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Mark Louie G. Gorantes

Prof. J.A. Paquia

The Contemporary World

30 April 2023

HyperNormalisation by Adam Curtis (Documentary) 2016

I have no idea how to begin with this piece because this is the most intriguing,

gritty, and blunt documentary of the Contemporary World. Adam Curtis' documentary,

HyperNormalization, examines the intricate and frequently perplexing reality of politics,

economy, and society in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The term

"hypernormalization," which describes the belief that people have lost touch with reality as a

result of being accustomed to the strange and contradictory aspect of modern life, serves as

the inspiration for the title of the movie. Curtis builds an expansive, multi-layered story that

touches on everything from the advent of neoliberalism to the war on terror using a massive

collection of historical material, interviews, and music.

Curtis begins analyzing the political climate of the 1970s and 1980s, a

time when governments all over the world were attempting to cope with the challenges of a
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fast changing global environment. This period in American history was characterized by the

ascent of the Reagan administration and its promotion of deregulation and free-market

economics. In Curtis' opinion, this period signaled a transition away from traditional ideas of

community and social responsibility and towards a more individualistic and market-driven

worldview. It also marked a turning point in how individuals thought about politics and

society.

The demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent creation of a new

international order headed by the United States are the next topics Curtis discusses. He

contends that during this time in history, people around the world were optimistic and open to

new possibilities as they embraced globalization and the prospect of a more connected and

affluent future. Curtis also points out that this time was characterized by an increasing sense

of hopelessness and despair due to the fact that many of the promises of globalization did not

come to pass.

Curtis also looks at the development of computer networks and the internet,

which he claims have had a significant impact on how the modern world is now. Rather than

being centralized and hierarchical, he observes that these technologies have given rise to a

new kind of power that is distributed and decentralized. According to Curtis, this has had

significant ramifications for politics and society since it has given rise to new opportunities

for social organization and collaboration as well as new types of surveillance and control.

The effects of technology on society are another important topic covered in

HyperNormalisation. According to Curtis, technology has greatly contributed to the

appearance of stability and control since it constantly bombards people with information and

diversionary activities that prevent them from focusing on the more serious social issues that

are plaguing society. For instance, the growth of social media has prompted the spread of

false information and fake news, which furthers people's confusion and disorientation.
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The complicated and frequently perplexing facts of contemporary politics

and society are compellingly summarized in HyperNormalisation. A strong and immersive

watching experience is produced by Curtis's use of historical material and music, and his

analysis of recent political and social trends is both illuminating and thought-provoking. The

movie is ultimately an interesting and gratifying investigation of the world we live in, despite

the fact that it can occasionally be dense and difficult.

Moreover, Curtis looks at how elites and power systems shaped the

modern world. He contends that a select few people, including bankers, CEOs, and

politicians, have concentrated their riches and power at the expense of the rest of society. A

few number of individuals now control the majority of the world's resources, while the vast

majority struggles to make ends meet as a result of this.

In the end, HyperNormalisation paints a depressing picture of the

contemporary world, where people are caught in a vicious circle of bewilderment, diversion,

and helplessness. Curtis contends that society's underlying issues, such as inequality,

corruption, and political polarization, must be addressed if we are to escape this cycle. He

encourages individuals to get more involved in their communities, to challenge the narratives

put forth by those in authority, and to seek to make the world more just and equal.
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Work Cited/References:

Sam Johnson. (2018, May 19). HyperNormalisation (2016) by Adam Curtis | FULL

DOCUMENTARY [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thLgkQBFTPw

HyperNormalisation (2016) - IMDb. (2016, October 16). IMDb.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6156350/