During the course of my 36-hour shift at the group home, I sometimes feel myself devolving into a 10th grader. I try to counteract this phenomenon with some intellectual fare from Google Video. My latest selection was the BBC documentary The Century of the Self.

This four part series takes us through the history Freudian psychology and its effects on American culture. Freud’s nephew founded a new field which used the theories of subconscious motivation to influence consumer purchases and voter loyalties; he called the field public relations. The documentary also touches on various New Age practices and the manipulation of independent thinkers in recent elections.

It’s a long series, but well worth it. It will definitely have you questioning the underlying forces of American culture and your how your own choices might be manipulated.

(Here is some criticism of the series to keep things balanced.)