Yep, same. I really enjoyed All Watched Over, which I feel presciently explains some of the techno-fascism trends that have taken over the last six months, and of course Hypernormalization which is the corollary politically.
I feel like we’re in an era of anterograde amnesia where national memories reset every two weeks, and his work makes me feel slightly less insane, both remembering and filling in the gaps of how we got here.
I’m not aware of any similar. But since it’s so rare I come across people who actually know who this is, I’ll ask: what’s the best one, in your opinion?
It’s somehow always disappointing, but comforting.
I will say, McDonalds in Japan was pretty impressive. The food was still basically McDonalds’ flavors, but was made like they actually cared. All of our food looked like it did in the pictures, flawless bun and fries appearance. It was kind of jarring, since I couldn’t recall the last time I had seen a US McDonalds burger that wasn’t a loose-wrapper intentionally-squished disc of sadness, with ketchup splattered and leaking from the side of the bun.
Honestly, the library. They’ve been mostly forgotten in our digital present, but borrowing books for free is practically utopian in today’s enshittified, monetized world. You often can do it digitally if you like your devices.
Even if you never go to your library again after joining, a library card will usually get you free access to a streaming service like Kanopy or Hoopla that often has a not at all terrible selection.
I have now!
I think for me, the challenge is finding something that breaks down trends and ideas without resorting to discourse that’s been overworked. Vocabulary that already has been politicized by society won’t change any minds because exposure immunizes people against ideas, even good ones. The revolutionary idea becomes mundane given exposure plus time.
That’s what I think is unique about Adam Curtis, is he studiously avoids any framing that feels like a rote “capitalism” critique, but instead speaks to something more fundamental to human nature.