The Century of the Self

"A secret history of the 20th century."

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.

Trailer

Storyline

First Aired

2002-03-17
Last Aired

2002-04-07
Creator

Adam Curtis
Genre

Documentary, War & Politics
Seasons

1
Episodes

4
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

BBC Two

Keywords:

psychoanalysis sigmund freud miniseries

Stream and watch The Century of the Self

Season 1

1. Happiness Machines

The story of the relationship between Sigmund Freud and his American nephew, Edward Bernays. Bernays i...More

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.Less

58mins 2002-03-17

2. The Engineering of Consent

The programme explores how those in power in post-war America used Freud's ideas about the unconscious...More

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.Less

58mins 2002-03-24

3. There Is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads. He Must Be Destroyed

In the 1960s, a radical group of psychotherapists challenged the influence of Freudian ideas in Americ...More

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.Less

58mins 2002-03-31

4. Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering

How both the Labour Party in Britain and the Democrats in America have sought to gain power through us...More

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.Less