Today in Focus Film-maker Adam Curtis on why this moment feels so weird
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Jun 20, 2025 
Adam Curtis, an award-winning filmmaker known for his provocative documentaries, joins Michael Safi to discuss the bewildering state of modern society. They explore how past ideologies have crumbled, replaced by disillusionment in politics following the Obama era. Curtis dives into the cultural shift from community to individualism, sparking feelings of anxiety. With a focus on millennials' melancholy and the chaotic relationship between markets and politics, he emphasizes the importance of imagination and collective action in navigating today's complexities.
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1980s Power and Consciousness Shift
- The 1980s saw massive shifts: power moved to finance, and public consciousness changed profoundly.
- This era's unleashed finance and rising individualism reshaped how people viewed the world and themselves.
From Collectivism to Individualism
- In 1975, people saw themselves as part of groups and collective identities.
- By the 1980s, this collectivism dissolved, replaced by wild individualism that was fun but isolating.
1986 Shopping Mall Kids Confidence
- BBC footage from 1986 shows confident kids challenging cultural norms by asking about banned music.
- This reflects rising public confidence in expressing personal views and challenging authority.