The red phone and the power of nightmares. Required viewing!

The "red phone" ad kerfuffle yesterday reminded me of this brilliant series of BBC documentaries by Adam Curtis on the politics of fear: The Power of Nightmares. It's essential viewing, and although it spotlights neoconservatives and radical Islam, it more than explains the rationale of Clinton's recent fearmongering. The documentary is sheer brilliance - those of y'all familiar with situationist films will find a lot of techniques on loan from them, and everyone should find a lot to ponder.

Links:

The Power of Nightmares

Part 1: Baby, It's Cold Outside: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1320822957676559056

Part 2: The Phantom Victory: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3983282218066976625

Part 3: The Shadows in the Cave: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2812837329122746952

Three hours. Here's a trailer if you want to dip your toe in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFQgXG7-aM8

I think sundance was the only venue that would show it in America, and that 2+ years ago.

I saw it when it first came out and it was brilliant and thought provoking.

it just doesn't apply here imho

Power of NightMares

Kids. In the dark. At 3am. Phone starts ringing constantly...

I'll grant that it's certainly tamer than the daisy and the wolves ads - and much moreso than Tancredo's blatant scare ads... but they still mine the same, exact territory.

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