HyperNormalisation trailer [video]

I watched it.

Now, I don't really think there's a hidden power governing everything. It's just the path of least resistance and we are following it.

There are many hidden powers governing a lot of things, but the world is simply too large and complex for any single entity to truly control everything, even a global niche is difficult to grab and even harder to keep.

It's kind of comforting, in a way.

I watched this after it was last posted to hacker news. The footage from the BBC archives is excellent and the narrative it strings together is compelling. Any other books or movies that expand on similar topics?

If you enjoyed this, Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation is what he has drawn heavily upon. He talks extensively about the "hyperreal" mental reality we exist within.

If you enjoyed that, you might like Phil K Dick's existential works like Flow my tears, cantata 140, hell anything of his almost. Even "the defenders" is a full on frontal assault on reality.

Finally, if you want to go clean off the deep end, read his Exegesis and Valis.

Regardless of your political opinion about the video, there's a shortish part where Adam Curtis talks about Cyberspace and the cyberpunk movement. As a big fan of William Gibson's work, I've found that part alone well worth the time. I'm sure there are a lot of fellow cyberpunk fans here, so this is my advice: if you are not interested by the political aspect of the documentary, the Cyberspace bit is worth your time (and pretty much free of political discussion, as the Cyberspace should be)