[adaml_623]

I agree with your first 2 sentences but I think that Adam Curtis's 'films' should not be watched by anyone. Especially someone trying to think about something like stability and connected systems.

His train of thought narration and brilliant music is just opium for people who aren't concentrating.

[saurabh]

I agree. I have watched almost all of his documentaries. In retrospect, everything looks like a con. He narrates history as if it was a big plan by the people in power but he forgets how utterly chaotic the world is. And yes, it is opium and I enjoyed watching his work.

[jacques_chester]

Curtis basically falls for the animistic fallacy: that all events are caused by conscious agents. This is the same pathway that leads to both religion and conspiracy theorists.

[JonnieCache]

I have always thought Curtis' overall theme (or one of them) was of powerful people drawing their grand plans, but always ultimately having them thwarted by external circumstances out of their control.

[jacques_chester]

I personally felt that he

1. Identifies baddies and eeeevil plaaaans

2. Said plans go wrong because evil is dumb

3. Smugness.

Or something like that. Essentially his problem is mixing history with histrionics. He's not a documentarist, he's an entertainer. A music video director.

[JonnieCache]

You may enjoy this exquisitely observed parody, "The Loving Trap"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1bX3F7uTrg

[JonnieCache]

I think people here are grown-up enough to cope, especially now that we've both warned them.

At the very least people should watch them simply for the treasure trove of historical accounts and strange characters contained within, even if they don't believe a word of the conclusions he draws from them.