the United States. How was the all-consuming self created, by whom, and in whose interests?

If you haven't seen this Adam Curtis documentary before, it's a must watch. The Century of the Self details the history behind how America was transformed from a democracy and into a corporatocracy during the twentieth century. Here's the trailer -


Archived full version: The Century of the Self