If it's not ok, then I don't want to be ok.

The one criticism that seems to be prevalent is that by using using editing techniques normally reserved for music videos Curtis' "documentaries" (not really docs, they're video essays) are emotionally manipulative and somewhat shallow. I would say that this interpretation of his work stems from Curtis wanting his audience to engage with his subject matter in the real world, whether or not you agree with his world view.

Information can only ever have the qualities given to it by the mind of the individual possessing it. What you are capable of doing with any piece of information creates a material state where the information can have "quality."

Curtis is truthful, but sometimes doesn't connect all the dots, leaving many ignorant viewers with a sense that he cannot be right about some of these things. He is correct though, even if the eyes of the cave dwellers are blinded by the light.

He's not truthful though, in that some of the dots he *is* connecting probably don't really connect.

The UFO part in particular really pissed me off. Doty is not someone whose word you should be taking. At worst, he's just a liar who concocted this whole story to gain prominence with a community of freaks. At best, it's "I've been a professional liar working for the military for decades. Everything I am about to tell you is the truth."

It's a compelling narrative, but it's all just slightly more intellectual conspiracy hookum than average. There's no concerted effort over the span of 50 years being made to make everyone stupid and concentrate power. It's not a sinister plan concocted by anyone be carried out. It's all too random and stupid for that. It's the logical conclusion of the system we've chosen... influenced by certain events that shape the details of course, but inevitable all the same.

I don't think Curtis is saying that there was a concerted effort to make the world a dumber place, rather that's the by-product.

A big part of his "theory" is that the after British mercantile system collapsed Russia and America did a piss poor job of maintaining the global system and what what the world needs is a big helping of duty-bound cultural elitism. And if you need to "stretch" the truth in order to get your message that's fine, as long as it is in the service of some "greater good."

What I think Curtis is wants is paradoxical, a nobler lie, and these video essays are his way of constructing that lie.

All said I still enjoy he's work. If you want to see this exact same premise done but done badly you could watch Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States. His whole get is that we should have listen to some Proto-Hippyfrom the 40's.