JTaylor

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04b183c

9pm iPlayer.

hodgy0_2

Without clicking on the link I know it is the new Adam Curtis film


I was going to post it actually

I find his work brilliant tbh

I am somewhat both surprised and interested you obviously have a interest in his work too

Have you seen his early stuff?

RAGGY DOO

iTrader: (1)

No

JTaylor

I adore Adam Curtis's work! I've watched virtually all of it, but was turned on to him whilst I studied politics with sociology in my mid-twenties which was about the same time that The Century of the Self was aired. Curtis and I share an admiration of Max Weber and we're also both of a libertarian persuasion with some sympathies with the left and conversely with elements of neoconservativism.

hodgy0_2

It is a pet peeve of mine that that the term "libertarian" has been appropriated by the right wing bat **** loony brigade

The obvious inference is that if you are not part of the right wing neoconspiritard - then you are anti libertarian and pro "control"

When in fact theses loons have serious authoritarian undertones


I consider myself a libertarian - but my political philosophy is 180 degrees different

I also don't see much neoconservatism in his work I have to say

JTaylor

http://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-adam-curtis/

hodgy0_2

well yes, but that sort of goes back to my point in the post above

I see myself as a libertarian - and as I say this knowing its association with the "Austrian School" of economics - with which I profoundly disagree, as I think does Curtis

far from empowering the individual it has been a disaster for so many, since it took hold as THE dominant economic/social system of the last 40 years, but it is VERY successful at owning the narrative

It is pretty obvious - not least from the title of the series, "the Century of the Self"

that Curtis puts quite a lot of store in individualism - and sees it as a big driver of change in the last 150 years

However, I think one of the problems / weaknesses of "individualism" goes back to something I mentioned in the EU thread

It creates a fertile ground for less scrupulous theories/organisations to pursue the "Serengeti Strategy"

I am very careful - and I think I caught a sense of that from your link (thanks) that Curtis feels the same, is not to get to wedded to ideas & philosophies - sometime you simply have to let them go

otherwise you get these inner contradictions that become increasingly hard to internally reconcile with yourself - I suspect it can turn into a psychosis

JTaylor

I've written three responses to your post, but keep deleting them because they simply don't capture my thoughts and feelings on such a massive subject. In short I'm a Christian Libertarian with sympathies toward Christian Anarchism (à la Tolstoy), but to all intents and purposes have given up on politics and ideological causes owing to the utter futility of going up against 'the system'. Said system is absurd and for me reinforces my subscription to the concept of the fall of man.

I found last night's programme to be brilliant and disturbing. Have you watched it?

hodgy0_2

lol, me too JT

which is why I obviously saw your reply last night but wanted to respond after some thought this morning

It is difficult to do the subject justice on a Japanese sports car forum - even in the "non" section - :-)

Yes, but not all of it - I think about half, - it is over 3 hrs and deserves ones full attention

It seemed like a slight rehash / amalgam of his earlier work imv - but I will reserve full judgement until I have seen all of it

I think fundamentally I am more optimistic/hopeful about "man"

hodgy0_2

as a (sarcastic) counter point

this is quite amusing

JTaylor

On what grounds?

JTaylor

hodgy0_2

sorry been busy at work

well, and with the risk of sounding trite

optimism is better than pessimism

and ultimately I believe in humanity and humanities ability to move forward and address the challenges we face as a species

and generally - people a good

re the Adam Curtis, Hypernormalisation- yes worth watching, although I don't think it actually said more than this 2014 - 6 min video


what struck me was the section from 3.40, especially the comment about "wealth transfer"

as I had made the very same point back in 2010/11 on one of the house price / bankers threads

JTaylor

This is a kind of humanist 'faith'; choosing a reality.

I don't believe we're inherently "good", I think and feel we're deeply and essentially selfish and qualified scientists agree with me.

Yes, that's the crux of the film.

You made the point very early, to be fair. The thing is though, as per my 'everything's ok' thread, I'm happy and content with my lot. I'm concious that the world is fallen and that evil pervades amongst the controlling classes, but I have the blessed assurance that one day justice will be served and wrongs will be put right.

So, like you, I'm optimistic, but I place my faith in God - the Creator not the created.