BBC's Adam Curtis: "The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom?"

[KoKo]

http://archive.org/details/AdamCurtis_TheTrap

The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom

This series consists of three one-hour programmes which explore the concept and definition of freedom, specifically, "how a simplistic model of human beings as self-seeking, almost robotic, creatures led to today's idea of freedom."

http://archive.org/details/AdamCurtis_TheTrap

[KoKo]

1. It's actually a better "Bookmark" for Weekend Watch..but it came up here on DU

Today...and folks wondered how to watch it.. So, I posted the link.

It's a watch and "want to know what you think" kind of thing.

[Monkie]

2. basically this is required viewing

along with his other works, there are many documentaries, but few of this quality.

[KoKo]

3. It'e coming through for you...?

I never know these days posting a link if folks can get it.

Good on You if you could access in good quality?

[Monkie]

4. i was recommending, watched them all when they came out

i wasnt viewing right now sorry, i just wanted to endorse his work because not many people make documentaries like he does, very calm and well researched, low on hype and panic.

[KoKo]

5. Okay...thanks, much. I keep checking link and it seems to work for those who

didn't see it when it came out. Our internet services vary so much ...never know if a link will post that folks can see.

Thanks!

[ananda]

6. This is a great film.

Adam Curtis’ film “The Trap” explains how the paranoid delusions behind game and numbers theory has been co-opted by governments, corporations, and institutions so that .. literally.. the inmates have been running the asylum.

Their big philosophy has been one of holding mutually exclusive goals at the same time: freedom and control... self-interest and a self-regulating free market... resulting in utter FUBAR chaos and destruction.

Republicans and some Dems are still holding on to this paranoid numbers and game theory model, as many of them are still promoting unregulated utilities, privatization, control with numbers, and resistance to efforts to regulate sectors of the economy and bring jobs and money back to America and real Americans.

As for control with numbers, just look at efficiency models and quotas in industry, and also in areas like education, social work, and health care. Where service and aid are involved, game theory proves most harmful... just look at the ever burgeoning DSM manual of institutional psychiatry buttressed by the very selfish and self-interested pharmaceutical industry... and at the deplorable state of education run on a corporate industrial model of both numbering students and using the numbers related to attendance and test scores to reward and punish schools and staff.

For a good insight into the way that the numbers model of industry, allied with paranoid delusions of fascist like control, have taken over education, look at the thoughts of Frank Smith and the history of classical education vs. industrial.

Thus we see collapse as a result of the industrial model of the assembly line and turning people into numbered automata; moreover, this model has roots in a mechanistic view of humanity. It's very worthwhile and interesting to look at the history of mechanism in philosophy, arts and letters.. starting with Descartes.

There were two people in "The Trap" that I was somewhat familiar with: Margaret Thatcher and RD Laing... and both of them came off looking very bad.

What amazed me about the clips showing Thatcher speaking is how smarmy, righteous, virtuous, and sanctimonious she comes off. That demeanor, along with her ideological propganda message, really screwed the UK and its people bigtime... and Ronald Reagan did the same thing, though he isn't a focus of the documentary, which centers mostly on the UK... though it does show how the major premises of game theory and paranoid self-interest found their cache in the work of the paranoid schizophrenic John Nash (of A Beautiful Mind) and it was game theory and numbers that drove the implementation of their paranoid delusional ideas about freedom and control.

You must realize that for the last thirty or forty years, the insane have been running the asylum.. and of course the results are evident: utter complete chaos and collapse.

That's why it seems evident to me that it's time for humanism, both secular and theistic (both are good), along with organicism ... should be making a comeback in a big way!

[KoKo]

7. +1...thanks for this review...and hopefully folks will watch or Bookmark for when

they have time to get to it. His films have been interesting. And, maybe it's time for a revival of them..to get wider viewing audience.

AGREE: (snip from your reply)

"You must realize that for the last thirty or forty years, the insane have been running the asylum.. and of course the results are evident: utter complete chaos and collapse.

That's why it seems evident to me that it's time for humanism, both secular and theistic (both are good), along with organicism ... should be making a comeback in a big way!"

FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE REAL CHANGE!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

8. Saw it a few years back, and thought it was pretty good.

Its kind of ironic though that many people who probably should watch it, would avoid it, because it is thought-provoking and not merely simple entertainment.

[KoKo]

9. I know what you say...But, maybe the Time has Come Again...for a New Awakening...

And, those who missed it on first go 'round...might find it interesting now that they are older and been through "more of life" ...like we were...when we watched them ..

What's Old becomes New...once again for a New Audience, maybe?

And...as you said it's not OLD...it's just a few years ago and many might have missed the first "go round."

[KoKo]

10. Bookmark...for weekend...if you don't have time now...