The Century of the Self

The Century of the Self

A secret history of the 20th century.

Ended First aired 17/Mar/2002 United Kingdom English 1 season(s) 4 episode(s)
DocumentaryWar & Politics
The legacy of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud informs the lives of people throughout the world even to this day, though it's a phenomenon to which most are unaware. The film is an exhaustive examination of his theories on human desire, and how they're applied to platforms such as advertising, consumerism and politics.
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TimeScore 33% Skip It
Binge Meter 48% Slow Burn
Episode Pulse Quiet 40% activity score
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Season 1 · Miniseries
4 episode(s) · Air date: 17/Mar/2002
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Season Overview

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S1E4
Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering
Air date: 07/Apr/2002 · Time: 20:00 · Runtime: 58 min
Summary

How both the Labour Party in Britain and the Democrats in America have sought to gain power through use of the focus group, invented by psychoanalysts to fulfil desires of the inner self.

Summary

How both the Labour Party in Britain and the Democrats in America have sought to gain power through use of the focus group, invented by psychoanalysts to fulfil desires of the inner self.

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S1E3
There Is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads. He Must Be Destroyed
Air date: 31/Mar/2002 · Time: 20:00 · Runtime: 58 min
Summary

In the 1960s, a radical group of psychotherapists challenged the influence of Freudian ideas in America. They were inspired by the ideas of Wilhelm Reich, a pupil of Freud's, who had turned against him and was hated by the Freud family. He believed that the inner self did not need to be repressed and controlled. It should be encouraged to express itself.

Summary

In the 1960s, a radical group of psychotherapists challenged the influence of Freudian ideas in America. They were inspired by the ideas of Wilhelm Reich, a pupil of Freud's, who had turned against him and was hated by the Freud family. He believed that the inner self did not need to be repressed and controlled. It should be encouraged to express itself.

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S1E2
The Engineering of Consent
Air date: 24/Mar/2002 · Time: 20:00 · Runtime: 58 min
Summary

The programme explores how those in power in post-war America used Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind to try and control the masses.

Summary

The programme explores how those in power in post-war America used Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind to try and control the masses.

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S1E1
Happiness Machines
Air date: 17/Mar/2002 · Time: 20:00 · Runtime: 58 min
Summary

The story of the relationship between Sigmund Freud and his American nephew, Edward Bernays. Bernays invented the public relations profession in the 1920s and was the first person to take Freud's ideas to manipulate the masses. He showed American corporations how they could make people want things they didn't need by systematically linking mass-produced goods to their unconscious desires.

Summary

The story of the relationship between Sigmund Freud and his American nephew, Edward Bernays. Bernays invented the public relations profession in the 1920s and was the first person to take Freud's ideas to manipulate the masses. He showed American corporations how they could make people want things they didn't need by systematically linking mass-produced goods to their unconscious desires.

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Cast

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Adam Curtis
Adam Curtis
Narrator
Anne Bernays
Anne Bernays
Self
No Photo
Martin Bergmann
Self
Robert Reich
Robert Reich
Self
Edward L. Bernays
Edward L. Bernays
Self (archive footage)
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Self (archive footage)
No Photo
Anna Freud
Self (archive footage)
Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich
Self (archive footage)
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Self (archive footage)
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Self (archive footage)
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
Self (archive footage)
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Self (archive footage)

Crew

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Adam Curtis
Adam Curtis
Creator, Director, Producer, Writer
No Photo
Lucy Kelsall
Co-Producer
No Photo
Stephen Lambert
Executive Producer

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