Film-maker Adam Curtis on why this moment feels so weird

In this episode, filmmaker Adam Curtis delves into the pervasive sense of confusion and disorientation in contemporary Britain, suggesting that much of this uncertainty is rooted in significant cultural and political shifts dating back to the 1980s. Curtis highlights how the advent of financial power and the collective shift in human consciousness coincided with a loss of faith in ideologies.

Curtis's five-part series 'Shifty' examines how the deregulation of the economy under Margaret Thatcher reshaped not only the economic landscape but also the way individuals perceive their identities and aspirations. He argues that these shifts created a society where individualism thrived at the expense of collective identities, leaving many feeling isolated and melancholic.

The conversation touches on the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, which revealed the fragility of the systems that promised freedom and self-fulfillment, causing widespread disillusionment. Curtis also critiques the political landscape, suggesting that the liberal promise of harmony and progress faltered when faced with the realities of austerity and economic inequality.

Curtis reflects on the rise of populism, particularly the appeal of figures like Trump, who disrupt established norms by presenting a raw, unvarnished authenticity that speaks to a public disillusioned by traditional politics. He concludes by asserting that although the current moment feels bleak, it need not be permanent; change is possible through new forms of collective action and imagination.