18 November 2004 — Media Lens

“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the public alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” (H.L. Mencken, 1923)

Introduction – Pyrrhic Applause

“Every so often a programme comes along that makes watching television not only a duty but a pleasure.” So wrote Guardian TV critic Rupert Smith of the BBC2 series The Power of Nightmares by Adam Curtis. Smith’s conclusion: “Documentary of the year, without a shadow of a doubt.” (October 21, 2004) Writing in the same paper, Madeleine Bunting described the series as “hugely important”. (October 25)

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