Review of Can't Get You Out of My Head

I am an avid fan of Adam Curtis and have watched most of his work. This one is another fine specimen, done in the usual style with the familiar editing, soundtrack use and commentary.

This series could be construed as a summary and update on his perhaps most popular three productions (Century of the Self, The Power of Nightmares and The Trap) - it puts together a number of concurrent narratives:

• The shift from collective to individual;
• The changing nature of political power and governments;
• The shift of power from governments to commercial parties;
• The increasing distrust of ideologies and those who promote them.

Ultimately, however, the way I see it, this is really another Curtis documentary that deals with just two things: Unintended Consequences and the disappearance of Authority. These are the main themes which come back time and again in every narrative presented. Though he may not have every detail correct, and no doubt has made a mistake of two ascribing or inferring the importance/relevance of some aspect or another - the main point I think he is trying to get across is that history is shaped more by "chance" events than by designs, and that nobody can claim to truly be the author of the events as they unfold, certainly not in the grand scheme of things.