Screening & Discussion: The Century of the Self Part I: Happiness Machines

Screening & Discussion: The Century of the Self Part I: Happiness Machines

A part of Cherokee Street First Thursday

Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 6 PM - 8 PM | Free

Screening & Discussion: The Century of the Self Part I: Happiness Machines

Film begins at 6 PM | Discussion at 7 PM
Free and open to the public
The Luminary, 2701 Cherokee Street, St. Louis

Join us at The Luminary for a free screening and discussion of Happiness Machines, the first episode of Adam Curtis's landmark 2002 documentary series, The Century of the Self.

Tracing the influence of Sigmund Freud's theories of the unconscious on the rise of public relations, advertising, and consumer culture, Happiness Machines examines how psychological insights into human desire became powerful tools for shaping public opinion. At the center of the film is Edward Bernays, Freud's nephew, whose pioneering work in public relations helped transform citizens into consumers and redefine the relationship between individual desire and political power.

More than two decades after its release, the film raises urgent questions about the manufacture of consent, the construction of desire, and the forces that shape our understanding of freedom and individual choice.

Following the screening, we'll gather for an open discussion about the film's continued relevance to our contemporary political and cultural landscape.

Screening: Happiness Machines (2002), directed by Adam Curtis
Runtime: Approximately 58 minutes
6 PM: Film screening
7 PM: Open discussion

Free and open to all. Beverages and light snacks will be available, and guests are welcome to bring outside food. No registration required.