The Power of Nightmares

Another "Top Shelf" film, which I should have posted eons ago. This must see film by Adam Curtis (maker of "The Century of Self") of the BBC charts the evolution of the politics of fear and terror. Key material for understanding the world (myths) we live in today.  Curtis, thru the BBC, just released a new 3 part series... I'll blog it when I can get the third part available...

The Power of Nightmares, subtitled The Rise of the Politics of Fear, is a BBC series of documentary films, written and produced by Adam Curtis.

This documentary argues that during the 20th Century politicians lost the power to inspire the masses, and that the optimistic visions and ideologies they had offered were perceived to have failed. The film asserts that politicians consequently sought a new role that would restore their power and authority. Curtis, who also narrates the series, declares in the film's introduction that "Instead of delivering dreams, politicians now promise to protect us: from nightmares". To illustrate this Curtis compares the rise of the American neoconservatives and radical Islamists, believing that both are closely connected; that some popular beliefs about these groups are inaccurate; and that both movements have benefited from exaggerating the scale of the terrorist threat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3755686.stm

http://www.archive.org/details/ThePowerOfNightmares

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See the Other Top Shelf Films:

Manufacturing Consent

The Century of Self

Constitution Class