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Started by Pelagius at 08-17-2007 3:04 PM. Topic has 3 replies.

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   08-17-2007, 3:04 PM
Pelagius is not online. Last active: 8/29/2007 11:27:34 PM Pelagius

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The Century of the Self
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I recently had this online video pointed out to me. It is called "The Century of the Self", and was a BBC documentary, by Adam Curtis. It has 4 episodes;

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8953172273825999151
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-678466363224520614
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6111922724894802811
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1122532358497501036

I also found this short write up about it, so that you can understand what it is supposed to be about;

"This series is about how those in power have used Freud's theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy." - Adam Curtis

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, changed the perception of the human mind and its workings profoundly. His influence on the 20th century is widely regarded as massive. The documentary describes the impact of Freud's theories on the perception of the human mind, and the ways public relations agencies and politicians have used this during the last 100 years for their "engineering of consent".
I found it very interesting and was a undenyable example of how hard corporations and governments are working to influence things, and all that implies. It might be a good conversation starter for some future discussions.

I would enjoy hearing other people's comments on the video, and the topics it touches on.




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   10-08-2007, 3:08 PM
Felipe G. is not online. Last active: 10/24/2007 3:47:21 AM Felipe G.

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Re: The Century of the Self
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I haven't watched them yet, but as I couldn't run the google movies i found them in YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kp24ZeHtv4

It is split in 6 parts, with links in the related videos. Enjoy.


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   10-17-2007, 4:45 PM
Singleton is not online. Last active: 3/8/2009 4:14:23 AM Singleton

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Re: The Century of the Self
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Thanks for the four links. Each one is about an hour. I saw two episodes. I can draw the following conclusion: Freud's theory of the unconscious is the opposite of the Objectivist's theory of the mind. Where he sees the unconscious (or the subconscious) as completely inaccessible from the conscious, the Objectivist's theory is that consciousness is an active process and that one's mind is self-made--this includes conscious thoughts and subconscious feelings.

People have desirous feelings. Do they identify them consciously or not, by means of introspection? Do they verify and validate them or not, by means of logic? These are psycho-epistemological questions--questions of methods. Rational people have rational methods--methods guided by logic. Irrational people have irrational methods--methods guided by faith, second-handedness, emotion.

The videos (from the ones I saw) show that people can be gullible to the PR machinery. But their gullibility is not proof that Freud's theory is correct. There are other explanations, other theories that can explain better.

For more information, check out psychiatrist Dr. Allan Blumenthal's 1969 essay "The Base of Objectivist Psychotherapy" in The Objectivist.

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   09-03-2008, 1:47 AM
David George DeLancey is not online. Last active: 11/27/2008 4:37:12 PM David George DeLancey

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Umbrella [um] Re: The Century of the Self
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It seems one would have a sureness and well being that another expectedly tries to supply about the time that individual is in course with it. Confusing it seems, allow me to try again for if one has a theory that all will be good it must most definitely have to come from experience and the surety that it will happen again. I am living History of a terming The Century of the Self. Explanation would be My Ancesters have been seemingly always to be of the highest Government. Apparently since a Century goes on as to acure again it has the also representation of the past . A Century again is a Thorough Time share, for if it wasn't a place for dwelling wouldn't exist, perhaps a small percentage would, in sort the theory still exists and the DeLancey reference is a stable renaissance of time it can be done although through the capacities of a thorough alliance of agreement. I have read that i in relation have become like an inheritance, and true to my words i shall survive.

For instance a friend just last night ask while talking about my Parent when they had passed on did they leave you anything; My reply was Art Economics History. along with that teaching I also have a remedy for the course of the Presidency i say that for a rule is over by 1760 and to start will only have to be a new.

Continuing with it.and then then end, which perhaps could be a process of termination. 1:43 A.M. E.S.T. 9-3-2008
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