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The Trap, yet another Adam Curtis documentary, examines game theory, anthropology, evolutionary psychology and the notion of perceived freedom. Can human beings, as social creatures, ever truly attain individual freedom? As one system of control and heirarchy is phased out, another steps in to take its place. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3a 3b 3c
This film explains that "survival of the fittest" does not necessarily mean "...of the strongest", but of the perpetuation of the most successful reproductive strategies.
"What's going on in the world of today's marketers and advertisers? What are the new and surprising methods they're using to decipher who we are and what we want? And, where is this taking us?"The Persuaders", a Frontline presentation and another video on the PurpleKoolaid.com must-see list.
The New York Dolls live! Click the link to see the video Dance Like a Monkey! (I know, the YouTube upload had been featured on P.Z. Myers' blog earlier, but this link leads to the record label site and a crisper, cleaner version. Can you spot the Flying Spaghetti Monster?)
The Next Topic Du Jour?
Rising health care and prescription drug costs have become an issue of increased concern for many Americans, and are increasingly falling under scrutiny by a skeptical public. This is the subject of at least two documentaries set to be released this year.
True to his anti-corporate leanings, Michael Moore is set to release a new film entitled "Sicko", which is sure to draw attention if only due to the controversial nature of its producer.
Another documentary, newly released, is Big Bucks, Big Pharma, which "pulls back the curtain on the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry to expose the insidious ways that illness is used, manipulated, and in some instances created, for capital gain..."
another clip from the same video
It's interesting to note that in the advertising clips show in the first segment, the actors are being vexed and worried about various modern-day dilemmas such as remembering phone numbers, the many appointments they have to keep, etc.
Let's put two and two together. Could many of these "maladies" really be the result of living in a stressful, information-overloaded society that is now quite different from the way people used to live? Or, could it be that the label of "malady" is given to any failure to conform to the expectations of the modern day lifestyle, and then pushed as a reason to sell (often addicting) prescription drugs?
"Attention Deficit Disorder" is a classic example. How many children have been misdiagnosed with this "disorder" when they're really behaving the way kids naturally behave -- active, curious, and prone to get bored if the teacher doesn't know how to make the lessons more interesting?
Furthermore, the effects of a mismatched environment on the mental health of other species has been well-documented. Stress, isolation, boredom and confinement may cause zoo animals to develop neurotic behaviors. Could similar situations create similar conditions for the most intelligent species of all?
Dr. John Abramson talks about how doctors tend to overprescribe medications for their patients.
Big Pharma, Bad Science -- (The Nation article)
Big Pharma Snared By Net (Guardian UK article)
In the two-part series The Root of all Evil?, science luminary Richard Dawkins -- author of "The Selfish Gene", "The Blind Watchmaker" and other books -- takes religion to task as a backwards, irrational belief system. The full-length version can be found on Google Video:
Comment: While Dawkins is a brilliant man, and may be absolutely correct about his conclusions, this video demonstrates all too well why religion has always remained more popular than intellectual, secular humanism, and why academic intellectualism has always been a harder sell.
Dawkins' narration comes off as supercilious; even abrasive at times, and could potentially offend some viewers who feel their beliefs are being insulted.
I would also suggest that all rationalists take a course in emotional intelligence and public speaking before attempting to debate any politician, preacher, lawyer, or anyone other experienced public speaker.
Religion provides a source of emotional comfort people are often looking for, and it is no surprise that people often turn to religion in times of hardship. Preachers and politicians have learned to hone their charisma to create a perception of leadership and guidance that their followers are seeking out. Dawkins observes that large numbers of followers help to validate an otherwise irrational belief system, but perhaps that's a major part of the appeal: humans are a tribal species, and the instinctual need to congregate and indulge some sort of emotional bonding ritual is what helped maintain the "strength in numbers" that became a driving force in human evolution. He would do well to read more Joseph Campbell.
Two videos about the Middle East conflict:
Relentless: The Struggle For Peace In the Middle East
Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land
A Christian film about "End Times" prophecies:
A Brief History of Disbelief: Jonathan Miller's BBC documentary on atheism:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Bill Moyers On Faith and Reason: thought-provoking interviews with various authors and intellectuals.
More videos will be added in these sections as I come across them.
The Corporation: Canadian documentary that examines the history and inner workings of what has become the dominant institution of the free world.
Economist Milton Friedman talks about the strength of the economy.
Globalisation is Good Johan Norberg examines the positive effects of free trade and enterprise on what had once been impoverished countries.
Roger and Me, Michael Moore's memorably sardonic docu-diary that made him the darling of the left wing.
The Purple Koolaid Film Festival Continues...
An assortment of online videos for your viewing pleasure:
"The Power of Nightmares", another excellent BBC documentary by Adam Curtis that examines how politicians use fear to manipulate the public, and traces the timeline of both modern day radical Islam and the neocon movement in the U.S.
PBS Frontline: The Dark Side: Frontline examines how Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and cohorts pushed for a war with Iraq following the events of 9/11.
Bullshit! Penn and Teller Debunk Common Assumptions and Conspiracy Theories (NSFW) An entertaining but uneven Showtime series. (I would have liked to have seen more statistics, more in-depth analysis, etc.)
...Speaking of conspiracy theories, here's a 2+ hour job by conservative radio host Alex Jones, who or less suggests the same idea that Michael Moore does (but with a "New World Order"/police state spin):
9/11: The Road To Tyranny
Two authors previously mentioned on this blog, in a 2002 interview: Journalist Robert Wright discusses evolutionary psychology with psychologist and Harvard professor Steven Pinker.
More Robert Wright interviews from meaningoflife.tv
Robert Wright's website, Nonzero.org
Freud Would Have A Field Day With The Muslims, Too...
"Pierre Rehov's feature examines the phenomenon of suicide bombers through interviews with their family members, along with prisoners whose bombing attempts have been thwarted. The film's revelations about the bombers' true motivations are both surprising and shocking....
Rehov was interviewed by the Counterterrorism Blog on the making of the film.
[excerpt]:
What insights did you gain from making this film? What do you know that other experts do not know?
I came to the conclusion that we are facing a neurosis at the level of an entire civilization. Most neuroses have in common a dramatic event, generally linked to an unacceptable sexual behavior. In this case, we are talking of kids living all their lives in pure frustration, with no opportunity to experience sex, love, tenderness or even understanding from the opposite sex. The separation between men and women in Islam is absolute. So is contempt toward women, who are totally dominated by men. This leads to a situation of pure anxiety, in which normal behavior is not possible. It is no coincidence that suicide killers are mostly young men dominated subconsciously by an overwhelming libido that they not only cannot satisfy but are afraid of, as if it is the work of the devil. Since Islam describes heaven as a place where everything on earth will finally be allowed, and promises 72 virgins to those frustrated kids, killing others and killing themselves to reach this redemption becomes their only solution.
An excellent BBC documentary on the history of psychoanalysis, and how Sigmund Freud's pioneering ideas about the unconscious mind have been used to manipulate public opinion and consumer behavior.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
(If any of the above links do not work, click here)
