The third episode in a three part series, “The Monkey In The Machine and the Machine in the Monkey” is Adam Curtis’ take on the influence of genes in determining human behaviour. A great use of juxtaposed sound, image and ideas to communicate a message on our place in the natural world. Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as Curtis in believing the extent to which genes control our actions, or his narrow historical perspective, I loved his collage-esque style of presentation. The programme also addresses themes raised by previous posts and issues which fascinated me a university (Congolese Independence in “The Poisonwood Bible”, the genetic theories of Price and Hamilton, and human fascination with the Great Apes).
Adam Curtis was arguing that perhaps humans have accepted such a fatalistic ideology to excuse the fact that we cannot change the world for the better and millions of people die in the world because of greed and misunderstanding.
ReplyDeletei loved that series of documentaries!