A Loaded Zeitgeist For The Times

ANKIT ARYA explains how two documentaries examine and interpret the mood of our times

IT’S NOT often that a particular line of thought influences a whole generation. Peter Joseph’s extraordinary works, Zeitgeist and Zeitgeist: Addendum examine exactly that phenomenon. While the first studies the innate qualities of our societies and their functioning and gives a morbid totalitarian 1984-esque outlook, the other amplifies world problems and provides a truly plausible long-term solution.

If a tagline were to be attributed to the first feature, it would be “What do Christianity, 9/11 and the Federal Reserve Bank of America all have in common?” Zeitgeist divides itself into three parts. The first part talks about the ideology of organised religion. It uses the study of the Jesus Myth hypothesis to show the importance of religion for the control and manipulation of society. It also illustrates how true teachings are often misinterpreted.

The second part elaborates on how the 9/11 conspiracy theories were a false flag operation to wage war on Afghanistan and Iraq.

The third section, which focuses on the monetary system in the US and its impact on the public and global market, ties it all together. The documentary becomes increasingly important and relevant in face of the current world financial crisis.

Zeitgeist: Addendum goes beyond its study of the fractional reserve banking systems, economy hit man theory, theories on our dependence on monetary, legal and religious institutions, and on neo imperialism and totalitarianism to focus on the only plausible long-term solution to the burdens of debt, religious and social conditioning, war, crime, terrorism, slavery and the monetary system.

The film projects an idea for a utopian zeitgeist very different from what is prevalent today. It envisions a borderless society free from the monetary system and has us working together to form a functional society based on humanity and the use of technology to free ourselves from servitude. These groundbreaking documentaries look at “where we came from, where we are, and finally, where we’re going.” Both films end on a positive note in an attempt to give hope to those who need it. A life-changing experience just sitting through them!

Arya studies at the Amity School of Communication,
Amity University.
E-mail: youthspeak@amity.edu