I watched the excellent Century of the Self series some time ago (I think at the suggestion of Maki), but recent ponderings and events have brought it back to mind (more on those at a later time).
If you aren’t familiar with it, Century of the Self is a fascinating four-part documentary series that explores the influence of Sigmund Freud and his nephew, Edward Bernays, on modern life, particularly in the areas of public relations, advertising, and politics. Really, it is a must see if you want to have a better grasp of the types of influence at play in all parts of our lives. And yes, that certainly includes learning!
Below is the first installment of the series. And here are the links to all four parts:
- Century of the Self, Part I, Happiness Machines
- Century of the Self, Part II, The Engineering of Consent
- Century of the Self, Part III, There is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads: He Must Be Destroyed
- Century of the Self, Part IV, Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering
It’s a bit of a time commitment to watch all of these, but I think you will find it is time well spent. Trust me.
Jeff Cobb
Mission to Learn
